45-49s jabs news, 40-44s watching and waiting thread

[MRex]

Follow-on to the happy thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4210673-Can-the-40-49-age-group-now-book-their-vaccine.

(I'm jabbed, but just here to read happy news of jabs and try to book DH when it's his time.)

Thanks for the link Expulso.

That tells us that the expansion to 40+ will be offered by NHS England and not GPs. GPs will not be getting supply for a further 2 weeks for 1st doses, so the supply for 1st douses is going to the mass centres not GP led ones.

So, when it opens up, those wanting to get jabbed anytime soon will need to be prepared to go on the national booking site and book and possibly travel a bit, rather than thinking they will wait for a GP based appointment which is very local as they will be few and far between until at least a week into May.

Most people on here who are watching and waiting are keen to book ASAP and will go wherever is necessary, but friends and family and those who come to these threads once rollout starts happening often want the local jab. It’s important they understand they can either wait (and possibly 2-3 weeks or longer) for a GP local appointment or book using the national site as soon as they can.

Because in previous cohorts GPs delivered a big chunk of first jabs, people just imagine it’s still the same. It isn’t.

Yes Wombat you are right. Maybe once they get down the 40s a bit more the government need to make an announcement. Saying what you have said. Plus the NHS social media notices would need to highlight that too.

If you are in your 40s and want the jab in the next few weeks book online for a hub.

(I can book at my very small local pharmacy online too. Do you think that would continue?)

I hope they continue using local pharmacies. Especially if they want to tackle hesitancy and encourage take up rates. Public transport can be expensive and infrequent in some areas. People on minimum wage zero hours jobs or benefits and those with mobility issues will need a local option.

Jabbed today at Biggleswade. Only had to give name, no ID needed. Feeling super irritable but maybe PMT, and have a craving for a glass of wine in the evening sun Had tingly fingers and jawline on jab side about 20 mins after jab which was now 7 hours ago.

@CMSdividend was it the Weatherly Centre? I'm hoping to be able to book there soon, I'm 43 so nothing yet. What did you get? I want AZ but happy with whatever I'm offered!

@Firstworddinosaur yes it was. Lovely staff, queued outside for about 10 mins then in. Waited on a mat until a space became available. There were 6 stations with 2 staff each. One asked questions while the other jabbed. I got AZ. It was all quite quick. I only booked on Thursday, so keep trying, the queue was lots of people around our ages and I spotted a friend who is the same age. Good luck!

Husband was just turned away for being too young (44). He booked online and it was at a major hub, apparently its an IT issue, they've made the dates live too early. Called the helpline and they said they should have honoured the booking as its their mistake.

Vaccinated today, age 40, Astra Zeneca booked through GP yesterday for appointment today

@CMSdividend brilliant thanks, I'll keep trying Hope you enjoy a good weekend.

Fil and his sister got their 2nd jabs today. Fil was booked through hub, his sister through her GP. her 12 weeks were up so she phoned to see why no appointment, GP said they’d called her mobile 3 times. She is disabled and never gave them her mobile number (no call anyway she checked) she sits all day next to her landline.

Anyway her daughter works for the NHS and advised her to call the National number. They checked which vaccination she needed and booked her in at the same place as her brother.

Oh I’m sorry to hear for those turned away. I think they should honour the appointment though.

People being turned away, apart from one of the criteria which requires ID (such as NHS worker) makes me really cross.

If the NHS system has let you book and you have answered the Qs honestly, then you are eligible. Anyone in the centres should accept the system itself makes the judgement and not be making judgements about who is and isn't eligible.

Lots of people are already anxious about the jab and hearing people are turned away will make some reluctant to book until they have a personal invitation in their hand, which often isn't until much later and slows the process.

I have to say, if this had been me, I'd have asked to speak to the manager if this had happened. I'd have explained I input my information accurately and have travelled and would now like to have the jab and any errors in the system are not my concern. I would show my confirmation of booking and tell them I would be happy to show how I booked if they liked.

Honestly I cannot believe a 44 year old was turned away like this. I'm pretty sure that if the manager of the session was called, they would have got their jab. It will have just been someone being jobsworth who hasn't grasped that every time the rollout proceeds there is a period when the from page hasn't updated.

Really sorry to hear this happened.

And if there's no word on the 2nd jab by the time you reach 11 weeks, call the GP as you hit 11 weeks, not on the day you get to 12 weeks.

There are some errors. Its inevitable and unavoidable in such a mass rollout. It's not unreasonable to call at 11 weeks and lots of GP websites now say not to call about your jab but it is okay if you've reached 11 weeks.

There's a balance isn't there between leaving the NHS alone to get on with doing their jobs, and letting an error continue because someone is being a jobsworth and over stepping the mark (turning propel away who have booked legitimately) or not calling even when your 2nd jab is very much due. Trouble is, some people are very deferential in dealing with NHS and when they see a 'don't call' strong message, could still be waiting next year and not want to ring becaue of the messages, while there are still those who are calling every week chasing up their vaccine, despite the messages.

Crazy to turn people away if the national system let them book. As someone said the booking number says the centres should honour the booking even if a tech glitch. In that situation I think I would call the booking helpline whilst still there or tell the vaccination centre to do it.

As pp have suggested there will be far less gp appointments from now on. Two gps hubs round here (Greater Manchester) have said they won’t be participating in the under 50s/under 40s as they have too much of their usual stuff to do. They will however continue to do 2nd jabs to those already offered. I hope some pharmacies continue to offer as otherwise it will be a trek to the mass sites for all of us.

My GP surgery (Essex) has announced that they will be calling 40-44 years olds from next week. That suggests to me that the national roll out to 40+ is imminent as my surgery has previously refused to vaccinate ahead of schedule.

@BunsyGirl that's interesting. My GP is part of a massive group and they have also never moved ahead of schedule. I'm really starting to find it a bit bizarre that more than half the population has been done, average UK age is 40, and yet we are stuck at 44/45, moving sooooo slowly. DH and I are only 7 years apart in age but the gap between our vaccine dates is already at 6 weeks.

It's surely silly to turn people away. I could choose from loads of appointments next week, but only next week, and it seems many could get the next day. Which would otherwise potentially not be filled.

They surely wouldn't let it go live if they didn't want those people to start; a Gp friend told us that many areas are trying to move on to under 45's because they have availability.

Him and the other person I know who can jab, are just jabbing as many as they can. Both said they wouldn't have turned me away as an sen teacher.

In fact one said the front page often doesn't catch up with the system; though I expect that's more because it's just not official yet.

They must know people try to log in!

I'm really starting to find it a bit bizarre that more than half the population has been done, average UK age is 40,

One of my jabber friends went through the list of people they've called to the surgery that wouldn't be public in that detail. Eg every person who had a learning disability, he jabbed who ever had brought them. Friend, relative, carer. I know people under 30 who were done in jan and Feb for being on various voluntary lists or support worker lists eg bf peer support, even if it wasn't happening. To help get it happening.

Many younger people have been jabbed for a wide range of reasons which is how we are so far through.

Sorry to those turned away. How ridiculous! Unfair if you've booked legitimately. It's not your fault there's a glitch. What a waste of an appointment too. I hope it's just a couple of one off jobsworths. Fingers crossed no one else has this.

Good news about the imminent rollout!

In the US, and had my second Pfizer dose yesterday. I’m 43. 16+ in my state is on to their second jabs.

I had no reaction to the first, but today have been taking ibuprofen every four hours for chills and body aches. I also have zero energy.

I've found out from neighbours that my area has finished the second doses for groups 1-4 and is now doing groups 5-9 who had first jabs in late Feb and early March, one of them is 61 so that's group 7 (who mostly got in before me in group 6 round here)!! Meantime still no appointments for first jab for asthmatic 40yo DH. I'm feeling very disgruntled about it tonight and nervous about even booking him before the page updates because of people being turned away. I know this is very unreasonable, just so keen to know he's safe.

@stopgap

In the US, and had my second Pfizer dose yesterday. I’m 43. 16+ in my state is on to their second jabs.

I had no reaction to the first, but today have been taking ibuprofen every four hours for chills and body aches. I also have zero energy.

What's the take-up percentage like? USA seems to be doing really well in moving ahead, but I've been surprised how young some being vaccinated are and wondered if there are a lot declining to be vaccinated yet.

That is a forthcoming issue, I believe, in that we are up to 61 percent nationally who’ve been vaccinated, which was the number during initial polling who actually wanted to take the vaccine. So, now we have to hope that the 13 percent originally taking a “wait and see” approach come forth and get the jab.