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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rosie 1959
I stand corrected 1959

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

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?

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.

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.

Sorry, that should say 'rather than patients'.

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

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.

One of these clever people who have no idea how life works^ ?
Peasblossom ?

Could it be that like my dear stepmother if they have a 3pm appointment she likes to turn up at 2.30 just in case
Rosie I turned up for a hospital appointment 30 minutes early, because it's a long way, there was scarcely any traffic and we found a parking space.
I wasn't allowed in; it was bitterly cold, the car park was a distance away but they did take pity on me and let me in. Temperature checked, given a mask, hand sanitizer and spaced chairs all of which were wiped down between patients.
I suppose it was better than being told I was late! Although I had to wait for an hour and a half to be seen.

To name but a few aspects. I’d like to see him try and achieve it safely and effectively in 5 days Me too

I assume the Covid vaccination procedure will need similar precautions and this all takes time, as well as the fact the the person receiving the vaccine is supposed to stay for 15 minutes afterwards to make sure they dont have a reaction.

It is a production line but one which must have all the H&S procedures in place.

Just seen on Twitter that Stanley Johnson has had 2nd vaccine. My 96yr old wheelchair bound mother with carers 4 times a day hasn’t even had appointment for her first!

If they ever go 24 hour, I'd be quite willing to turn up for the unpopular 3 am slot. I can catch up with sleep anytime!

Greeneyedgirl, it's very patchy, with different areas doing their own thing, right now, according to supplies and staff availability.

At least, any 'celebrity' who publicly announces that they've had the jab (or, better still, is filmed having it) might just influence the reluctant ones.

Everyone is my health area have been informed that they can’t have their second vacc. so it will just cause resentment I think.

Sadly Greeneyedgirl there’s a reason why your mum won’t have had her vaccine yet. Housebound patients are a very high priority for GP practices once they get their vaccine supplies, as the district nurses will be going to their homes to administer them.
However, most GP practices don’t have any vaccine yet, as only Astra-Zeneca vaccine can be stored in the fridges that GP practices have, very few practices have freezers needed for the Pfizer vaccine, which is batched in bulk, is unstable when unfrozen and designed for mass vaccination methods. I hope your mum doesn’t have to wait for much longer, we are promised more Astra-Zeneca vaccine shortly.

Greeneyedgirl

Just seen on Twitter that Stanley Johnson has had 2nd vaccine. My 96yr old wheelchair bound mother with carers 4 times a day hasn’t even had appointment for her first!

I posted on another thread that my friends have had 1st and 2nd doses already (neither are 80 or have health problems).
It must be dependent on whether surgeries were quick off the mark in applying, I think.

Or because they have the storage facilities as Casdon said,

Hetty58

If they ever go 24 hour, I'd be quite willing to turn up for the unpopular 3 am slot. I can catch up with sleep anytime!

Greeneyedgirl, it's very patchy, with different areas doing their own thing, right now, according to supplies and staff availability.

At least, any 'celebrity' who publicly announces that they've had the jab (or, better still, is filmed having it) might just influence the reluctant ones.

Me too Hetty. Anytime, anywhere.

Thanks Casden you are right about access, but I hope she and her Carers aren’t left as an after thought. A carer looking after her has recently tested positive, so mum’s had a narrow escape.

I know she has had a long life and younger Carers should be a priority, but I don’t want her to suffer an unnecessary, preventable awful death from Covid when vaccines are available.

I completely understand Greeneyedgirl. I’m sure that she will be prioritised as soon as they have the vaccine, but it’s a very worrying time for all of us with very elderly parents, particularly those who have carers. The carers near me are getting their vaccines now, because they are able to travel to a mass vaccination centre, I think that’s happening everywhere now too.