How is your area getting through the vaccine program after those in age order?

They might be doing it this way round because Group 6 have underlying health conditions, and more chance therefore of only being able to have the Astra Zeneca jab - it’s probably also safer to have it done at the GP practice if they need to access your health records to check anything out before vaccinating you? Just a guess, but there is always a reason.

I'm in Group 6 anyway, but hadn't heard anything. I don't know whether they'd assumed I'd already had it done because I'm in Group 5 too. I had the Oxford/AZ jab at a mass centre.

I assume (but don't know) that the GPs have access to a central database and my NHS number will show that I've already been vaccinated.

I expect GPs are doing group 6 because of the underlying conditions
In our area anybody that is just 'normal' is to book on line which I presume as the GPs will then continue on to second vaccinations for their elderly patients
Speaking to my son mid 30s he said he would rather just book online not fussed about distance.

Growstuff they were asking all of group 5 that hadn't been to the GP to book online as GPs wanted to concentrate on group 6 being a bigger group
I have found it beneficial to be on the facebook site for our local surgery keeping up to date with information.

DGS aged 16 having his jab on Thursday with second jab already booked.

They are whizzing through now, although we haven’t a date for our second jab yet.

Good isn’t it?

I feel a bit embarrassed I started a whinging thread and she was called the day after I wasn't angry though, I was just worried and concerned. I wonder growstuff whether social media makes people more angry as different areas seem to be operating differently and younger people are being vaccinated in other areas and so on and so forth. Plus there seems little communication as like you our GP surgery said they had no control over the vaccines and not to ring them, so people feel a bit out on a limb.

Then there are those that don't want a vaccine at all and those booking appointments and not turning up

Mind you, I do wonder if people are 'just' angry/upset etc anyway. A pedestrian stuck his fingers up at me yesterday as I 'd forgot to indicate, he wasn't in the road or anything and the road was clear apart from me. I do usually indicate, I think I'm a bit absent minded myself but peoples reactions seem more extreme

rosie1959

Growstuff they were asking all of group 5 that hadn't been to the GP to book online as GPs wanted to concentrate on group 6 being a bigger group
I have found it beneficial to be on the facebook site for our local surgery keeping up to date with information.

Communication from my GP has been non-existent, so I don't know what they're doing or why. I'm in Group 5 and Group 6, but I hadn't heard a thing.

JaneJudge You could be right. I haven't a clue what's going on. I can see on Facebook that the people who've been vaccinated seems random.

Somebody who was just a few months from her 65th birthday booked on line and was refused when she reached the hub. I had to show proof of age.

Growstuff had mine yesterday went online at NHS vacine booking anyone from groups 5 and 7 can do this now

I had mine last week, so I'm personally not too bothered, but loads of people in Group 5 are worried that they've been missed out. They're seeing younger people being vaccinated at the local GP hub and didn't know why.

My son in law aged 50, no health issues, living in the South-East had his last Friday.

Where I am in Wales they seem to be doing quite well. My husband and I have both had the first jab and my son who is 29 and in the “oddly vulnerable group” is getting his next Tuesday.

rosie1959

Growstuff they were asking all of group 5 that hadn't been to the GP to book online as GPs wanted to concentrate on group 6 being a bigger group
I have found it beneficial to be on the facebook site for our local surgery keeping up to date with information.

Who's "they"? The only communication I've had is a letter, telling me that I had the option to book online or wait to be contacted by the GP. I have never been contacted by the GP, although people in Group 6 are now being vaccinated.

GPs don't have the right to ignore the national priority list. Frankly, it's a disgrace because there are Group 5 people in my town who have now been overlooked.

My area is a mixed bag. Lots of people have been overlooked it seems.

This, however, is the "Green Book" that is supposed to be used to decide who goes when. I was pointed to this by my GP. The info you want is page 10 of this section:
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/961287/Greenbook_chapter_14a_v7_12Feb2021.pdf

Oh, and my GP said the reason there seem to be anomalies is that it's run through an algorithm....
Obvious really!
Algorithms are only as good as the person who sets them up.

But my GP hasn't followed the "Green Book" guidelines. Apparently, a decision was taken not to invite Group 5 to the GP hub, but to go straight to Group 6. Group 5 was left to book through the national system. However, the letter from the national system states quite clearly that people have the option of booking through into a national hub or waiting for an invite from the GP. What it doesn't say - and the GPs haven't communicated it officially to anybody - is that they won't be inviting Group 5 until after Group 6. They're relying on most of Group 5 booking nationally. There are people in my area who have now been overlooked because they waited. They can't get to a national hub and the GP refuses point blank to discuss anything vaccine-related with patients. A group of patients have collaborated on writing a letter, which is going to the local paper, for all the good it will do.

we shouldn't contact GPs about the vaccine under any circumstances

I'd certainly got the impression that is what we were being told too.

I read on another thread that someone had been refused the vaccine because she was allergic to something. I too have allergies but don't know if this will stop me having the vaccine.

How ever am I going to find out if I can't talk to my GP about it?

It's absolutely fine to contact your GP with any enquiries/questions/concerns - after all, it's health-related, so it's their job!

I am 61 and have COPD had a letter this morning to book online it took 4hrs of pure frustration but done now I am booked for 2 weeks tomorrow. First options were all over 60 miles away I don't drive it was not feasible. I had around 10 attempts to book at nearest centre 10 miles away, it all seemed to go through each time but then came up with error messages saying that appt wasn't available any more.
My partner then tried with same result. Letter said to ring 111 if stuck I phoned they could not help. Eventually managed but not easy! I am a bit concerned as confirmation text and email have not materialised as promised! Hey Ho we will see what happens on the day.

GrannyRose15, there is special hospital allergy testing available for anyone with relevant allergies. None of my many allergies were a concern - so I didn't need it.

Hetty58

It's absolutely fine to contact your GP with any enquiries/questions/concerns - after all, it's health-related, so it's their job!

No, it's not when they send everybody a text stating they won't talk to you about vaccinations. They've been putting the phone down on people.

Here in London (maybe all of England) there are two different booking systems:

A text or phone call from you GP - which enables local booking.

A letter from the NHS - which directs you to large centres at a distance.

I got the GP text first (luckily, as I don't drive) had my jab, then got the letter. I think those who didn't book from the letter heard from the GP shortly afterwards.

There two systems here too Hetty. That's not the issue. The GPs decided to bypass Group 5 without telling them what was going on. The GPs invite by text and the national hubs invite by letter. The letter form the national system states unequivocally that patients can book online or wait for the GP, if they need a nearer appointment. However, the GPs aren't inviting anybody from Group 5, so not giving them a choice. They didn't know that they wouldn't be invited, so have been left waiting and wondering what's going on. Meanwhile, younger people have been vaccinated. Many people in Group 5 have underlying health issues too, but have been overlooked.

I didn't book from the letter straight away and heard nothing from the GP. Of course, I would have preferred to be vaccinated in a place almost next door to where I live. Having waited a few days, I decided to go ahead and book through the national system anyway, even though I do have mobility problems and found it quite hard to walk from the car park to the vaccination centre.