35-39 waiting, 40-42 endlessly trying and 42+ jab updates

[MRex]

Continued from the older thread...
Post your updates here.

@RedToothBrush
I know that in greater manchester many/most of the gp hubs are closing to the under 50s - in most cases they will continue to do 2nd appointments for the 50+. But this is putting tremendous pressure on getting appointments for the rest of us via the mass vaccinations sites.
I don't mind driving up there, or waiting a couple of weeks, but very frustrating that there are no appointments in the area at all.
I'm hoping this is a temporary problem in that suddenly there are a lot of extra people looking to book on but not yet the extra capacity to deal with them

@OrangeBananaFish

I'm in Darlington. We have a mass vaccination centre on the outskirts. Another one in town, plus there's also Middlesbrough not too far away. Nothing anywhere close. An hours drive for me. I keep checking every hour or so just in case.

I get that they want to concentrate on 2nd doses, but why open it up to us as well? I've never been bothered about waiting my turn, but now it is my turn I want it. Its like standing in a queue for a till at the supermarket or shop and as soon as you get to the front the cashier goes home

Because demand. Because there is an election next week. Because they do have enough doses to do more than just second doses.

????

Dunno.

Dont throw your cards if thinking about going on holidays !!

Greece to take NHS paper card as proof of Covid vaccination
thepointsguy.co.uk/news/greece-accepting-paper-vaccination/

The place I had mine did do drop ins. I had an appointment but could see through social media they had done them. It's in a high hesitancy high case kind of place. So worth looking around once you know the name of the places. I just searched for posts with their name on Facebook.

Aug 1979. So, so close. But the cut off on the booking site is 1 July. Arggh.

The mass vaccination sites have opened to 42+ via the online booking, and the BBC and other articles have publicised this.

And yet Matt Hancock (42) saying that he is "looking forward to receiving his text now", and reminding people that "when you get the call, get the jab", which seems like quite misleading advice, given that it's the online booking site that has opened to 42-year olds, and those who are waiting for a text (which presumably comes from their GP) could be waiting for quite some time. My GP doesn't send texts out to anyone under 50 who wasn't group 6, and they had to book online at a mass vacc centre because they read about it, or wait to get a letter from the NHS telling them to book online as the mass vacc centre. No texts or calls involved at this stage (possibly there will be much later, if they don't seem to have taken up the opportunity, but it will be much later as part of a catch-up program). I know that some people have got texts via their GPs at much younger ages etc, but I don't think it's been part of the centralised system, which is what has only just been opened up to 42 year olds.

I doubt Matt will be waiting for his text in reality - he'll be booked in asap.

I've got a much nearer location for 2nd jab.

I guess they may be doing a lot of 2nd jabs now at local locations.

Still I'm lucky. I have an appt for this week and it's a 20 min drive. The 'nearest' one available was in a week or 2 but it would take me longer to get there due to roads / roadworks.

Managed to book mine today. I'm 42. When I tried yesterday it wasn't letting me book. Lots and lots of locations and available appointment times (I'm in London and chose a Zone 1 hospital). I've booked my first for this Friday and my second for 16th July. Fingers crossed I don't get sick after!

@Fulloffalafel

I'm 42 and was able to book a little earlier at a central London hospital for the middle of next week.

Got my reference numbers, but haven't yet received a text or email. Do they come through instantly or after a delay?

I'm 42 and booked a Central London hospital this morning. I got both the text and email immediately. If you try to book another appointment does it let you?

I don't understand why GP vaccination centres and other vaccinations centres would be closing at all with so many people left to vaccinate. And living in a rural area, many people here would not be able to travel a long way for a jab. It just doesn't make sense at all. It sends the message that the important people are done and everyone else is less important.

[quote EasterIssland]Dont throw your cards if thinking about going on holidays !!

Greece to take NHS paper card as proof of Covid vaccination
thepointsguy.co.uk/news/greece-accepting-paper-vaccination/[/quote]
If Greece wants both vaccines then that rules out greece for under 40s as 12 week gap which I think is longer than some countries in Europe.
As start may even means not fully vaccinated until start of August.
We not going abroad.
Its really frustrating all I can assume is supply is a issue due to likkited age groups if az and less supply pfizer.
We only ordered 20million pfizer so that's only 11 million people..
Moderna delivery was tiny 500k.

@FlattestWhite

The mass vaccination sites have opened to 42+ via the online booking, and the BBC and other articles have publicised this.

And yet Matt Hancock (42) saying that he is "looking forward to receiving his text now", and reminding people that "when you get the call, get the jab", which seems like quite misleading advice, given that it's the online booking site that has opened to 42-year olds, and those who are waiting for a text (which presumably comes from their GP) could be waiting for quite some time. My GP doesn't send texts out to anyone under 50 who wasn't group 6, and they had to book online at a mass vacc centre because they read about it, or wait to get a letter from the NHS telling them to book online as the mass vacc centre. No texts or calls involved at this stage (possibly there will be much later, if they don't seem to have taken up the opportunity, but it will be much later as part of a catch-up program). I know that some people have got texts via their GPs at much younger ages etc, but I don't think it's been part of the centralised system, which is what has only just been opened up to 42 year olds.

I doubt Matt will be waiting for his text in reality - he'll be booked in asap.

I was group 6. My GP never got around to me, but I got a text from the national booking site a few days after they loaded up group 6. (I was already booked of course thanks to an earlier version of this thread.)

I got a text today to book on the national booking site.

Maybe some GPs will upload numbers etc to the national site eventually then. But I don't think most 42 year olds will get a text soon. He'd have been better telling them to go online ,rather than waiting around to hear by text or phone, as I think that's unlikely - certainly at mine. Others I'm sure work differently, though.

Anyone having trouble ringing Guys vaccine line. Line constantly engaged since yesterday. DH missed call saying his jab cancelled on 3rd May as they've realised it is a bank holiday and to re-book on national booking line. Went into managed bookings but not able to book saying ineligible. Originally booked direct so believe maybe why.

oh ok, some GPs are obviously much more keen on uploading phone numbers etc than others!!

I've laughed at Hancock's announcement regarding that 44s can book as announced yesterday,,, ii was thinking... people in MN knew about it before you ! :D

@tulips27

I don't understand why GP vaccination centres and other vaccinations centres would be closing at all with so many people left to vaccinate. And living in a rural area, many people here would not be able to travel a long way for a jab. It just doesn't make sense at all. It sends the message that the important people are done and everyone else is less important.

it is annoying but does make sense - because they are running massively behind with their usual GP work. And are knackered.

@WaitinginWorcestershire

I got a text today to book on the national booking site.

me too. This is just putting more pressure on the system!

That would have been useful too @FlattestWhite, but as I say, my GP did nothing to tell me about vaccination, I only got it because the national system texted me. They were busy with their other priority cases and I was clearly much lower on their list.

The online form only allowed to book at locations an hours drive from me. I called my GP and was through to my towns central booking. They couldn't understand why I was only getting these locations when there are 4 hubs in town. They booked me in for AZ on Friday

[quote EasterIssland]Dont throw your cards if thinking about going on holidays !!

Greece to take NHS paper card as proof of Covid vaccination
thepointsguy.co.uk/news/greece-accepting-paper-vaccination/[/quote]
A reason NOT to go to Greece?

I could forge that card very easily. Not reassuring.

@3asAbird you can use a negative test. Most people will have had one jab which gives some immunity - combined with a negative pcr you can go.

just called my gp and they confirmed their hub is not doing under 50s at all so have to go via the national site where nothing currently available within reasonable distance. Sigh.

My name is not even on the card I was given. I could put anyone’s on there!