Can the 40-49 age group now book their vaccine?

[Summergirl76]

Sister’s boyfriend (43) was able today to book his vaccine by entering his details on the national booking site (he is Derby based). Sister late 30s tried too but it said she was not eligible. Her husband tried last week and was also not eligible. Just wondered if anyone else has tried in the 40s age group and been able to book?

Also just had Moderna at the Madejski in Reading - it was really quiet.

To those who have had it (if you are on here) is there any option to get alternatives to AZ at mass vaccination centres?

Anyone getting Moderna in London? If so, where?

@13562456Da not at the one I went to

@13562456Da

Anyone getting Moderna in London? If so, where?

Would this change daily?

I’ve managed to book mine this afternoon- at 2 different sites though.

One in Kent this week and the other in London in July. I’ll have to travel for both but the one in London is where I used to live, so I’m happy with that.

A hassle to travel though and you pay for own travel expenses too obviously. It will cost me about £30 return into London.

There were no sites available locally to me at all. If you were disabled etc- no chance . Very frustrating and an unfair system for those who can’t travel far or not at all. You’d have to wait longer.

I am conflicted about the vaccine; I hear so much scaremongering about the AZ. But I don’t want Covid or long Covid either!

I’m 49, 50 in the autumn. I live in the area of the Kent variant, plus I’m a teacher and I use the train each day. So I’m biting the bullet and getting done now before I start the summer term.
I see the public a lot in school and on train so don’t see I have a choice really!

The booking website is awful though. I accidentally booked a venue for 2nd jab thinking it was local. It turned out to be in Essex.

So they make you to cancel both bookings and start again. I first tried calling the number as I just wanted to change the second slot venue. I only got an automated message list, nobody to speak to at all, not even in a queue.

Almost all slots were gone for the 1st dose by the time I got to back into the booking system after an unsuccessful call. What a complete stress.

@13562456Da

Anyone getting Moderna in London? If so, where?

I got AZ, no choice (not that I cared), they just told you what you were getting.

Am 47 and booked both doses today. Bring.It.On

Reporting back that having booked last night my husband had his this morning - local pharmacy down the road, AstraZeneca (as expected).

@13562456Da

Anyone getting Moderna in London? If so, where?

doubt if you're going for seconds you'll be offered moderna, they'll want to keep these for those that haven't had any.

Seriously don’t understand why the booking site has been set up this way. Why are some first slots impossible to book a second slot for? Why make people click through multiple dates, times etc and then say “Do you want to book the second slot at the same site? Y/N” - when you have no idea what the right answer is and don’t mind either way, so you have to just flip a coin to reply. I don’t care where my second one is, I’m happy to travel. Just say “second slot won’t be at this venue, is that ok?” or something.

Web designer friends are also tearing their hair out so it’s not just me mithering on

When I tried to book my second jab, I ticked ‘Yes’ I wanted it at the same venue.

It then cancelled my first booking as there were no second slots available at that particular vaccination centre. They make you start all over again and you lose your first booking.

You end up going round the houses and losing your 1st jab slot. Who designed this rubbish website?

Yes I had that and then when tried to rebook about 100 times it said you didn't turn up to first one, hmm, yes as you cancelled it and as its in the future.

If you do succeed in booking take a screenshot as its not sending through the details by e-mail or text so I don't know where I booked as one was an hour in one direction, second an hour in the other direction.

It's brilliant 45+ can now book! Finally all the highest risk groups will be done

Sorry to hear some of you are having problems with the booking. Maybe there's more immediate demand than with the other higher risk 50+ groups. Perhaps because lockdown's easing?

The difficulties with the system reflect the fact that firstly loads of people are on it and booking as first official day for this age group, 2nd that limited supply now and in future makes getting 2 sites booked which will deliver the same jab more tricky, especially when loads of people are booking, and third almost all 1st jabs being offered at the moment are national vaccine centres, not GP led ones.

I’m surprised people moan about needing to travel, when they are booking on the first day of the rollout to this age. Supply is limited and offering at fewer sites makes lots of sense. It’s a once or twice necessary journey.

If you want local, you can have it, but just not yet. Most age groups were first offered the jab at nationally administered centres. Those who are keen travel for the jab. If you don’t book, your details eventually go to the GP and they follow you up with local jabs. Sometimes this is fairly quick or it can be a couple of weeks.

If you’ve been able to book the jab today, you’re still doing better than lots of the 40-45s who can’t yet and who would travel many miles to get it. To be honest, there’s no pleasing some people unless the jab is brought to their house at a time to suit them.

Had mine in local pharmacy this afternoon - AZ as expected...

So thankful for the amazing work done to get so many vaccines from research to development and delivery in the timeframe we've been looking at. I know there are some concerns about AZ (and would be lying if I said I wasn't at all nervous) but overall what an amazing endeavour.

@MadameXanadu yes same for my dh I even tried selecting another venue for second jab , but nothing availible

I suspect difficulties in booking reflect the lack of supply.

If this carries on, it will suggest that perhaps they should have just rolled out to 48-49s so that demand could broadly meet supply.

As others say, if you start with a less popular location for jab 1 or further into the future for it you’re more likely to get through.

It's unfair to call it moaning about travel. Not everyone can drive particularly the disabled or those on very low incomes.

Being able to drive and/or easily afford or manage long journeys on public transport is something people can sometimes take for granted, whilst forgetting it's not so easy or simple for everyone.

I can understand why there might be difficulties with arranging locations for appointments. That doesn't mean it's not a real issue for some.

Issues aside, today is a good day! The postcode lottery in England has (touching wood) ended. Rollout to over 40s has officially begun.

@WombatChocolate i tried that but just 2nd dose was issue even then
Could get 1st dose local and tried 2nd dose at couple further away and just didn't work
So will have to keep trying for dh , one will come up eventually , although one on offer was may anyway
Maybe we have good uptake here ??

Hope I haven't spoken to soon...still some sort of postcode lottery? Perhaps just teething problems, I hope.

worriedatthemoment I guess is right. Some places will book up quicker than others depending on local demand. I hope your dh gets a suitable location soon worried.

Thanks @Tealightsandd

@Tealightsandd

Anyone getting Moderna in London?

I suspect London won't get Moderna. I think government will prioritise other areas. Except perhaps central London, as that's where MPs in their 40s might be getting it (if not at their constituencies).

NB. I'm content to have had AZ and happy with it's safety data. Obviously Pfizer and Moderna (both of which also have rare side effects, as with any drug) are slightly more appealing but only because of the possible higher efficacy rates.

wow interesting that London will get no Moderna at all. Is this political? Not sure I follow why London is bottom of the pile?

Sorry @user34254356 Don't take my word for it! It's just me speculating in an overly cynical way. I'm being influenced by Sadiq Khan, who seems to think the government is treating London unfairly. Probably just political jibes.

I've no idea how it gets decided who gets what really.

From a safety point of view, all drugs can cause rare side effects. I think there was something linked to Moderna? As with AZ, extremely rare.