Jumping Vaccine Queue

I’m just imagining the scenario.

Hello, we’ve got a spare vaccine at the surgery. Can you get here in the next 10 minutes.

I’m sorry, I don’t have a car. It’ll take me half an hour or so.

I’m afraid you can’t have the vaccine today. We’ll make an appointment for another day.

When will that be?

I’m afraid we don’t know yet. I have to go. I must ring somebody else.

You’re giving my vaccine to somebody else!

Headline.

Pensioner refused vaccine!

Exactly Peasblossom! It's all chinese whispers and people who don't know the exact details are all too willing to jump in and tear the story apart, express opinions as facts and thus perpetuate the misunderstanding.

A few people have posted that next people on list should be contacted if there's leftover vaccine or someone doesn't turn up. I have worked in a NHS office job, where on occasions I have tried to contact patients on clinic waiting lists to try getting them in at short notice if there has been a last minute cancellation. Youd be amazed how difficult and time consuming it is. Even with mobile numbers, many peoples phones go to answerphone when they are at work. Or people won't answer unrecognised numbers. Elderly people often can't attend at short notice due to transport or mobility problems. Some people will say they will be pleased to come if they can arrange a lift and will phone me back shortly. An hour later they ring and apologise that they are unable to arrange transport. I've had all sorts of reasons/excuses people couldn't come. So I'm all for anyone who is definitely available being offered any spare vaccine.

I agree that vaccine left at the end of the day should be used.
Two friends, one in her 40’s, one in her 60’s got theirs at the hospital as they just happened to be there at the end of the day.

We’re in the north west, my Dad is 92, has a heart condition and takes steroids, but hasn’t been called yet.

Sounds like very sour grapes to me

To be clear, I’m happy my friends got their vaccine. Two appointments off the list now as well.

Absolutely fine that the vaccine was used. My friend had to go in the evening, lost her way, had to reverse the car, landed up hitting a low wall and never got to her appointment. Whilst she waited to be towed away, her daughter rang them as the session was on and hopefully someone got vaccinated who was not on the list for that day.

It’s so much better than the vaccines going to waste. I know someone who is a carer for her mother, and they both got the jab as an added extra when the mother had a routine appointment. It might technically be queue jumping, but was an efficient way of getting it done.

The OP doesn’t come across to me as someone jealous of her family’s good luck, btw. I might be wrong, but think she’s just feeling embarrassed at what she sees as her relative being guilty of a bit of nepotism. The posts accusing her of sour grapes, etc are a bit harsh, imho, and I’m sure she’ll feel relieved that the vast majority of people on here can’t see a problem.

Although I agree with most if not all the points made it is also human nature to feel either a tad annoyed that the vaccine did not go to more vulnerable individuals and as someone who is waiting in line I feel envious and I think that is a normal. As others have said though the more people that are vaccinated and this liquid used fully should help us all.

I work in a large GP practice, this is common practice, each vial of the vaccine is earmarked for 10 patients, there is in fact enough for 11 or 12 doses in a vial, the extra is to allow for margin of error therefore if you have experienced nurses administering the vaccine you will have extra left at the end of the day which has to be used relatively quickly or discarded, if you give it to someone who might be seen as "jumping the queue" you are in fact speeding up the process for others further down the queue. I just want to see the population vaccinated asap.
Incidentally, I had my vaccination on Sunday and have been feeling pretty awful since - I did still soldier into work though

I have to say it's interesting to read overseas comments about getting this vaccine by "being on a list". I have no idea what the New Zealand Government plans to do in this regard when and if a vaccine becomes available here.
I intend to use a wait and see approach, rather than rushing into getting vaccinated. I'm past my use by date now and feel no fear of this virus in spite of what the 'experts' say.... and really who in their right mind will have a virtually untested "fix" jabbed into themselves?

and really who in their right mind will have a virtually untested "fix" jabbed into themselves?

It has been tested, yes I will and I think I am in my right mind Pussanne.
Of course, it's an interesting point - will New Zealand escape this virus until it has peaked or those in the rest of the world have been vaccinated or developed natural immunity?
The Australian vaccine had a hitch during research. Was NZ planning on using that one?

If it was otherwise going to be wasted, I don’t see an issue, though it may seem rather unfair.
If it was the Pfizer one, it’s extremely fussy about how it’s stored, and for how long out of the super-cold fridges, and from what I’ve read is a lot more expensive than the Oxford one.

I feel sad for you Pussanne as you say you feel past your use by date and have no fear of the virus, you might find some of the other threads on gransnet will help you, there are some lovely supportive people on here.

I'm past my use by date now

Well, quite often I feel past my 'best before date' but I hope I'm not past my use by date yet and I'm sure you're not either, Pussanne.

We are all afraid and I think sometimes fear doesn’t always bring out the best in us. The NHS are doing a fantastic job on every level, not only are they putting themselves at risk on a daily basis, the logistics of mass and speedy vaccination of the whole population is a challenge they have risen too. I think it is laudable that they are using vaccines that would have been thrown away otherwise and remember every person vaccinated is a step closer to getting out of this nightmare crisis...

I have been volunteering in a vaccination centre and at the end of the day, if people haven't turned up, any vaccine left over can not be kept for the next day. Therefore they ring whoever they can to see who can get in (within 30 minutes) to have the vaccine. They are prioritising health care workers and the volunteers but sometimes it is better to give it to anyone rather than let it go to waste.

Well done to DiL. A relative of mine is nurse in a regional (university, teaching hospital) where 160+ vaccines were thrown away as their intended recipients hadn’t turned up. Nurses were on site and willing, but weren’t offered the opportunity. The admin should have beenhad up for gross negligence.

Good, pleased it wasn’t wasted, staff organising this massive programme are commendable, doubt they’d appreciate others two penny worth on how they could do it better. And if it was my sister I certainly wouldn’t be posting about it, detrimentally or not.

They can call me. I'm a teacher and am scared to be in school.

Theoldwrinkley. That is so sad, what a senseless waste.

Perhaps your relatives have health issues they do not want to discuss with you, and are therefore on the vulnerable list.

There are all sorts of reasons for vaccinating under 80s.

It would be a really good idea if there was a slot on here somewhere to tell us how you are afterwards.

I have been volunteering at my local Health Centre yesterday afternoon, marshalling patients into rooms for vaccination. I was astonished but thrilled to have been offered a jab at the end of the day as there were some doses left over that would otherwise have had to been thrown away.

It's too bad the vaccination centres cannot have a call list for these occasions. I know it would be a bit extra to administer, but having a short list of 50 people for example, all getting calls and first come first served within the time slot.

Our local pharmacy compiled a list for the flu shot this year for appointments, but also asked if you were available on short notice in case an opening came up.