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?

In my area over 69% of over 16s have had their first jab, and every person I know in my age group has been invited but not me (late 40s) which is very depressing. I feel like I've been forgotten. I keep hearing about people younger than me being invited.
If I call the doctor they won't discuss vaccines and say I have to wait my turn.

Here's the link to the BBC page to see vaccination progress in your area.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55274833

I'm in the South West where 97% of over 50's have been vaccinated, I'm late 40's and still no news on when I might get mine. The vaccine calculator says before 29th June, I expect it will be sooner but the lack of information is frustrating.

I’ve just been on hold at the GPs (non Covid related). The recorded message every few seconds was not to ring about the vaccine (fair enough) and that those “at risk” would be contacted.

I know I am being grumpy and it’s largely down to semantics, but after a week of having to be the odd one out in meet ups with vaccinated friends and family, and with no realistic prospect of a jab any time soon, I’m wishing the messaging could be a bit more nuanced.

Those in groups 1-9 are those MOST at risk, not the ONLY ones at risk. At 49, I’m getting increasingly fucked off at the suggestion that non eligibility for a priority jab = proof you’re perfectly safe. I’ve not issues whatsoever with the original priority lists, but with this increasing uncertainty, it’s galling that there’s so little recognition that some people missed out by a few weeks or months - or, much worse, by the lottery of GP interpretation of Group 6 eligibility.

Rant over

I agree CooDeGrass. I don't think I am at risk as far as dying of covid is concerned. However, given that there are allegedly one million cases of "long covid" in the UK, that does worry me. Therefore I would like not to catch it at the last minute. Admittedly we're now moving into summer and it's much less risky and I don't like crowded places anyway so won't be choosing to go to them, but I still think it's pretty mean to be ignoring the late 40 somethings.

Also - the cheek of Hancock to say that youngsters should stop refusing the vaccine so they can protect granny. Well granny is protected (my mum gets her second dose tomorrow) and this "youngster" would like to be offered the vaccine!

APPLIES TO NORTHERN IRELAND for anyone not yet aware. Sorry for caps but didn't want to get people's hopes up.

[[BBC News - Covid-19 vaccine booking opens to 40-44 age group
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56672433]]

@CooDeGrass totally agree, its as though they think a force field protects you until your 50th birthday. In reality thousands of forty-somethings will have health conditions they don't even know about; and perimenopausal women may be particularly affected by long covid. Luckily numbers are low for now but I fear lengthy delays to the rollout, beyond April.

@FOJN I have seen a couple of people in England today sharing the NI advert that booking is open to over 40s now (it admittedly isn’t at all clear until you click the link that it is NI!)

How have NI been able to progress quicker through the ages than the rest of the UK? I thought stocks were being allocated proportionately.

i am in south east wales and 40, me and my husband and my boss (both also 40) have had our letters with appointments for vaccine next week. did surprise me as hadnt realised they had got so far down the age groups!

I agree too that the messaging on ‘at risk’ is frustrating. I was told I was vulnerable for a year because of asthma but am now not eligible, I am also over 40, overweight and perimenopausal with three children at school, so I feel I have a reasonable chance to catching Covid, and at risk of long Covid if I do. I am sure it is similar for many others in their 40s too

I know what you mean about basic communication
All the surgery needs to do is to say (for example)

• we are ready to go with the under 50s but are awaiting supplies, or
• we can't move onto the under 50s yet as we are still waiting for xxx over 50s to get in touch and we expect this to take about y weeks

Or....whatever Just to stop me wanting to lynch posters on other threads moaning they no longer want their AZ second jab.....

In South London and the only surgery practically that hasn't called in my borough! every other surgery racing through, how is it that they have supplied when mine doesn't?

They are doing over 40s in Chesterfield now.
telephone: 01246 903225
Location appears to be mainly at Winding Wheel theatre
Vaccination type of those I know who've used the link has been AZ

It isn't just limited to Chesterfield people either.
I know a number of friends from Sheffield who have called and been allowed to book.
There isn't a lot of appointments I don't think and I get the impression is it may only be a few a day. The advice was to call every 2 or 3 days if nothing available on the day you first call.

All friends who have called were in the 40s, ranging from 40 to 48, with no health issues. All were given their first dose within a week of them calling.

I was saying on another thread how I feel our age group - the 40-50 year olds have been a little fucked over. I'm CV so had my (1st) jab but feel solidarity with the rest of my 40 something group. I always found it frustrating to hear reports going on about risks for under 40s being lower...and then that vaccine priority stage one started at 50

There's also clearly been an uneven distribution of vaccines across the country. Ironically areas of highest risk like London and Birmingham, seem to have had less supplies proportionally than places where the chances of catching covid are lower.

Those in groups 1-9 are those MOST at risk, not the ONLY ones at risk. At 49, I’m getting increasingly fucked off at the suggestion that non eligibility for a priority jab = proof you’re perfectly safe. I’ve not issues whatsoever with the original priority lists, but with this increasing uncertainty, it’s galling that there’s so little recognition that some people missed out by a few weeks or months - or, much worse, by the lottery of GP interpretation of Group 6 eligibility.

I feel the same. Like pp I would like my GP to give some indication of what's next. They are just saying not doing under 50s and then directing to the national site which just says not eligible. So no idea about why/ when this will change

It's this idea that under 50s are an homogeneous group, when actually, there are many like me in our late 40s, obese, high BP, menopausal, who are no different to those aged 50.

The risk for those of us aged 45+ and in the perfect group for Long Covid, is higher than those up to 30 years younger.

Why am I, at 48, seemingly lumped in with those 30 years my junior? When the over 75s were vaccinated, they weren't lumped in with those aged 45 plus.

At 30, I was fitter, slimmer, carefree. I didn't have teenagers at two different secondaries or ageing parents who depend on me, and I wasn't on medication due to the stress of juggling those responsibilities and work, while trying to deal with the menopause.

India's vaccine programme was 45 plus and Israel was initially 40+ I believe. So why was our cut off 50?

I live in the Birmingham area as mentioned upthread, and am fed up of seeing posts from people in their 20s and 30s in areas with low cases who've had the vaccine ahead of us in our late 40s in higher risk areas. This didn't happen at this scale with other age groups. If lots of 30 and 40 year olds had leapfrogged those in their 60s and 70s to this degree, it would be news. But not this. We are forgotten.

Sorry, but I needed to offload. Tired of being magnanimous and feeling selfish for wanting some consistency.

And I appreciate that many are certainly not carefree or without responsibility at 30.

It's just that I would have been more relaxed at that phase in MY life about waiting, rather than this anxious, ranty middleager

I know what you mean middlager Even at 40 I felt significantly different to how I do now at 49. Being a few months away from 50 I feel like we are now the most high risk people, but just feel like we're told end of July stfu. They broke groups down 1-9 into target dates and I think that's what they need to do next also

For what it's worth the govt apparently has nearly reached the England target of offering to all 50+ by mid April. They will want to declare it a success so hopefully have to move into the 40s then?
But supplies are limited so possibly a year at a time?

I know what you mean Daisies I look back on pictures from my 40th and I was in far better shape than now.

Keeping my fingers crossed Sleep what else can we do?

Totally with you middleager. I also feel like I’ve aged by at least five years since the pandemic started.

Husband and friends got their invites last week (we are in Derby), all early 40s. They really seem to be getting through people round here, although when I went for mine, three weeks ago, only half stations were in use.

They were going great guns round here a couple of weeks ago too. But only some gps were offering to under 50s, luck of the draw
Now sessions have halved as supply has slowed down

42, south east London, asthma and blood clotting condition, not eligible yet. Know people locally who are not carers but have taken the jab under this condition, or whose GP has been offering spares to anyone on a waiting list. Our GP won't offer a waiting list. I reckon it'll be mid June before we get an invite.

@KinderWild

42, south east London, asthma and blood clotting condition, not eligible yet. Know people locally who are not carers but have taken the jab under this condition, or whose GP has been offering spares to anyone on a waiting list. Our GP won't offer a waiting list. I reckon it'll be mid June before we get an invite.

We may be in the same area. Next door surgery is speeding ahead but it's in a different borough. Mine is still on over 50s with no chance of opening up to our group. I am also early 40s, keen on Moderna or Pfizer due to some existing issues but my area in London has been significantly over looked in terms of supplies despite having a large teaching hospital next door.

DH is 49 and I'm 47 no sign of being called for a jab for either of us yet. I'm still going out to work and have a young daughter going to school and I have autoimmune issues but not on any medication for them. We live in Barnsley where rate is 101 per 100,000 so do feel at risk.