Can't get a Flu jab!

[Sitchervice]

So apparently they are only giving flu jabs out to certain classes of people not if your pregnant!

Have you tried Tesco’s, or boots?

My GP was providing them, if they won't help you, try the antenatal clinic and then local independent pharmacies.

I got a letter from my gp about getting one because I’m pregnant? I’m getting it next week.
The midwife told me at my booking in appointment that the gp would be in touch.

My antenatal clinic at the hospital has just started doing them. They only made this announcement this week - check with your hospital?

From the nhs website:

Who can have the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is given to people who:

are 65 and over (including those who'll be 65 by 31 March 2021)
have certain health conditions
are pregnant
are in a long-stay residential care
receive a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
live with someone who's at high risk from coronavirus (on the NHS shielded patient list)
frontline health or social care workers
Advice for people aged 50 to 64
If you're aged 50 to 64 and have a health condition that means you're more at risk from flu, you should get your flu vaccine as soon as possible.

Other 50- to 64-year-olds will be contacted about a flu vaccine later.

Maybe you can't have it YET because GPS have a strategy for getting through the large number they have to do

My GP phoned me to book me in! At our hospital you can get it done there if in for a scan or other appointment so maybe try that?

It was my GP who said they won't give it to me because I'm not old or disabled! I even said I was pregnant and they said no!

If you’re pregnant you should get the flu jab for free, as standard.

However, that’s not happening in all areas this year because they simply don’t have enough. So they’re having to prioritise the most vulnerable of the vulnerable groups, generally elderly win.

It’s the same reason that boots and other pharmacies are suspending their flu jabs

They are £9 in tesco about £12 in a pharmacy. Just pay for one.

@Crockof brilliant thanks! I'll will 100% be looking into this

@Crockof at tescos as Pharmacys have also told me they can't offer flu jabs out at the moment

@Sitchervice you can get it free at tescos etc under nhs as you are entitled to a free one regardless of your gp surgery priorities. In fact I don't think they are taking private appointments last I looked, only nhs ones due to demand

That’s horrible!

I was at my GP yesterday for a throat infection completely unrelated to my pregnancy and I was asked if I had my flu jab yet . I hadn’t and she gave it to me on the spot .

Speak to your midwife she should be able to organise it if your gp won't! I had mine at an ante natal appointment last year!

My GP still didn’t have any in, so I went down to the antenatal clinic at the hospital, they do a drop in. Waited about 20 mins. Worth checking out.
Or try Boots or other pharmacies, will still be free if your pregnant.

I had one at the Asda pharmacy yesterday, might be worth trying them - Tesco had no availability for two months when I tried to book.

It's probably just down to supply issues at the moment. Took me until November to get one last year when I was pregnant, despite working in an nhs hospital!

I had one booked in at Boots a few weeks ago and they cancelled the day before. I rang around lots of small, independent pharmacies and luckily found one that still had some. Good luck x

I had mid last week at Boots and they told me there's supply issues at the moment so lots of people are having to wait.

Update: husband phoned to complain. And found out I also should have been booked into my 9 week appointment which I wasn't. My first was 1st appointment of December! So he's given them what for. I'll get it all cleared out when I speek to my midwife on my 9 week appointment!

Speak to your midwife - I went for my 16 week midwife appointment and they gave it to me there and then

@Sitchervice Lots of GP surgeries haven’t been issued them for pregnant ladies OP, they’ve been issued to the antenatal clinics instead. I went in for a growth scan last week and the sonographer took me through to a nurse who gave me the flu jag there and then 😊 I would call your hospital and ask if they have something in place 😊 do you have any antenatal appointments coming up soon?

@RWK29 my doctors messed up my appointments with the midwife but yes. I'll be checking in with them on my first appointment.

At my 12 week scan the hospital said they are not doing any flu jabs and midwife etc cannot arrange one, told me to try GP. I didn't bother trying GP, I managed to get in at Lloyds pharmacy and got it free anyway. Good luck OP.

My GPs surgery only had stock of the 65+ flu jab (there's an additional ingredient in it to encourage a strong immune response). So I was told I'd need to wait to see when stock became available. Work offered flu jabs to us so I just got a corporate one instead.

As you haven't had your booking in yet you probably didn't have the right confirmation on your profile at the GPs. Once you've had that the midwife issues your maternity exemption form and marks you as "pregnant" on the system - that would be the trigger for the GP allowing you a jab I believe.