drop-in covid vaccination clinics [edited at OP's request]

[GiantWingedWaspMoth]

There are mass drop in clinics starting tomorrow (the one at the gyle started today and was very efficient)

www.nhslothian.scot/Coronavirus/Vaccine/Pages/Drop-in-Clinics.aspx

[edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

I haven't been anywhere and I don't know who you are. What a strange comment.

You literally said it was a shambles. You only need to go a few posts back.

People have always been able to reschedule their appointments to a time and place of their convenience. I'm still unclear about what your gripe is.

You would think, based on your comments @ElephantOfRisk that England would be way ahead with their vaccinations, compared to Scotland. From what I can see there's very little difference between the two countries, percentage-wise. Wales is doing better, Northern Ireland not quite so well. But Scotland and England are pretty much neck and neck.

I'm not comparing anyone with anyone - not sure where you think i said that. Initially Scotland was behind but has generally been within a percentage or two either side of the average or compared with England.

It is possible to think that something could have been done better without thinking that Boris did it better. I think that as far as my own jab was concerned, it was great service but it was obvious that that system wasn't going to work as well with the younger folk.

I said that the availability of walk ins had been a shambles not the whole thing - but hey...

The point is not that you can't rearrange, it's that how would they know they had an appointment to be rearranged if the letter goes elsewhere?

Why would the letter go elsewhere?

Even if it did there were ample adverts about what ages were being called and when and how to contact re missing appointments.

You're nit picking for some reason.

I think the reason the SG gets stick for their strategy is that we can see a more sensible strategy just across the border in England

This looks like a comparison to me 🤷

I'm not nit picking, the point was that young people needed a different strategy as they are more mobile in terms of moving houses, especially students, they are less likely to have updated their addresses with GPs, more likely to be living in more than one location (uni and home), less likely to randomly call a help centre.

Some young folk may not be in touch with parents anymore either who are more likely to prod and remind.

A social media campaign with on-line booking/ drop ins might have been better for the younger working/student population rather than scheduling in fixed appointments that need to be changed. Just my view, others are available

@GiantWingedWaspMoth

I think the reason the SG gets stick for their strategy is that we can see a more sensible strategy just across the border in England

This looks like a comparison to me 🤷

Well that wasn't me and it seems to be my comments that were being referred to, apologies if that wasn't the intention.

Apologies, I'm not sure why I thought that was you.

Not paying enough attention, clearly.

Young people need a different strategy? I've heard it all now.

Unless you think young people are exceptionally stupid then I don't think that they do. Why would the call to the helpline be 'random'.

I must admit that I find your rationale for this very bizarre.

It seems to be that you are suggesting students are a bit useless and might not be aware that they might be called for a vaccine. If they do manage to grasp this then they might not know that a letter would perhaps go to their parents address if they haven't managed to muster the time and energy to register at a GP in their uni town. If somehow they haven't managed to do any of this then you are suggesting that they might then not have the capability of phoning a helpline. What makes you think that students are so useless 🤔

A social media campaign with on-line booking/ drop ins might have been better for the younger working/student population rather than scheduling in fixed appointments that need to be changed. Just my view, others are available

But that's kinda what they've done? They had an online campaign to get young people to register, and the ones that did got their appointments by text. And now that they are vaccinating the under 40s they have drop in clinics. At least, that's what has happened in my health board area. Other areas might be doing things differently.

Granted, it's fixed appointments, but they are trying to reach them and make it accessible.

@forfucksakenett

Young people need a different strategy? I've heard it all now.

Unless you think young people are exceptionally stupid then I don't think that they do. Why would the call to the helpline be 'random'.

I must admit that I find your rationale for this very bizarre.

It seems to be that you are suggesting students are a bit useless and might not be aware that they might be called for a vaccine. If they do manage to grasp this then they might not know that a letter would perhaps go to their parents address if they haven't managed to muster the time and energy to register at a GP in their uni town. If somehow they haven't managed to do any of this then you are suggesting that they might then not have the capability of phoning a helpline. What makes you think that students are so useless 🤔

Aye ok then....glad you've heard it all. Means you've no need to listen to anything else. Good show.

@GiantWingedWaspMoth

A social media campaign with on-line booking/ drop ins might have been better for the younger working/student population rather than scheduling in fixed appointments that need to be changed. Just my view, others are available

But that's kinda what they've done? They had an online campaign to get young people to register, and the ones that did got their appointments by text. And now that they are vaccinating the under 40s they have drop in clinics. At least, that's what has happened in my health board area. Other areas might be doing things differently.

yes, what i was saying was that that could have been foreseen and started earlier so it was ready to run as they approached that age group. Instead there were a lot of missed appointments and wasted resource. I think there is a lot happening now which is better but we are now in the situation that there are a high number of young folk with covid and who now can't access an appointment for while.

Also issues in Lothian particularly where clinics were allocated very randomly leaving folk without transport / working /with young DC with long journies - very few available appointments to swap to.

The initial strategy was fine for people able to turn up at their place and time or those able to move. Appointment letters here arrived less than a week before appointments in many cases.

Anyway, yes, it's good there are drop in centres now available and hopefully that helps people access jags sooner.

But I am listening @ElephantOfRisk and it's me who has the more open mind . It's you who's calling it a shambles even although they've done exactly what you wanted them to do 🤷🏻‍♀️. It's very strange and I genuinely don't understand the point you were making. No need to get so defensive.

Open mind 😂😂

Well I'm willing to consider that it's not the shambles you think it is 🤷🏻‍♀️

You on the other hand are clutching a little to find fault.

Each to our own I suppose.

That's not what an open mind is but oh well.

I said hours ago that you didn't need to have the same opinion 🤷‍♀️

Judging by the tone of your posts on this thread I'm not entirely sure you're in the position to define an open mind.

Thanks for saying I can have my own opinion

The rates of positive cases in Scotland are the highest in Europe. That’s why vaccinations are more important here.

This is because of the extended lockdown in pursuit of zero Covid and a Jacinda moment last summer. Thanks Nicola and Devi!

Scotsnet advised the SG months ago to get organised and set up local, book online or drop in clinics running as near to 24/7 as possible, and this has not been done.

Some people are facing long difficult trips by public transport, during their working hours, to try to attend appointments. the rearrange online tool is useless (I know, I tried it.)

However much one admires the Scottish Government it cannot now be argued that their handling of the Covid crisis has been anything other than total shite.

@WouldBeGood I didn't realise this was a thread about their overall handling of the whole crisis. I thought it was about the vaccines.

However much one despises the SG I don't see how it can be argued that the vaccine rollout has been poor. It is after all on par with England which is fabulous apparently.

That's a shame. I have had to rearrange an appointment and so have friends. The experience was simple and straightforward. I think things might be slightly trickier now that Pfizer is a bit limited again.

I tried to rearrange AZ 🤷🏻‍♀️

They need to be better in the vaccines as their policy led to less immunity and so more cases. They were warned about this.

Obviously, the strategy on vaccination clinics needs to reflect the consequences of the previous handling of the pandemic.

Of course there are more cases. Nobody gives a shit anymore about the spread of Covid. Least of all you who actively encourages people on all threads to not comply with any regulations or guidance. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The vaccination schedule is working. I'm really not sure about your point here. The link between hospitalisation and cases appears to have been broken. Is that not your usual mantra? Why now on this thread is the vaccination schedule a problem?

I am aware that we have higher cases as a result of the lower immunity but I was unaware that our death / hospitalisation rate had rocketed? Is that the case?

Hurray, glad you agree with me @forfucksakenett! Knew you’d come round

🤷🏻‍♀️ whatever made you think I didn't agree that the vaccination schedule contributed to sorting the problem?

I'm perhaps not as entirely blasé about it as you right enough!

I successfully rearranged both of my appointments with no problems using the online system. I found it really straightforward.