Where to go for Covid vaccine

I thought I heard on one interview that district nurses would travel to housebound people.

He is not housebound tanith.

I was sorry to read that this was worrying you littleannie. My mum and dad are in an almost identical position, Dad is 85, mum doesn’t drive and they are a long way from the nearest large hospital. Of course I don’t know what the plans are but this is what I think will happen.
The 50 hub hospitals are just the ones that will be used for the very first set of vaccinations with the supplies they are getting this week. Dad is not expecting to be in the very first group of 400,000 people to be vaccinated, he is thinking that care home staff, hospital workers and older people already in hospital will get the first doses. More hospitals and eventually places like GPs surgeries will be added to the list of locations as the NHS takes delivery of more doses.
I am expecting that they will get a letter inviting him for his appointment, and that there will be a way of contacting the NHS to explain if there are any problems with getting to the site. There are bound to be many people in a similar situation. Then the NHS can arrange an alternative site, or even get someone to come to the house, even though, like your husband, he is not housebound.
They definitely want as many people as possible to get the vaccine so I’m expecting that they will find ways of getting it to everyone. Hope this helps.

I understood you should wait to be contacted even if in the first group.
Good luck!

Thank you Alegrias for your explanation. We will have to hope there are more places when we are due to have it, that are nearer home.
MawBe - yes I am fully aware we have to wait to be contacted, that wasn't the point I was making.

Like you, Littleannie, we are worried that we might be expected to travel to a large hub (football stadium, racecourse) for DH to have his jabs and then later for me. Surely it will be possible for local surgeries to organise a suitable local venue for the ancient? Much better take up if they can do this.

I'm worried about this. Far more so then whether to have the vaccine or not. 100 mile round trip to the nearest hospital on the list. Cold weather, poor public transport. Costs involed like taxis, train fares? Risks all round.

The news this morning said that it would be offered to hospital in and out patients first. So if you have a hospital appointment anyway they will "kill 2 birds....".
Vaccination will then go to those who CAN easily get to the hospital. I presume that they think that if you can get there then you are out and about and more vulnerable to catching C19.
I wouldn't worry as it will be available to all, with or without transport as soon as possible. We have enough to worry about at present, just sit back and wait to be contacted.

I am wondering whether later sessions will take place more locally, because hopefully they’ll have the Oxford vaccine, which doesn’t need the very low storage temperatures that the Pfizer one requires.

I would have thought that the NHS and the powers that be would realise that it's not advisable, or indeed possible, for a great number of over 80s to be motoring about over the UK.
You are worrying needlessly.
Others are worried that HCPs and clinically extremely vulnerable people are having to wait.
Just be thankful of the vaccine.
It will get sorted.

Lillie

I'm worried about this. Far more so then whether to have the vaccine or not. 100 mile round trip to the nearest hospital on the list. Cold weather, poor public transport. Costs involed like taxis, train fares? Risks all round.

This won't happen.
It's early days.

I think like many others initially I had similar concerns. Thank goodness I can come on here,made me realise others have similar concerns and more importantly to be patient and chances are it will all work out!

I agree Dorsetcupcake, it is nice on GN when people understand. Little problems to some can be big problems for others.

I don't like it when people dismiss or make fun of our worries.

Thankyou Lillie. It is helpful in here as there are people who can have a calming affect and a trouble shared etc?. Some can be very dismissive or actually quite rude. I suppose it's the same as in the real world,some people are very forthright and some more sensitive. In the real world it's probably not so hurtful as we probably only confide in a set group of people and we know the strengths/weaknesses of our immediate circle. Of course one of the massive advantages of here is hearing views of people outside our immediate circle. I suppose it's like standing in a room full of strangers and asking what they think about something! That said it did feel a few months ago as though GN was becoming a bit of a different place,and at times a bit cliquey. Those that mentioned it were normally shot down in flames! It doesnt seem as obvious recently, or maybe I'm just better at avoiding/ignoring it.!

Lillie and Dorsetcupcake
Glad that your mind/s are slightly put at rest.
Everything is so unknown at the moment, and also moving so quickly.
We've all got to learn to go with the flow and take it one day at a time.
(So many clichés! )

The Govt is so very very keen for as many people as possible to get vaccinated I'm sure they will make it as easy as they can for everyone to have the jab.
I think this is one instance when we can trust them to step up to the line and deliver.

There are a lot of logistics to be sorted out yet, and I am sure you are not alone in worrying about getting to somewhere to have your vaccine. As others have said, I am sure your surgery will be in touch and will not expect anyone who should be shielding to either drive a long way or get on a bus and stand in a queue at a stadium. Stay home, stay warm, and put your mind at rest.

My Dad's 89 and is keen to have the vaccine.
What's worrying him if it's imminent is that he'll need a second dose three weeks later: he's planning to go to my brother's for Christmas and he's worried he'll miss the second injection or not be able to go away.
I keep telling him it's too soon to make firm plans for Christmas anyway, or worry about the vaccination yet and he'll be told when it's his turn, but it's obviously gnawing away at him.

I'll take all your advice and stay home until we know more. Fingers crossed and all the rest.
I'm grateful to FannyCornforth and Dorsetcupcake in particular.
Though I read one of the centres nearest to me might be a racecourse.

Thank you for your sympathetic replies. For any elderly person with health, mobility and transport problems, getting to somewhere essential, miles away, is a real problem. I hope when they send for us they have designated somewhere closer to home.

There will be at least one local GP surgery set up to deliver the vaccines, they have signed up to an agreement to do this. So it will be to a local GP surgery you will be called unless a hospital or football ground is close to you.

What won’t happen is a nurse visit to an elderly person at home, as I saw suggested somewhere. The Pfizer vaccine is not stable unless at a certain temperature and not stable being transported. Very careful protocols have been put in place in order to transport this vaccine and in addition there has to be a safe place for patients to sit for 15/20 minutes after the vaccine is administered. That’s precisely why hospitals and vaccine hubs are being set up to vaccinate.
However the Oxford/AsraZeneca vaccine will be able to be transported much more easily, and so is probably more likely to be taken to care homes or private homes for those who are not mobile.
To begin with there are only 800,000 doses being delivered. Everyone who wants the vaccine will not get one straight away, most will have a long wait. The government have said the vaccine program should be completed by early summer, therefore it’s not wise to assume you’ll get a vaccine in the next few days or weeks.

How does anyone know that one GP practice will be set up to do this? The conditions required for stability of the vaccine are very precise. GP surgeries don’t have the facilities unless special storage facilities are brought to the practice.

Littleannie