How long would you queue for your vaccine (yes you were given an appointment)

[Crunchymum]

Interested to hear.

Dedicated vaccination hub (GP surgery but currently at weekends only* does covid vaccines)

• appointment system (booked online)

• no information provided about waiting times on arrival by staff

• longish queue on arrival (40 mins just to get into the inside waiting area)

How long would you wait in this situation?

I would not put myself in that situation if I could do so. One of the reasons why I chose a local pharmacy for my vaccine and am grateful I had the option.

OP there does seem to have been something very wrong with the organisation at the centre you refer to.

1st vaccine it was done at my work and 2nd vaccine in and out in 5 mins. Didn't wait 15 mins after I just went and was fine. I would wait however long was needed tho

Probably about 5 minutes - I have a needle phobia and there's no way I'd be able to queue that long. I'd only wait the 5 minutes if DH was able to queue with me, I couldn't do it on my own.

Ive had both mine and arrived 5 mins early and went straight in and to the vaccinator both times.

However, if I had to wait, I would.

Okay, some people are needle phobic or have severe anxiety issues (was there someone you could mention this to and some provision for queue jumping in this situation....Id imagine there would be) but for other people I just think you have to wait.

No one sets out to create a queue. Usually a specific thing has happened to mean a 2 hour queue develops. Making a complaint isn't going to achieve much either is it, and those running it can already see the issue and no doubt feel a vibe of negativity from some people.

What they should do in this scenario is keep people informed about what's happening and likely time to jab. Information always helps. Information and a brief apology for the wait.

But I would have waited. If I was due at work or whatever I woukd call and say what was happening and I woukd remain in the queue.

I’d queue for as long as it took.
The logistics behind the vaccination programme is BLOODY complicated.
We take our lovely NHS for granted, just look at other countries roll outs.
As it happens my centre yesterday was very efficient and I walked pretty much straight in, needle in my arm within about 2 mins of entering the building!
Most places round here don’t have queues (for anyone worried they’ll be forced to queue everywhere for hours).

I’ve not had to wait very long 10-15 minutes max . I wouldn’t wait 2 hours but if I was told it was a 2 hour wait then I’d probably just suck it up . But if your not told about the wait and your stuck for time then yes I’d be miffed especially after you’ve been given a appointment.

When I had my first jab nobody was allowed near the door until 5 minutes before their appointment time, which meant no waiting alongside more than a few people. Everyone waited in their cars until their turn and it worked very well. I hope that's still in operation next time, as I can neither stand for long periods nor carry my own chair from the car park. I know that system wouldn't be suitable for every vaccination centre.

I got mine in January and April.

1st there were only 3 of us waiting and I was in and out in 35 minutes.

2nd there was a delay with the vaccine delivery so the queue was huge. I was in and out in 2 hours.

Our area accelerated vaccines for everyone between 18 and 39 last week with fast track appointments and walk ins at set times for anyone who wanted them - some people waited 4 hours.

They need to look at their appointment system. I volunteer at a vax centre and we have 4 vaccinators so have 8 slots per 10 minutes and there is almost never a queue, maybe 3-4 people waiting a couple of minutes to get temp checked and booked in. Same at the big centre I had my jab at - waited maybe 5 mins.

Okay, some people are needle phobic or have severe anxiety issues (was there someone you could mention this to and some provision for queue jumping in this situation....Id imagine there would be) but for other people I just think you have to wait.

At the GP centre DH and I went to there were volunteers speaking to people in the queue. In my case DH told them I have a phobia (I was crying too much to speak) and I was taken straight in. I'd like to think it's the same in the bigger hubs.

I volunteer at our vaccine hub. We ask people to stay in their cars until we call them through for their appointment. However, the only time we got behind was when 2 of the 6 vaccinators called in sick that morning. Most people were lovely about it but we had a few people getting cross.

First one I queued for about 2 hours all in…. The queue snaked all around and then through a huge building.
Second one took minutes.

I would have waited for as long as it took but then I didn’t have childcare issues like your friend. I suppose there wasn’t much else she could do at the time.

To be fair waiting a long time seems to be the norm for any NHS appointments at least in all the places I've lived (London/Essex). I can't remember ever seeing my dentist without having to sit in the waiting room for 30 minutes (before covid times). Not even just the NHS actually, even taking the cats to the vet usually takes nearly an hour because the vet is always running late. I've always imagined appointments are booked a little too close together to make the system more effective as otherwise the providers would be sitting and waiting if someone doesn't turn up for their appointment, so they overbook and ask people to wait...

I had my first vaccine at a hospital and was in and out in less than half an hour, including 15 min wait at the end because it was Pfizer vaccine.

My second jab was at the SSE Arena in Belfast. Massive queues. Had to join three different queues - first for identity check, second for health related questions, third for vaccine. I was there for about 90 minutes in all. In saying that, it was very efficient, no confusion about where to stand etc. The staff were lovely!

I went to a local vaccine centre for both of mine. Huge place, with loads of staff and cubicles. When I booked, every single slot throughout the day was free and each time I was in and out within 5 minutes and didn't see another member of the public. Reception said it had been deathly quiet both days. Yet friends are still being asked to go to a different county for theirs. It all seems a bit bonkers. The staff were twiddling their thumbs.

To be fair to friend, when you book the NHS booking page tell you to leave about 45 minutes to an hour for the appointment so yes, she has every reasonable expectation for it to be completed in that time.

My booking page didn't say anything about leaving time for queues and is very specific about asking people to arrive exactly on time.

People should be able to rely on information provided by NHSd when they book.

Of course unexpected thing occur, but I don't think your friend did anything unreasonable.

I have my vaccine next week tbh I can wait at most 40 minutes plus 10 minutes after to wait and see you’re alright as I have another appointment after. I’ve not heard of anyone waiting locally though it’s a big hub so should be pretty efficient.

I went to a big vaccine centre, it took an hour total from arriving to leaving including 15 minutes sitting after. I had about a 20 min wait at the start as there was a big queue. DH went to the same place the next day, having had far less choice of appointments than me suggesting they were busier that day, turned up early and was in and out in about half an hour! Think I was unlucky that a lot of people turned up around the same time.

I would happily wait though, in order to get it, and I was also inside in a well marshalled seating area not stood outside

All day, realistically probs about 7 hours!

I’m a volunteer vaccinator and we have rarely had a queue. The only times there were are when people turn up early or late for their appointment. They are fitted in as quickly as possible and everyone has been very positive and good natured. No one has complained and not sure why anyone would even if there is a queue.

At our hub it’s variable. Days where you could just walk in and others with long queues. Sometimes delivery of stock is later than expected so we start session late; occasionally short of volunteers (although rare); then mix of people with complicated histories if we have to check something; lots of anxiety; wearing wrong clothing etc

Other days works like a dream and not busy as well organised.

I wouldn't be able to wait too long as I'd have had DD with me. Bit of a nightmare if you've got to take kids along...

If it's a nearly 2 hour queue when it's all pre-booked I'd assume they'd massively overbooked. Queue until you have to leave though.

This is a new idea. I had both of mine within seven minutes of arriving at the facility. It was a well oiled machine.

30 minutes from arrival to leaving for mine (no 15 min wait), huge yet startlingly efficient queue and they said more people were being put through than earlier in the year. I was expecting anything from 10 min to an hour and would have waited longer but over an hour would be irritating.