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?

All the 40 - 49 year olds should be done in 6 weeks according to this.

30 - 39 year olds to start getting invited at the end of May.

18 - 29 year olds in June/July

Hopefully that gives others some sort of idea of time scales.

That also suggests 40 - 44 year olds would be in around 3 weeks time.

Really interesting Expo.

But as London had a younger population, didn’t other areas have a higher proportion of hesitants to make the 3 contacts with? I’d have thought that would slow their rollout to younger groups more. But all the data suggests other areas with high hesitancy (but not such young populations) rolled out to younger groups sooner and in larger numbers. Some of those areas have already jabbed well over 30% and even 40% of the under 50s. How is that explained if they had a bigger proportion of hesitants ‘holding up the rollout’?

The only thing I can see to explain it, is if some areas (but not London so much, or perhaps with less effect) is that the areas with high hesitancy were actually told to perhaps unofficially give the jab to younger people...perhaps to use up supply and also to ensure geographical areas were getting protection from decent overall % of local population being jabbed. But perhaps this could never be the official line but had to be done ‘off the record’. It then explains why areas of high take up and often affluence didn’t see the younger rollout so soon or fast. The jabs were being used for those groups and as take up was high and they e left it to continue to be high whenever further rollouts officially happen, there was no need to push further rollout unofficially there but to stick to the official line.

Maybe I’m carried away with machinations and imaginings.

I can see that hesitancy in London could be high for a number of reasons explaining the lower take up. I can see following them up would take a while in terms of sheer numbers, if not proportion of the population because less proportion is over 50. What I can’t quite see is why the rollout beyond 50 didn’t happen there so much....or is it that a younger population also meant less CEV and less CV group 6 and for some reason less NHS workers or frontline care staff and other occupations (really? Not sure why they would be lower in London) to boost the under 50 jab count.

It's probably just the sheer numbers in London. Younger? Yes, proportionally, but in actual numbers of people there are more over 50s than anywhere else in the country. It's a city of 9 million people in total. It's going to take time to get through everyone.

@WombatChocolate

I don’t think it’s unfair to say that people not wanting to travel or complaining about the cost of getting to their jab is moaning.

Those who were CEV or in group 6 as vulnerable were called for local jabs, as were the elderly. Local jabs are available for all at some point if they can’t or won’t travel.

But the reality is that when supply is limited, it just doesn’t make sense to have every local GP service and smaller site running. It just doesn’t. It’s an important thing to have your jab and people need to prioritise it and most need to expect some kind of journey and possibly expense to get it. As has been mentioned, many people have friends or family who will take them, plus LOTS of charities are still offering to take people. The reality quite simply, especially with the limited supply that’s already clear today, is that people can either have a sooner jab and travel, or just have to wait a bit for the local one. No-one is denied a jab by not being willing or able to travel. And actually, very few people isn’t he groups now being jabbed are actually unable to travel.

A vaccinator was on another thread. She mentioned jabbing over 80s at the start of the process when there were far fewer centres delivering jabs. She talked about how some came a considerable distance, even in bad weather if December and hardly anyone turned it down or said they would wait for later and local. It was important to them and so they made it happen. She said lots came in taxis or drove themselves or their children brought them, but lots also use the volunteer services. And she mentioned that they didn’t moan about the cost or the journey but were glad to get the jab.

Yes, things for those without a car are often a bit more tricky. Yes, going a distance costs more in petrol or the cost of a taxi or public transport than having the jab really locally. Does that mean it’s wrong to offer larger vaccine centres and all jabs should be locally based to make it cheaper for people to get there? The big centres run so the jab can be delivered efficiently and fast. Most people are very happy to put themselves out and make the journey and incur whatever cost is required. And again, it’s not as if there is no alternative....there can be local jabs for all if required. But the government can see it doesn’t make sense to try to offer local to all, but mostly to those who haven’t been able to travel or book, rather than to offer that system to all which would be slower and more inefficient in terms of the overall aim of speedy jabbing.

I hope the difficulties in getting 2 jabs booked together sort themselves out, a sthats frustrating for people trying for hours, I hope it’s not a sign of the fact supply is really too limited to let a rollout of 45+ properly proceed and that the issues are just those of lots of enthusiasm in the first day of booking and that the system and slots available will catch-up quickly and make it smoother for everyone.

With each rollout, the most enthusiastic to book have often travelled considerable distances. No-one has to book when the sites and dates don’t book them. Everyone has to weigh that balance between speed and convenience.

Completely agree with your post. I understand the frustrations felt by many (I’m late 40’s and was so disheartened when the delays were announced a couple of weeks ago).

But we shouldn’t forget - this is an unprecedented vaccine rollout, there are going to be small delays and glitches. Some inconvenience might be caused. But look at the current result of our rollout, it’s blooming amazing.

Part of the reason the system is glitchy will be that they need to know when first and second doses are booked - this then ensures that future deliveries are diverted where needed. It might take a day or two to get appointments booked in, but we’ll worth the effort to keep trying.

There’s an army out there of NHS and army vaccinators, pharmacies, public volunteers for site cleaning/admin, logistics etc etc etc. They are all trying as hard as they can.

For those that can’t drive to hubs - ask friends (I know this might be a big ask due to everyone’s circumstances). But there are lots of authorised volunteer driving services at a much smaller cost than booking a regular taxi.

@WombatChocolate

Yes. If you don’t book on the national system you will be followed up by GP. It could be a few days but is often a couple of weeks, especially as this rollout has only just happened and you might well book in the next few days and not need a local appointment.

But rest assured they will invite you....and multiple times if needed!

I posted this on another thread. It’s probably fairly rare, but don’t assume you will be contacted.

I had a regular injection appointment at my village surgery. I asked the nurse how vaccines were going - they aren’t doing any, apart from people who are housebound.

Only flagging this so as not to assume you will get a call from your GP - though, as I said, I don’t think this will be common especially in more urban areas.

A friend in her 40s around Birmingham had the jab a few weeks ago; she says they're onto the over 35s there.

So either vaccine hesitancy or other factors has pushed that programme on.

I'm in the NE and anecdotally south Tyneside seems to have also moved further ahead.

@WarriorN

A friend in her 40s around Birmingham had the jab a few weeks ago; she says they're onto the over 35s there.

So either vaccine hesitancy or other factors has pushed that programme on.

I'm in the NE and anecdotally south Tyneside seems to have also moved further ahead.

The number of vaccines allocated per region isn't actually proportional to the population of a specific age group.

I looked at the vaccine allocations and the population estimates per region a few weeks ago after remembering the Mayor of London complaining about this.

Anyway this means some areas have ended up with more vaccines than people in a specific age group which is why they have started vaccinating younger age groups earlier.

There is also a problem that they don't know who is in the country and who is alive.

I do know personally of people, including those over 50, who have returned to countries abroad where most of their families are between the lockdowns. (From my own experience in normal times it takes about a year for HMRC and the NHS to realise you are abroad.)

Also I heard a figure the other day in one area they vaccinated over 100% of their 75-79 year olds.

Weren't some redirected at one point though? To help areas catch up for some reason?

In case this helps anyone else in E Devon area... I booked yesterday; couldn't book Westpoint for 1st as it said no 2nd appointments available, so booked alternative further away (pharmacy in Yeovil) and managed to get 2nd at Westpoint/Greendale for early July. Checked phone this morning and was still semi logged in to site; now showing Taunton Racecourse as an option. Couldn't change bookings without cancelling, so I took the risk, cancelled both, started the booking process again and (to my huge relief) Taunton came up with availability from next Tues 20 April. Obviously system changing all the time but when I looked about 30 mins ago they had availability for the rest of the week too.

@Furries
My understanding is, and I may be wrong, that even if a GP practice is not doing them themselves then all GP practice patient are “delegated” to a certain GP hub. For example one local surgery has passed responsibility to another gp to do their cohort, mine is a group of 7 but they’ve turned one surgery into a vaccination site and the other 6 are just working normally.

You might wait a lot longer for an appointment more locally via a GP (not necessarily your gp) but I believe it should eventually come.

That all said the gossip is as we move further down the age groups the GP Hubs will be doing less (although still some) and a higher proportion of people will be expected to go to the mass vaccination sites.
Younger people being generally more mobile and all that.

I strongly suspect that a large part of the reason London’s rollout is going relatively slowly is because of the large number of people living in informal housing, who are not registered with GPs or other public services, are hard to contact and / or may have reason to wish to stay out of the eyes of the authorities. Getting hold of those people, convincing them to register for the vaccine and then getting them to show up is a task in itself. (I’m speaking with experience of some of the housing situations I’ve seen in my time).

@CallforHecate

I strongly suspect that a large part of the reason London’s rollout is going relatively slowly is because of the large number of people living in informal housing, who are not registered with GPs or other public services, are hard to contact and / or may have reason to wish to stay out of the eyes of the authorities. Getting hold of those people, convincing them to register for the vaccine and then getting them to show up is a task in itself. (I’m speaking with experience of some of the housing situations I’ve seen in my time).

I've thought this too.

One of my friends is married to a north african. He was registered with the GP but had to pay for health care prior to getting citizenship. There are probably a lot of people in this category, or moving around frequently. We also know that anti vax sentiment is much higher in many European countries. The stereotypes of refusers has been one of BAME immigrants who can't speak English well. But i suspect its rather more complex than that. We have a high number of very educated white EU citizens who live in London too who will be very aware of what is happening elsewhere and maybe more inclined to trust the decisions of other governments than the British government (especially after how they have been treated in recent years). For example we have a large number of French passport holders who live in London which is one of the highest living outside France itself (or we certainly did a couple of years ago!)

That just isn't replicated elsewhere.

London's issues are much more complex than elsewhere in the country.

Also people talk to each other. Lots of brits will be more hesitant if they know others who are also hestitant.

It wont be restricted to stereotypes...

I’m 46 and have a London based appointment this week is that slower than elsewhere?

Still can't get 2nd appt even choosing further afield , can get first then says 2nd not available so can't then save first

@ArtfulPuss im trying yeovil and nothing now , tried bath and no second either

@worriedatthemoment how far north can you reasonably go? You may have more luck trying locations in Gloucestershire or Worcestershire?

My GP isn't doing jabs, but I still was texted by the GP to make an appointment at the local hub. I was texted before I was able to book on the national site and friends the same, so you won't always have to wait weeks for a text.
I drove myself as I'm a widow so no other adult in the household to drive me. I felt a bit spaced out afterwards so wouldn't have wanted to drive miles.(I waited 15 mins in the car park) Might have been the excitement of it, not sure. I wouldn't have got a lift from friends/family/charity/public transport as would involve mixing with other households and it would be a bugger to catch covid before the vaccine had had a chance to kick in!
Lucky for me I was able to drive locally

I think difficulties in getting booked reflects the fact yesterday was the first official day of rollout and it was in the news, so numbers trying were extremely high with slots not ‘checked out’ as it were, being snapped up by others as people tried to book. It’s all more complicated by the need to have 2 together than work. It also reflects supply still isn’t brilliant.

I’d imagine more slots and venue will keep appearing, but people are realising that the idea of holding on for 2 slots at the nearest centre isn’t going to happen anytime soon for lots. Trying the further away locations and snapping up anything that the system will allow, even with a longer journey than you’d like, is the way forward if you want to be jabbed soon.

The jabs are there, but there just isn’t the slack in the system at the moment for people to have it in the most convenient location necessarily. Yes, of course some get booked very near to home and yes, GPs are inviting some, but as has been said on other threads, most GPs are just running 1 if any clinics for 1st doses over the next 2 weeks off the back if stock they already have, as no new deliveries for 1st jabs are coming to GPs week of 12 or 19 April.

So I suppose the message is to keep trying to book and to be flexible with what you will take. Work will give time off for going for jab and some people just need to steel themselves for a journey they’re not keen on. There are voluntary services which will take people if needed. And perhaps if we are confident drivers we should be thinking about who might be getting offered that we know, that would benefit from the offer of a lift.

@worriedatthemoment how frustrating. Is Taunton showing up for you?

@KihoBebiluPute its for my dh and work makes it hard to go to far unless weekend
Employers should maybe give time off for travelling for vaccinations

@worriedatthemoment some colleagues from bristol yesterday ended up booking in wsm Locking Pharmacy Vaccination Centre

@ArtfulPuss yes taunton is but again can only book a first dose no second
Bath & west same

I would book the appointments that are available and then tell work it’s what you could get and availability and local availability is low.

Yes, work should give time off for this. It is important for them as well as for you and society.

@EasterIssland i will have a look again later and get him to speak to work to see if he can have time off he needs to travel further and we can't get weekend
We have two places given injections in our town , think one seems to be gp referred though.
Might even hear from dr, and go to gp one as I had mine under group 6 and booked online then had gp invite couple days later