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Original poster

Turned away at booster clinic with appointment, computer cock up let people book too early

34 replies

Feduperika · 09/11/2021 15:46

Have just had my booster after booking online on the NHS website. Many people were being turned away even if they were only one day earlier than 4 calendar months. Apparently the system is to blame but they won't honour the appointments.
Not just my vaccine centre doing this, friends in a distant county were turned away today with 4 days early appointments.
All these people had appts today so there was capacity today. Now they are being told to just walk in on days that are already fully booked. So frustrating

OP posts:
Original poster
Feduperika · 09/11/2021 15:46

6 calendar months! sorry

OP posts:
NavigatingAdolescence · 09/11/2021 15:47

It’s very clear that there needs to have been 6 months since the second vaccine. Why are people booking so far ahead of that? It’s their fault the appts are being wasted.

TeapotCollection · 09/11/2021 16:04

People are booking when the site tells them they can. I booked yesterday for next week but I don’t know exactly when my second jab was, I just trusted that the site wouldn’t let me book until I was eligible, as I’m sure everyone else did

Original poster
Feduperika · 09/11/2021 16:07

I thought I'd post to warn people to check their timings. The appointment system is supposed to calculate this for you but it has cocked up. Hopefully this error is being/already is corrected. After last week's anouncement by the government that you can book after 5 months I guess it isn't clear enough

OP posts:
rainbowandglitter · 09/11/2021 16:08

@TeapotCollection

People are booking when the site tells them they can. I booked yesterday for next week but I don’t know exactly when my second jab was, I just trusted that the site wouldn’t let me book until I was eligible, as I’m sure everyone else did
You can check the dates of your vaccine on the NHS app.
Aposterhasnoname · 09/11/2021 16:08

@NavigatingAdolescence

It’s very clear that there needs to have been 6 months since the second vaccine. Why are people booking so far ahead of that? It’s their fault the appts are being wasted.
They aren’t booking “so far ahead” the website is letting people boom for 180 days after their second jab, when you should wait 182. It’s literally two days.

I booked mine for the first date the website would allow. Luckily I had a heads up that they were turning people away, so changed it.

nether · 09/11/2021 16:08

It's frustrating, isn't it?

My teen DC were entitled to 2 shots (CEV household) and the online system let them book their second, but still turned away when they arrived for their second dose refused to do under 18s at all despite being eligible and books).

Staff v sympathetic, and says it was happening all the time.

I note that the first roll out that went so well was all planned before Sajid Javid took the helm (he was appointed quite late on) and all roll out since have been a bit shit

ILookAtTheFloor · 09/11/2021 16:09

I had the same. It wouldn't let me book until I was 180 days post 2nd jab. It rolled around so I booked for the next day but they turned me away as it was 17th October and my 2nd jab was on 19th April. So I had to wait 2 days and go back. I didn't realise as it didn't let me book until the 180 days had passed.

Mindymomo · 09/11/2021 16:23

I’ve booked mine 1 day earlier than the 6 months for a Friday, they are not doing vaccines the following 2 days Sat & Sun, will I be turned away?

SparklingLime · 09/11/2021 16:25

I can’t believe this. I booked my mum in last Thursday for the soonest possible date, which turned out to be 180 days. Loads of people have. I assumed they were allowing earlier. They must known that this was happening since last week. It’s appalling.

bigbluebus · 09/11/2021 16:28

I went online to book mine yesterday morning. The 1st date it offered me was the exact date I'd calculated myself a couple of weeks ago.
I do know someone who said she had hers the day before it was actually due though. They didn't turn her away.

notangelinajolie · 09/11/2021 16:31

The first date that came available for me was 180 days. Date for DHs booster came up at 184. He had it yesterday. Mine is next week - think I might change it to avoid feeling embarrassed if they turn me away.

SparklingLime · 09/11/2021 16:41

Report in The Telegraph today suggests this should not happen again, but who knows?

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/08/record-booster-vaccinations-booked-rules-loosen-over-50s/

Turned away at booster clinic with appointment, computer cock up let people book too early
pippapoo62 · 09/11/2021 16:45

Booked mine on line for next week but the website corrected date to December 14 th, so I have to wait till then.

TawnyPippit · 09/11/2021 16:50

Re the being turned away, the vaccines are administered under strict protocols and I know that at the site I volunteer at we simply don’t have the discretion to do things that might look like common sense. I know that doesn’t make it less annoying in any way at all, just saying please don’t be cross with the people doing the checking in who are saying what sounds like “computer says no” when “computer” has already said yes.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 09/11/2021 16:54

I went to a drop in yesterday. They were doing anyone at 5 1/2 weeks.

scotchbonnet79 · 09/11/2021 17:11

It let me book mine 3 days early (didn't realise), turned up and after a quick discussion was permitted to have it. So not all centres are turning people away.

LilyPond2 · 09/11/2021 17:20

@NavigatingAdolescence

It’s very clear that there needs to have been 6 months since the second vaccine. Why are people booking so far ahead of that? It’s their fault the appts are being wasted.
People aren't booking "so far ahead". Read the OP! In any event, the national booking system only usually lets you book if you're eligible, so perfectly reasonable to expect it not to offer people appointments that they're not eligible for Hmm
hellcatspangle · 09/11/2021 17:31

Mine is booked for 181 days...think I might phone the pharmacy where it's booked and check

londonmummy1966 · 09/11/2021 17:48

I got mine at 5 1/2 months which is the criteria for the centre I volunteer at. Having said that I would have waited my turn but there were some spare doses at the end of the day which would otherwise have gone to waste.

NavigatingAdolescence · 09/11/2021 17:48

People aren't booking "so far ahead". Read the OP! In any event, the national booking system only usually lets you book if you're eligible, so perfectly reasonable to expect it not to offer people appointments that they're not eligible for

At the point I replied the OP said they were booking 4 months after their 2nd jabs.

Fallagain · 09/11/2021 18:06

Overall I wouldn’t worry there is plenty of supply of booster jabs and the issue is not enough people are getting them.

SparklingLime · 09/11/2021 18:11

@Fallagain

Overall I wouldn’t worry there is plenty of supply of booster jabs and the issue is not enough people are getting them.
If people with legitimate appointments are being turned away then that can only slow the program down even further.
altmember · 09/11/2021 19:34

First date the website made available to me was 182 days (26 weeks to the day) since my 2nd dose, but I went for one a couple of days later to avoid any issue.

My first dose was on 17th May, and the 182 days/26 weeks point is 15th Nov. But obviously, if you go by the calendar month date, it's 2 days short of six months. I wonder if this is part of the issue with people getting turned away for being early?

Fallagain · 09/11/2021 21:18

@SparklingLime but the OP wasn’t turned away.