NHS could vaccinate UK against Covid in five days, says Oxford professor

In this case Blinko the only way the NHS can get through the number of people who need to be vaccinated is through The vast majority to attend mass vaccination centres - it would take months if not years to do it to suit individual patients wishes.

My mum is 92, can’t walk far, and has to go 15 miles to her nearest vaccination centre, or wait for at least 4 weeks to have it at her GP. She’s found a way, she’s going to the vaccination centre, and I’d advise anybody who can possibly do so to do the same - time is of the essence.

GagaJo

I think that is a bit of a generalisation Rosie. My daughter doesn't drive and IF she were able to have the vaccine would have to drag a reluctant and naughty toddler along with her. 2 forms of public transport AND a longish hike, pushing a push chair.

Whereas, I drive, so if I were able to get it, I'd be there and back within 2 hours.

Probably I can only relate to my experience We are at present doing vaccination not in our local town but at a location 6 miles away which has caused some problems for our 80+ residents Where I myself at 62 would just drive there
It was just a generalisation

Sorry, that should say 'rather than patients'.

Missfoodlove

Unlike hairdressers, dentists, opticians etc the NHS often don’t use an efficient appointment system.
They just put appointments on the hour and leave people waiting.

My elderly mother had an 8.00 am outpatient appt a few years ago.
I asked in the waiting room what time everybody's appointments were.
The reply was 8.00 am!
10 people!

My mother was seen at 2.00 pm as her surname began with S.
She had been up for hours and had only water to drink as per the instructions.

The staff had a lunch break in this time.

My complaint was acknowledged but the excuse was that it was easier for staff if everyone arrived in the morning and they were assessed then seen.
Apparently staff preferred to do all the assessments together.

I've long thought that NHS appointments are organised for the convenience of consultants/nhs staff, patients. The NHS maybe wonderful in many ways but their admin systems are woeful.

I think that is a bit of a generalisation Rosie. My daughter doesn't drive and IF she were able to have the vaccine would have to drag a reluctant and naughty toddler along with her. 2 forms of public transport AND a longish hike, pushing a push chair.

Whereas, I drive, so if I were able to get it, I'd be there and back within 2 hours.

I think back to when we used to have cholera epidemics in HK.
I expect that others on here can remember standing in queues with our sleeves rolled up.
No niceties there, I was only a child, I don’t think that they wanted your name even. I remember dad holding onto my sister like grim death, she wasn’t keen on injections.?
We were having a giggle about it the other day. I can’t think that there were dinky little bottles for individual doses and I think they reused needles (after sterilising I hope!) They felt blunt anyway.? I am always amazed now that injections are so painless these days.
My sister will be going for her Covid inoculation as soon as she is called. Wonder who will hold her down?

beverly10

Rosie59
Re vaccine.
Not so easy with the elderley? In what way?
If any or us know of an elderly person needing help in what ever its shape or form then we have a duty to report this to Social Services.

Just in a general way I can do things much quicker than my 88 year old step mum Younger people do not need any help in going for a vaccination

Rosie 1959
I stand corrected 1959

Rosie59
Re vaccine.
Not so easy with the elderley? In what way?
If any or us know of an elderly person needing help in what ever its shape or form then we have a duty to report this to Social Services.

The NHS Trust responsible for the centre I mentioned above has given an explanation for the queues.
They said it was the first day, people had been asked to arrive five minutes before their appointment but some were arriving an hour early. They have now put more vaccinators in place and this should solve the problem.
They are doing their best in my opinion.

Rather ill informed from a professor I think. I agree there is too much red tape but it’s not as simple as just “sticking a needle in someone’s arm”.
There is supply/stock control
Cold chain and correct storage to be maintained if vaccines are to be effective and staff to be trained in this
Organisation of appointments, parking, staffing
Staff training to recognise adverse effects including anaphylaxis and how to treat this ( which includes CPR)
Supplies of syringes, needles, swabs, hand sanitiser and PPE
To name but a few aspects. I’d like to see him try and achieve it safely and effectively in 5 days.

Just a wee stat for those complaining about the speed of vaccination. We've already vaccinated about 15 times as many people as have already succumbed to this virus.

By next week we'll have vaccinated more people than have caught it in the whole pandemic.

Absolutely Petra - but I think some people still genuinely think that it can be done by somebody with no training or who hasn’t practiced for many years without an update, which isn’t the case.

Despite all the attempts by those (including some of us) who have some insight into what is happening explaining what we know, and trying to put people’s minds at rest that things are being done as well as they can be, it doesn’t stop the inflammatory press reports and misunderstandings because people are so anxious. I don’t know what the answer is.

If people had bothered to read the National Covid-19 Vaccination Programme they would see that the delay at the start of the rollout is due to the fact that the vaccine is a Prescibed Medicine
In law this makes all the difference in how a vaccination is given. I don't know if things have moved on since there was no date on the government article.
I was as angry as everyone else but after reading the document I see the problem.

A friend of my vet DH who is in his sixties and also a vet has been signed up to do the vaccines!

Unlike hairdressers, dentists, opticians etc the NHS often don’t use an efficient appointment system.
They just put appointments on the hour and leave people waiting.

My elderly mother had an 8.00 am outpatient appt a few years ago.
I asked in the waiting room what time everybody's appointments were.
The reply was 8.00 am!
10 people!

My mother was seen at 2.00 pm as her surname began with S.
She had been up for hours and had only water to drink as per the instructions.

The staff had a lunch break in this time.

My complaint was acknowledged but the excuse was that it was easier for staff if everyone arrived in the morning and they were assessed then seen.
Apparently staff preferred to do all the assessments together.

Like the checkin at the airport. I’m here early but I’d better join the queue ?

My GP surgery did the flu vaccine very efficiently, so hope this will be similar. I’ll go when I’m called. Regarding Sir John Bell’s statement about “people who are just sticking a needle in an arm” I think this is dismissive and contemptuous and I would very much expect anybody sticking a needle in my arm to have an appropriate level of competence.

rosie That's what I thought. I wondered whether people were just turning up. If I was clever enough I could post a link.

Lucca

I thought paddy Anne was talking about her FLU jab?

Yes she was

Kate1949=seems odd if that many were booked in at once
Could it be that like my dear stepmother if they have a 3pm appointment she likes to turn up at 2.30 just incase

I thought paddy Anne was talking about her FLU jab?

Someone posted a video online yesterday. He had taken his parents to a vaccination centre. There was a queue which must have stretched for a couple of miles. He filmed as they were driving past. There were hundreds of (mostly elderly) people standing in the freezing cold with no social distancing.
He took his parents back home.

Missfoodlove totally agree why on earth do you need diversity training to give someone a possibility life saving injection.
I am quite happy to have the local vet do mine ! In fact pass it over and I will do it myself I learned to inject my daughter in under 30 mins she then could do it quite happily herself she was 8 years old
Drop the red tape please

Nightsky I just read in PULSE (online for medical professionals) the Oxford vaccine does not require a 15 minute wait, there have been no allergic reactions.