Why I am not having the booster

[ihatefacemasks]

For the 14th day in a row, I have tried to book a booster vacc appointment. I usually get offered one 50+ miles away. Today, I have been told:

"Lots of people are trying to book an appointment.

You are number 10617 in the queue"

WTF is the point in telling people to have boosters if they can't have them? I fall into two categories (over 50 and CEV) - not keen on having them, but have regarded them as a necessary evil compared to more months of no income, i.e. lockdown.

I can't be the only one, if there are over 1,000 people also waiting even to get onto the website in my local area alone...

www.reddit.com/r/GetJabbed/

A place for those living in the UK to find out about Coronavirus vaccine pop-up/walk-in locations

There are loads of walk in vaccination centres. I couldn’t get onto the website either yesterday. Tried very late last night and got straight on. Booked an appointment for Sunday morning. Just keep trying.

I am over 40 so already had mine, but it took a while to get a convenient appointment. Luckily I was off work last Monday and managed to book one. Different places were available each time I went on so keep trying.

This is going to sound harsh - you chose not to prioritise booking an appointment when you were advised you were eligible and now you're trying to book when there's a huge rush on. There must be somewhere local you can book an appointment and spending a bit of time in the online queue will be worth it.

My DH is CEV ,I'm a carer as soon as we were eligible we phoned our GP surgery who booked us in for the next day to a vaccine hub when we got there they were also accepting people who didn't have appointments,it was all very simple ,we had a bit of a wait ,but not to long .

@WeAreTheHeroes

This is going to sound harsh - you chose not to prioritise booking an appointment when you were advised you were eligible and now you're trying to book when there's a huge rush on. There must be somewhere local you can book an appointment and spending a bit of time in the online queue will be worth it.

Hang on a mo. I have been trying for three weeks (couldn't try sooner due to aforementioned health issue which ruled out the booster at that point), and the nearest I've been offered in that time is 50 miles away and inaccessible by public transport. So I've not been "choosing not to prioritise" it. But, yes, I will obviously have to stick out the queue now.

@KatherineJaneway

Public transport to the next city then taxi rest of the way?

Not picking on people - just to cover all questions. Combination of work commitments and disability makes that one tricky. Will keep trying locially.

@countdowntonap

What do you booking confirmations state? Mine states ‘ NHS Booking: Your appointment for a dose of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is confirmed…’

I followed the option for over 30s booster so am confused about this. Is it an error?

Yes, the booster is a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Your appointment for the vaccine is confirmed. What is it you're confused about?

I understand your frustration with the walk in centres OP. I live in a big town but there are no walk in centres within 30 miles

The website did this all day yesterday for me, I just kept logging back on then it only.took 5 mins even though I started number 12567.

Annoying yes but not really a reason not to book

@thewhatsit

That’s really bad. Why would a walk in tell you to go away and book?

And there are NO pharmacies in your city offering it? I’m in London, so spoilt by choice I guess, and I have about 5 options that are easily walkable (1.5 miles or less). I know it’s not the same everywhere but Boots are doing them and half of pharmacies seem to be doing them, why would some cities have been excluded?

Because walk ins still have criteria. My vax centre is walk ins for over 50s and CEV only, to try and get through those groups first before moving on to the lower age groups. Everyone else has to book online. The guidance will no doubt change once they have managed to get through enough >50s and CEV.

You're right about pharmacies though, lots in my local area offering vaccines and usually easier for people to get to a nearly pharmacy that they pass then get to a specific vax centre.

DH went to a walk in clinic at 8.30am and was vaccinated by 9.30am.

It's never easy when literally millions of people are trying to do the same thing at the same time, but it is possible. You either queue at a walk in or queue online to book.

Wondering why it’s taken you so long to book?
My husband, CEV in his 60s and I, not CEV, late fifties, had our invitations several weeks ago. All very well ordered and quick then. Both got our appointments within a couple of days and waited 5 minutes (plus the 15 sit down).

I’m afraid you will have to be patient now because it’s so much busier at the clinics.

Have you tried a walk in? Lots of information with a Google about where they are in cities/towns.

@MrsSkylerWhite

Wondering why it’s taken you so long to book? My husband, CEV in his 60s and I, not CEV, late fifties, had our invitations several weeks ago. All very well ordered and quick then. Both got our appointments within a couple of days and waited 5 minutes (plus the 15 sit down).

I’m afraid you will have to be patient now because it’s so much busier at the clinics.

Have you tried a walk in? Lots of information with a Google about where they are in cities/towns.

It has taken me so long because I have had an extended stay in hospital.

Walk in - see above.

Ferrying children now (just got home) so will try again later.

At, that makes perfect sense now, ihatefacemasks.

I was gobsmacked to find out when my elderly, frail MIL had an extended stay in hospital (7 weeks, 2 in hospital, 5 in local cottage hospital recuperating and waiting for care passage), that they don’t offer vaccines when you’re an in-patient. Really don’t understand why. Seems nuts.

Package, not passage

MrsS - yes, it's bonkers. Might as well vaccinate a captive audience, really - but in my case, they said I shouldn't have it as I was already too compromised, and given that I'd had the first two, I would be marginally safer running the risk of Covid than of having the booster.

Now number 7000 and something in the queue.

Have you tried your GP? (sorry if that's a silly question!). I just rang mine after getting a text telling me I could. I was on hold for 5 mins then told to come along this evening at my convenience to the booster clinic they are holding.

OP, try putting a different post code in.

It sounds ridiculous but I booked mine last night at 6.30 and had loads of choice.

Tried to book my nans 5 mins later (have been trying unsuccessfully to get a home visit as she’s housebound but have decided we’ll just have to transport her to a vax centre somehow) and only had a availability at centres miles away - my Nan lives a 4 minute walk away from me but obviously has a different post code. Switched the post code to mine and could book her in at a centre for Friday

Just hang on a bit longer and the boosters will be available in far more places. Most GPs will start administering the vaccine too along with, I’m sure, more walk ins.