COVID vaccination 12-15, 2nd dose issues

[Shopaholic100]

My DS got his letter today saying he will need 2 doses of the vaccine due to being at higher risk as he has an underlying health issue but I’m finding it impossible to book the second appointment. Is anyone else having the same issue? I called the GP surgery as per the letter instructions but they said we don’t do COVID vaccinations, call 119. I called 119 who said we can’t book 2nd doses for under 16s the system just won’t allow it, call your GP, this was confirmed by her manager. Apparently there is no one I can raise this as an issue with. The website on the letter says this page does not exist. I am currently back at number 20 in the queue in the GP telephone line.

Anyone else having the same issues? Any suggestions?

Does he have a specialist for his condition? Could you contact them and explain dilemma... They may be able to point you in a direction. Local health authority?

We got the same letter for DS. Apparently we'll get another letter six weeks after his first vaccination with info on booking his second.

@teablanket

We got the same letter for DS. Apparently we'll get another letter six weeks after his first vaccination with info on booking his second.

That’s good to know. Maybe it’s the case here too, unfortunately the receptionist was just like the computer says no!

I unexpectedly received the letter today for my ds. I rang up the GP to find out why and she said their can be some difficulty booking the second dose and sometimes you need to ring the GP or 119 to do it. Ds hasn't he his first dose so she said to take the letter with us to the appointment and they may book it then

We had this exact issue.
I got the gp to write a letter saying he was eligible. Then I took dc and the letter to a walk-in centre that was doing under 16s.
Sorted.

Depending where in the country you are you could wait an age for them to be added to the official list so would strongly recommend this approach. It was recommended to me by the ccg when I finally got through to speak to someone on the phone.

This approach also works for immunosuppressed people struggling to get their 3rd (non booster) vaccine.

We have ours booked on 13th Nov. Apparently, they can't have second doses done alongside first doses for 12-15s for some reason. And the CCG told me the GP has to organise it; there is only 1 clinic in a month that can do them, it seems.

Contact your local CCG.

I can't get dd's 2nd jab. She's eligible and due but the company the GP is using (who sent a text inviting her to book) aren't doing under 16s. They suggest you contact 119 but they can't book a 2nd jab for 12-15 year olds. The GP says not to contact them about vaccination.

Just to reiterate:
If you have a letter/text confirming eligibility you just need to find a walk-in centre that is doing under 16s and turn up.

The formal booking system is a shambles so don't wait for this to work if you're keen to get your dc jabbed ASAP.

And if your gp is fobbing you off ask to speak to the practice manager and have the relevant info ready to quote to them. It's not ok for them to get this wrong.
Many of chronic illness charities are campaigning hard to get the system working but change is slow.
Good luck.

I did finally manage to get dd vaccinated this afternoon after finally finding someone who acknowledged they couldn't get it done in the 12 week timescale and giving me a number for someone who could. There have been two clinics running all week, neither of which came up in Internet searches. One would have been a 2 hour round trip but we'd have done it, the other was 20 minutes away. Why we weren't told is an email to the practice manager.