Why are healthy 70 yr olds getting vaccine before older people in some areas

Nothing I am aware of in my area. NW London.

I still haven’t been called for the flu vaccination from my surgery despite being over 65. So any chance of receiving the Covid vaccination within the next six months is probably fantasy?

Our immune system becomes less effective as we age so, although someone appears fit, they may develop more severe complications

My mum in law is 95 and lives alone, she has a car but not called yet either

Good for u . With your comment She should have more to worry about I just back home after a procedure and not out of the woods yet have to go back at 76 ,the injection far from my mind I can wait as long as it takes ,my other problem on going from last March and to c the nurses and care they gave me today money would not pay them Angels Say a wee prayer for me I am not one to tex or give opinion but that question of WHY is not even relevant The word is Ur turn will come Wait ,???

This may be because statistics show that over 95% of deaths due to covid occur in those older than 60 years

We are both fit and have no health problems - lucky us - but I understand that over seventies have an immune system that is less than half as effective than younger people, and consequently can become much sicker much faster - and therefore strain the NHS. I thought that was why we were starting with the most vulnerable - to protect the NHS and stop it being overwhelemed with very sick people.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Good you at least know some one in your area is being given the vaccine. Nothing happening in my area at all apart from front line NHS.

The Pfizer vaccine is not suitable for those in care homes and at home due to the storage requirements which require hospital fridges down to -70 deg, so many elderly people will not be able to be vaccinated until the Oxford / Astra Zeneca vaccine is delivered to GP surgeries and care homes as this one can be administered out in the community and can be kept safely in storage in care homes for administration

Healthy 70 yr olds still have 70 yr old organs which despite a fit an healthy exterior may well not cope, or recover, as well as those below this age. 70 yr olds are not first in queue for the vaccine, they are just in line after the most vulnerable individuals, NHS staff and carers to be vaccinated. . Don’t panic! You’ll get your’s in due course.

Agree with some other posters on here - I would have thought lot of unpaid carers will have registered as such with their local surgery to qualify for yearly flu vaccinations, so it makes sense they would be identified from these records and called for Covid vaccine earlier.

No one in my area has been contacted yet......not even the over 80's......but then in the first and second lockdowns no one was contacted and told to shield .......I think our local GPs have been told by the government we can die ...less money to pay out !!! Partly tongue in cheek, partly NOT .......I have a lot of medical issues (cancer, heart problems, etc etc, diabetes ...ha ha BUT am normally healthy despite all those and I have not been told to shield .....my friend was surprised at this, as she is shielding and has no medical issues ) strange, isn't it ..............and I want to GET OUT ...had totally enough of this idiotic lockdown, release, repeat ....and STILL Boris refuses to answer any question as to his plan (not that he had one !) of using the vast, expensive, Nightingale hospitals ....that is absolutely disgraceful ....he must have known there would be staff needed,,,and asking retirees to go back did not work as they were expected to complete around 25 forms declaring their re registration, new laws regarding gender, race, awareness of other WOKE issues, etc etc etc...probably put a lot off ,,,,and he also promised Service medics would be used .........so come on, Boris ANSWER PLEASE ......

In Denmark the oldest citizens are being vaccinated first, starting with those in care homes and the staff. Hospital staff, GPs , District nurses and carers are in that wave too.

Then politicians, heads of army, navy and air force and the royal family.

Elderly or younger people whose medical history makes them vunerable are being vaccinated this and next week.
After that the general population according to year of birth - oldest first.

The system is working fine, as doctors and nurses are working all out to vaccinate as many as possible every day.

My sister-in-law who is 75 and has no health conditions had her first vaccination before Christmas. She works a few mornings a week cleaning in a Doctors’ surgery but has no contact with patients or staff as she works early in the morning. The only reason I can think of for her having been given it is that she must have been classed as a front line worker.

They are trying not to waste vaccines so, if people do not turn up for appointments or refuse the vaccine, they will try to use the excess vaccines on either frontline health staff or those a little further down the queue.

Age is far and away the largest predictor of severe disease, hence it is the major criterion for vaccine priority, but there's also logistics, particularly with Pfizer vaccine. Hence, once a batch is opened by a particular vaccine centre, the vaccine must be used. Consequently, my friend (77) was done when she took her 80 year old husband to his appointment. Some vaccine centres has got going faster than others, hence some anomalies. I'd hate to see any shots going to waste, wouldn't you? Every shot is a step towards herd immunity and protection of the vulnerable of whatever age.

9.26 growstuff thank you for that explanation, makes more sense of the situation now!

The AstraZeneca vaccine has initially been sent to six hospital trusts in England and Wales, Scotland and NI.

It will be rolled out to other areas as soon as any initial problems are sorted.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55525542

Two of my relatives, in their sixties, have been vaccinated. This was because their daughter, a health worker, went for her vaccination. It became apparent that a number of people were not turning up for their vaccination so the staff asked if anyone had relatives that could come for vaccination in the next hour. Otherwise the very sensitive Pfizer vaccination would just go to waste.

She rang her parents and they jumped in the car. I think it was a sensible thing to do to not waste the vaccine. But others might think how unfair.

You and Yours on BBc radio 4 are discussing the vaccine at the moment

Teacheranne I don’t know where you picked up that the Astra Zeneca vaccine hasn’t got further than the midlands, as I’ve got a friend in Leeds and she had it this morning. It’s just that it’s devolved to local areas to sort out how they deliver it.

Pammie1

@sodapop. We’re hearing her that there’s a lot more public opposition to the vaccine in France, as has been the case with other vaccines. Could this be part of the reason for the slow roll out ?

That is true Pammiel there is opposition to any vaccine in France. In this case I think its more to do with the vaccine being passed as fit for purpose. There is a feeling here that UK has jumped the gun over this.

Let’s just leave them to it shall we and get the process moving. Cannot be easy sifting through millions of medical records. Let’s just be grateful it’s now began.

It is such a huge undertaking to vaccinate a whole country, there have to be some parameters. Couple the logistics of the operation with the fact that people don't turn up, are ill on the day, don't get their notifications, etc, but still need the vaccination it has to be done in the easiest way targeting the people who are at more risk of dying. Looking healthy and not appearing to be on medication does not mean you won't be hit by Long Covid which puts a strain on the national services, etc.