Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Can I get a booster at 5 months at a walk in site?

66 replies

Grimbelina · 30/11/2021 08:56

I'm group 6, over 55, just over 5 months and read today that the government are shortening the gap between the 3nd dose and booster to 3 months.

I am very keen to have it as the person I am caring for is going downhill and I really don't want to bring it into the house.

If anyone knows, I would be so grateful (and before I travel 10 miles!).

OP posts:
Cookerhood · 30/11/2021 19:00

@TedGlenn as far as I know it's a rule but you would have to ask at the local centre. As a SJA volunteer I don't vaccinate under 18s so I'm not very familiar with the process. Certainly for adults they insist on 4 weeks.

didireallysaythat · 30/11/2021 19:03

You can try - DH is eligible but only 1/10 walk-ins here is doing boosters. On Saturday the queue started at 6am for doors opening at 9am. He's going to wait for his slot (eligible 3 weeks ago, first appointment available in the week before Xmas). They're going to have to pull their fingers out

reallyagain · 30/11/2021 19:05

I had my second 5.5 months ago and was frustratingly sent away from 2 walk-in centres today despite being late forties. Centre was empty I'm sure they wasted vaccines today

TedGlenn · 30/11/2021 20:31

@Cookerhood Thank you!

SecretKeeper1 · 30/11/2021 22:58

@PromisesMeanNothingSue

You can get the booster done from 5 months after your second jab if you’re over 40, CV or a frontline HSC worker. www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

Yesterday my local Procare centre would only book me in for mid Dec., on the date I hit the 6 month mark. I phoned back today and they’d had the JCVI guidance change, and changed my appt to today for me.

That guidance also says:

Although you can pre-book a booster dose from 5 months after your 2nd dose, the appointment dates you'll be offered will be from 6 months (182 days) after your 2nd dose.

It seems to very much depend on the centre. Where I live, near a city, they’ve been very stringent about dates - people have been turned away. Where my mum lives, more rural, it seems they’ll happily jab anyone who turns up!

MaggieFS · 30/11/2021 23:04

I'm >40 and five months gap at the weekend, so if they don't update the system before then, I'll aim to book for six months and then hopefully be able to bring it forwards once it has updated.

Casamilano · 01/12/2021 14:36

@TedGlenn - I work in a vaccination centre. We do stick rigidly to the 12 week rule re covid infection and teens.

tumpymummy · 01/12/2021 14:54

I have just tried to get my booster 2 days short of the 6 months. They would'nt give it to me! I have to go back Saturday!

tumpymummy · 01/12/2021 14:57

That is despite the booking system giving me today's date weeks ago. It wouldn't let me book November but today was the first date offered.

tumpymummy · 01/12/2021 14:58

You couldnt make it up! They are encoraging people to get vaccinated then turn you away when you try.

theemperorhasnoclothes · 01/12/2021 15:00

I've tried also to get mine at a walk in (late forties, 5.5. months since last dose) and been turned away.

It wasn't that busy and I'm sure they could have done me. It's very frustrating to be trying to do the thing they've had a whole bloody press conference to encourage people to do, and despite them announcing they want to boost people earlier, being turned away when there's clearly capacity.

I'm guessing late 40s with exposure to kids in schools (as I have) must be one of the highest risk demographics now that older groups and frontline staff have got their boosters etc (well except teachers, no idea why they're not considered frontline staff given they're 'dropping like flies' according to my secondary aged DC).

sansou · 01/12/2021 16:16

I’m 50 and 2 weeks under 6 mths here and since there was zero queue at my local walk in centre, I chanced my luck to get my booster today but no can do - they’re sticking strictly to the 6 mths at the moment.

reallyagain · 01/12/2021 17:09

It doesn't make any sense, they must be wasting vaccines while they wait for the rules to filter through. My local hub (massive) was completely empty

MaggieFS · 01/12/2021 17:21

@tumpymummy

You couldnt make it up! They are encoraging people to get vaccinated then turn you away when you try.

To be fair, they've said they're working on how to manage the new range of eligible people and will make said people aware once they have a plan. It's a bit rich to be critical.

MaggieFS · 01/12/2021 17:24

@reallyagain

It doesn't make any sense, they must be wasting vaccines while they wait for the rules to filter through. My local hub (massive) was completely empty

Why must they be? They probably have enough for the quantity of vaccinations they were planning to do this week which would have been booked prior to the change of criteria this week.

I am as keen as anyone to have my booster but it doesn't take a genius to consider there must be an almighty amount on planning being done urgently behind the scenes to be able to suddenly try to vaccinate the numbers increasing from vaccinating 40+ people after six months to 18+ people after three months.

reallyagain · 01/12/2021 17:36

Well excuse me for not being a genius 😂 but they were fully staffed so clearly set up for large numbers - it's a massive national hub

Wingingit15 · 01/12/2021 17:38

It changes on Monday apparently

Cookerhood · 01/12/2021 18:00

At our walk in we never know how many we will do. Sometimes people have to wait while we defrost some more vaccine. If it's getting close to the end we wouldn't open a vial for one person, they'd be told to come back another day.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 01/12/2021 18:07

@reallyagain

It doesn't make any sense, they must be wasting vaccines while they wait for the rules to filter through. My local hub (massive) was completely empty
Surely they'd only be waiting them if they were filling syringes knowing no one had turned up

I agree it seems a nonense but I don't think they'll be wastng any doses

hotcrossedbums · 01/12/2021 18:07

Guidance today is as long as 3 months from dose 2 your good to have it

reallyagain · 01/12/2021 18:10

Hotcrossedbums do you know if that's being rolled out now across all walk-ins?

buckleten · 01/12/2021 18:13

I got my booster today at a walk in, I'm 5 months and a few days past my second jab. Late 40's. Tried to book one but it was coming up with early January dates ie 6 months past, and I really wanted to get done before seeing family over Christmas.

canadagoose1 · 01/12/2021 18:13

I phoned the helpline today (Scotland) as I'm 40+ and 20 weeks since my 2nd dose. I was told they are updating guidance but I would likely be turned away.

It's confusing when they publicise something before the guidelines are updated, the woman on the phone said she'd had loads of calls about it.

reallyagain · 01/12/2021 18:14

It seems to vary by centre

hotcrossedbums · 01/12/2021 18:30

@reallyagain

Hotcrossedbums do you know if that's being rolled out now across all walk-ins?
Not sure, that's just what my workplace (surgery) is doing