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?

No online booking in Wales, either. They are doing early 50s now, which is encouraging.

Now the kids are back at school, I looked into being a volunteer vaccinator, as I work part-time (to do my bit to speed the vaccine roll out up). Turns out I'm ineligible, as I'm on their CV list. It all feels a bit catch-22.

41, nothing doing here in Cheshire, I will book the second that I become eligible!

Ultimately every vaccination given out now is weakening that potential chain of transmission within a couple of weeks and protecting all in society, including those who haven't been vaccinated yet. My area is ahead, and that means less chance of spreading to interconnected counties.
We have until recently had higher than average rates of the virus, but in the past couple of weeks as more socially active groups have improved immunity, local rates are suddenly dropping off their plateau, and that benefits everyone. There is a clear difference emerging on the map between us and the neighbouring county.

Far better to crack on with it, be efficient at minimising wastage, and keep bringing the rates down than to try to keep all demographics in line when they're not evenly distributed.

I agree about the government keeping quiet. Insurance in the event of glitches, international politicking...

We have family in another EU country. They have the infrastructure ready to go and no supply. 89yo had her first jab within the past month. At barely 40, I've had mine within 4 weeks. DH is the youngest, and his older siblings in the EU will be months behind. I wouldn't be surprised if we have our second jabs before their first.

We're quibbling over weeks.

And it wouldn’t feel so bad if the rollout to under 40s had genuinely halted for all under 50s, but the seeming arbitrary nature of it, is what upsets people.

Absolutely.

Its in the news today that the Moderna vaccine will start to be used in 2 weeks time. Unfortunately only about 500,000 doses will be delivered initially. I hope these are to be used for under 50s first doses. Not sure how they will decide where they will be distributed.

I agree with the age-order priority list (sorry teachers) because it is straightforward to administer and something that everyone understands and I can cope with one area being further ahead than another but random work colleagues who are much younger than you yabbering about how they've no idea why they got called for a vaccine does not bring out the best in me.

I'm hoping that the vaccine shortage does not turn out to be as bad a predicted and it is just a matter of weeks. Got to agree that the rollout has been pretty impressive overall.

Husband is 34, no health issues he knows of. He was invited early March, on the basis that he is vulnerable. We still don’t know what makes them think that he has underlying health issues. GP wouldn’t comment

if I was called as group 6 (or 4) I'd insist on knowing why if I didn't know already! How can a GP not tell your DH why? It's your DH's health.

@User27aw

Its in the news today that the Moderna vaccine will start to be used in 2 weeks time. Unfortunately only about 500,000 doses will be delivered initially. I hope these are to be used for under 50s first doses. Not sure how they will decide where they will be distributed.

1971 born who've not been done yet perhaps. And then go down to 1972 if they've any spare doses. I don't know how many people were born in 1971 who've not been done yet but 500K doses might be enough.

Unfortunately, I do not think the government can be fully open about supply - especially from AZ. There are too many interested parties and getting the delayed 5mm shipment from India or any extra deliveries from the EU factories will require a lot of diplomacy and negotiations.

On Pfizer (which is less controversial) - if the company had stuck to the initial schedule (revealed in the leaked Scotland documents), UK should have received 21.3mm doses by the end of March. This gives us enough supply for the second doses for people who have already been vaccinated (10mm+).

According to the same source (leaked Scotland's info), Pfizer is meant to deliver roughly 4mm doses in April and 4.8mm doses in May. This is helpful but not sufficient. To maintain the pace of the vaccination program, we really need AZ (where some supply comes from outside of the UK).

48 and nothing here, though as cases have come down significantly I'm ok with waiting a little longer. I just wish we had consistency as it feels like late-40s people are being overlooked.

And, of course, Moderna's 500k jabs is a drop in the ocean, even in comparison to Pfizer.

Initially the April shipment was only meant to be 200k - so looks like the number was upsized (which is again very helpful but not sufficient).

My GP is still vaccinating group 6. I’ve tried to book on the NHS website but it says I’m not eligible despite being in group 6. GP said the supply of AZ has become unreliable and they don’t know how many doses they will get or when. They are having to prioritise 2nd jabs with the doses they receive so they aren’t actually managing to do very many first jabs any more.

I live in Wales but teach in England. Looks like all my colleagues will be vaccinated before me at this rate. I'm in the 40-49 bracket.

@wintertravel1980
I didn't know that about the pfizer delivery in April. If that's still on schedule that's a bit more hopeful.

49 and a lot and can’t book on. I’ve noticed that they have taken away the unpaid carer option, which is how a lot of my younger friends got it.

I hope it isn’t a free for all, they went down in year groups for over 50s they should do the same now. I’m more at risk from long covid than someone in their 20s.

@landofgiants exactly the same for me, I really wanted to help by volunteering at a vaccine centre, but they don’t want me because I am vulnerable, yet I am not vulnerable enough to get a vaccine!

Eccle80 - a bit of consistency would be nice but looks like I've missed out on my chance to inject humans!

@middleager

And it wouldn’t feel so bad if the rollout to under 40s had genuinely halted for all under 50s, but the seeming arbitrary nature of it, is what upsets people.

Absolutely.

Exactly this Have no problems with any group ahead of me of course being prioritised first and also for second jabs, even though some I know are definitely lifestyle driven I have helped out at a vaccine clinic and it's been really positive to see it all happening And if professions such as teachers had been prioritised next then I would have no problem at all carrying on waiting But when neighbouring GPS follow different routes and merrily invite 100s of under 50s instead of reallocating resource I do get very hacked off. It IS easy to correct this. And don't get me started on those who lied and said they were carers

Especially when you are also told some younger age groups might get one jab vaccinations so be fully vaccinated ahead of me, and with stories of vaccination passports and personal issues rwgarding family health to deal with
As a 49 year old I am hacked off that probably 2/3 of the adult population will be fully vaccinated before me. And I don't think that's unreasonable when I compare my personal risk to many that have had their first jab in the last few weeks

Been trying the National link here and hasn't worked for me (49). My GP said end of June/July for my age group. Which made me feel somewhat sad tbh! Seems harder the more people I know who are younger than me who've had it now - probably says nothing good about me!

My GP said end of June/July for my age group. Which made me feel somewhat sad tbh!
surely 49 year olds are next in the queue. If they're saying all adults by end of July then this doesn't make sense

Depends on the area I believe. Some areas can do over 40s if they have capacity and vaccinations. Some are still over 50’s. I’ve heard my local mass vaccination centre is closing for new vaccinations, only doing second jabs due to shortages.

Daisiesinmay I know - that's pretty much what I said to her! Wombats measured posts are very much appreciated and full of useful info. But i can't summon up much zen and I still feel a bit gutted that any opening events my friends are going to (garden gatherings etc) I don't feel comfortable to go as they will still use each other's loos and go inside if cold and I want to carry on being careful. I am just under the age and just under the BMI so worried about my chances if I did catch it. Obv me not being able to drink wine in gardens isn't the be all and end all But like others on this thread am struggling to keep smiling when younger people tell me the good news. A centre near me vaccinated hundreds last week with spares and spread the word on social media and word of mouth and mostly 20's and 30's went. So just feel pretty excluded all round and hard to not be able to fully relax with worry about extra variants etc etc.

cissyandbessy yes that's one of the hardest things right now, half the population, and most of my friends in this group, all relieved to have had a vaccine and looking forward to doing things, and the other half in limbo being told more doomsday scenarios and actually worse off than before because the ones who are now out and about might spread it.

However much people might try not to, most vaccinated people seem to have gone into "I'm alright Jack' mode and it just makes life more shit for everyone else.

@Catslovepies

48 and nothing here, though as cases have come down significantly I'm ok with waiting a little longer. I just wish we had consistency as it feels like late-40s people are being overlooked.

Maybe upper 40s should temporarily move to NI. They're prioritising from 45. I think that's the right thing to do. It's also convenient for their 49 year old Health Minister...

That's a bit shocking @Eccle80
If you're too vulnerable to volunteer, how can they possibly say you're not eligible for a jab? What does your GP say? Can they get you into group 6?