Absolute Farce - booster vaccination

[Iquitit]

I work in social care, in line with the mandatory requirements, I've had both vaccinations and was 'invited' for my booster and flu jab recently.

Only I haven't had either, and can't seem to get anyone to do them either!

There's no indication that I can find to know if the having the booster will be considered fully vaccinated, or in other words, if I stand to lose my job by not having it.

The surgery local to where I work went in, with less than 24 hours notice, and I was missed being notified until literally the last minute (as they arrived and my boss realised I wasn't there, along with a couple of others, nightstaff between shifts etc, so I'm not the only one) and I physically couldn't get there in time as I was miles away. Was told I could book the booster online or with my local surgery, alongside the flu jab.
All good. Until I've actually tried that is! I can't get an appointment within 50 miles online, and my own surgery have said they're 'not doing boosters' for anyone but NHS staff. Surgery that attended work won't give me an appointment because I'm not a patient with them and could only have done it if I'd been present at work, employer says 'keep trying'.

As an aside too, although we all signed consent forms for the covid booster and flu jab about 2 weeks before, on the actual day, only those over 65 were actually vaccinated for flu. My local surgery are only doing over 65's as are the chemists etc locally.

I'm really fucked off about this to be honest, we have been mandated to have this vaccine, been battered by society and the government and employers about our duty of care and how we must protect the vulnerable over and over - and yet here they are, collectively, failing to even provide the vaccines we're told we need to protect those we work with!

It's always been like this in social care when you've tried to get flu vaccines in the past, you just end up going round in circles and still don't get it. Oh unless you stump up and pay for it yourself, which I'm not going to do.
I'm really fed up and pissed off, I'll keep trying to book them online, but I really felt like people needed to know this is what is going on within social care, with less than a month to mandatory vaccination being enforced, and the controversy that caused, we're now back to this crap again.
And yes, I needed a rant!

It's disgusting OP.
I posted earlier this week about being flagged eligible for a booster but not actually working in social care anymore.
I went along and explained my predicament and was given one anyway.
I've also had the flu vaccine but granted I get this due to a medical condition.
Your employer needs to sort this for you and arrange for the vaccination team to come back in.

And people wonder why there's a shortage of care workers!
All this crap for minimum wage.

The current law only requires care home staff to have 2 vaccines.
So you have done what is needed by law.

The best way to get the booster if you are care home staff seems to be to book using the national booking website. If you are under 50, you will be asked if you are social care worker, click yes.
It is true that pharmacies are prioritising those entitled to free flu vaccines, but that does include you as a care home worker. Even Boots will give you a free flu vaccine if you book an appointment.

If you meet the eligibility criteria for a free flu jab, then you can just book it online with Boots. They have a drop down menu, for age, and categories for the free jab. You can book private flu jabs online too.

ahh the whole system is a joke. I am pregnant and the guidance seems really unclear on whether pregnant women should be included - some GPs seem to be inviting them and others only if they fit into other groups.

My husband and brother in law were both group 6 previously but no advice on whether they will be included or not....just says those with high risk (what was previously group 4).

Finally my father who was group 4 vulnerable (although he'd get it anyway cos of his age) has had a nightmare getting his sorted as they have accidently recorded him as having two first doses. he's been trying for months to get both the vaccine centre and his GP to rectify it but to no avail. he had his second dose in feb but he can't book a "second" dose either. so he hasn't been called - whilst his non-vulnerable partner whose the same age as him and had her second dose several months later got called several weeks ago.

Near us the walk in vaccination centres are offering the booster Covid vaccines.
Do you have anything like that near you?

I work at a walk in centre, we would do you. Can you look up the local walk in centres?

Thanks for the replies.

I can't get an appointment with any local (ish) chemists for the flu, just saying all booked up. I am looking each day, though there's not a Boots locally.
We also don't have walk in centres locally, for the covid booster, nearest one I'm directed to is about 35 miles away, I don't drive. I actually wouldn't mind going but it'll cost me a fortune to get there. I've been through the national booking website
because 2 local (ish) pharmacies advertise they're giving boosters but they're not on the list and told me that means they have no appointments left until they release more - again I keep trying.

It's just very frustrating to be in this position after all the hype about 'doing the right thing' to 'protect the vulnerable' the mandatory vaccination and then when you want to do the right thing, you can't! It's like now the mandate for the covid vaccine is going ahead, everyone thinks it's all good and job done, vulnerable protected, literature telling people that care workers are eligible for the booster and the flu vax free, yet the reality is actually really different.

I'm in Scotland working in social care so not sure if it's different here but my workplace gave our names and contact details to the local health board who then contacted us to arrange dates/times for all 3.

I got my first flu Jag this year alongside my booster for free but normally we pay for it and the company reimburse the cost.