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Original poster

Turned away from booster clinic despite being invited

50 replies

AlwaysaLittleBitTired · 01/11/2021 18:46

Just a note for information really…

My GP surgery texted a few weeks ago to say that I am eligible for a booster jab - I had both initial vaccinations early on after being invited to book, so am now >6months - I presume because of asthma (I changed medications last year to control worsening symptoms, but it isn’t severe).
I attended my booster appointment yesterday, but was turned away on the basis that I do not meet the eligibility criteria.
There is clearly an issue with the system sending out invitations, when the eligibility criteria for the booster is more specific than that for the initial jabs. They were apologetic at wasting my time, but that isn’t really the problem. They probably took 10-15 minutes of their own time on the day trying to find out what to do, and to then explain to me, which wasted time they needed to help other (mainly elderly) people who were there being vaccinated. What a mess!

For asthma, they tell me it now has to be oral (non-inhaled) steroids, taken daily, to be eligible for the booster.

OP posts:

DynastyBarry · 01/11/2021 19:07

The list is here

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/who-is-at-high-risk-from-coronavirus/

I had a nhs vaccine text and letter

I'm sorry you had a wasted trip

BunsyGirl · 01/11/2021 19:22

My brother is 42, has mild asthma and has had his booster.

Roselilly36 · 01/11/2021 19:36

I was sent a letter, to take with me to prove eligibility, have you had a letter OP.

FourTeaFallOut · 01/11/2021 19:39

I got my booster without any problems, (after being invited - no less than three times now ) and I don't take daily oral steroids. I do take spiriva though which I think is how I'm eligible.

ShakeTheDisease · 01/11/2021 19:40

But your own GP practice said you were eligible! And texted you. I would be really cross about this. We desperately need more protection for the winter, someone has shown up, and they're looking for reasons to send you away? Make it make sense!
I would contact your surgery and ask for their help to sort it out.

rrhuth · 01/11/2021 19:42

The booster programme is a mess!

They are supposed to be opening the walk in clinics agains for boosters, so hopefully you can be sorted soon.

Talk about squandering your advantage, this government is forever snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

EnjoyingTheArmoire · 01/11/2021 19:48

The eligibility criteria around asthmatics has been ridiculous, and as badly messed up as the initial doses despite reassurances from the government that it wouldn't happen again.

I'm sorry that you were turned away. There is (was?) a petition on the Asthma UK website trying to get all asthma added to the booster programme, as was initially promised.

Bayleaf25 · 02/11/2021 07:15

The thread I started yesterday also had people from the original group 6 who were eligible for booster (apparently all groups 1-9) are eligible so I’d be confused too?

Lemonsyellow · 02/11/2021 07:18

Walk-in clinics for boosters have been running for ages where I am. No appointment is needed. I went last week, and I’m not elderly, though am over-50.

Morph2lcfc · 02/11/2021 07:21

I got a text invitation from nhs presumably through gp and I didn’t think I was eligible and asked for advice on another thread. The general advice was to go anyway as it’s the gps that decide not the vaccine centres and to question it actually takes up more nhs resources than going for jab. I went at weekend and didn’t have an issue. It was a pre booked appointment but you can’t pre book until you’ve received the text/letter as a colleague who is cv tried but couldn’t book. In my case I got first jab early as I’m carer to autistic child but this time the criteria is if you are carer to someone who is at increased risk of COVID which my child isn’t. I was worried about what happened to you happening but was assured by ppl on thread it wouldn’t but looks like it does happen. I’d definitely report back to your gp

Morph2lcfc · 02/11/2021 07:23

@Roselilly36

I was sent a letter, to take with me to prove eligibility, have you had a letter OP.

I don’t think you get a letter if they have your mobile number as my mum and me are with same surgery and she got letter but I got text

piglet81 · 02/11/2021 07:27

I got a text on Friday evening inviting me to a vaccine clinic at 9am on Saturday. Have ignored it as had my original jabs in may and June (4 weeks apart, no idea why) so am not 6 months on and don’t fall into any special categories. Think it must be a mistake.

Morph2lcfc · 02/11/2021 07:28

Them taking 10 to 15 minutes to find out then turn you away seems ridiculous in this situation and they seem very over zealous. They are going to be very slow at rolling out the vaccine if they are checking everyone in this much detail, when I went it literally took a minute to check my name was on their list, ask me a couple of questions and then jab, they didn’t even go into why I was there as I’d booked through the gp invite so gp had already decided. I can understand them checking eligibility more if it’s a walk in centre but it’s just a waste of everyone’s time the way they are doing and needs feeding back to your gp. Presumably unless you report otherwise your gp will think you’ve just not attended

PhiOmicron · 02/11/2021 07:31

The same happened to my neighbour- invited, then declined, and treated as if HE had been the one wasting everyone's time.

Omnishambles.

kimlo · 02/11/2021 07:35

it's been a mess for asthmatics.

You can get a booster if you were in the priginal group 4 or 6. Or if you meet the new poorly controled asthma set out in the green book which is a hopsipitalisation or 2 courses of oral steroids in the last 2 years.

You obviously had yours early on to be mpre than 6 months ago so. must have been flagged as group 6 and you were invited.

VienneseWhirligig · 02/11/2021 08:03

Same thing happened to me - I didn't go to the clinic but tried to book online and couldn't do it. I called 119 and a really helpful chap tried to work out why it wasn't working for me, and was confused that I was invited for my booster 6 weeks before the 6 month point. He concluded that I needed to wait until the 6 months and 1 week point, and if I still couldn't book, to call back.

Original poster

AlwaysaLittleBitTired · 02/11/2021 17:04

Blimey - it is a mess isn't it?
I'm not cross about it at all, but it just seems an inordinate waste of people's time and resources. I did indeed only book as the GP sent me the link and a note to say I am eligible (by text, no letter). If I'm not, then I'm not (and looking at the list, I don't fit the box).
When i can get through to my surgery I will flag it, as I am under 50 and concerned that if I do become eligible later on due to a change in criteria, then they might think I've missed it or had it. Who knows.

OP posts:

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 02/11/2021 17:34

I've had a text from my GP for a booster next Wednesday. By the time I got through to confirm (as requested), there were no appts left. They've given me one on the 18th Nov. Since I'm in school I'd like it asap, so went online to book one sooner. Not allowed apparently.

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 02/11/2021 17:35

Oh, I was group 6 but not for asthma.

Rosti1981 · 03/11/2021 07:11

I'm still confused about who is eligible for the booster. If you were categorised as group 6 for the initial roll out, does that automatically translate into invitation for booster? The list linked to above seems to suggest not, but I'm not 100% sure because of that first point about if GP says you need it (which, tbh, I think OP should have come under no questions asked!).

Original poster

AlwaysaLittleBitTired · 03/11/2021 20:08

Yea. And I was classed as within group 6. Rightly it wrongly, but the GP put me there.
I can’t reach the surgery on the phone, but messaged through their new app. I had a response today telling me to call 119 to check eligibility- which totally ignores what I said to them about their having me on the ‘eligible’ list and asking whether that is correct.
I have an asthma review call next week, so will pick this up with them again at that time.

OP posts:

Novemberchild2 · 06/11/2021 14:03

@EnjoyingTheArmoire

The eligibility criteria around asthmatics has been ridiculous, and as badly messed up as the initial doses despite reassurances from the government that it wouldn't happen again.

I'm sorry that you were turned away. There is (was?) a petition on the Asthma UK website trying to get all asthma added to the booster programme, as was initially promised.

Asthma varies from person to person. Mine is severe and I take the highest level of inhaler plus have oral steroids during flare ups so CEV. My friend has Asthma and barely uses her reliever and usually doesn't take a preventor and never needs oral steroids or hospital treatment.
It does need better guidance though.

wheresmymojo · 06/11/2021 18:25

I'm previous Group 6 (and on the list linked above) and haven't been invited yet.

Just Googled it and tried and managed to book a booster even though I'm not six months yet so I think they've made the system update to make it five months already

wheresmymojo · 06/11/2021 18:25

PS My medical condition isn't asthma though

dizzydizzydizzy · 06/11/2021 18:36

I booked my booster on the National
System today. My second dose was
About 5.5 months ago.

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