Gransnet forums

Health

Can't get flu jab

(136 Posts)
Antonia Mon 26-Oct-20 08:58:28

DH and I had texts from the surgery late September, telling us that flu jabs would take place on each Saturday in October, and that we would be given an appointment.
The four Saturdays have now gone, and no appointment for either of us. We are late sixties and mid seventies.
I tried to book a private jab at Boots, only to find that Boots appear to have run out of the vaccine.
Anyone else experienced this?

dinks13 Mon 26-Oct-20 10:30:50

Been trying to get my flu jab for about the past 5 weeks, had my pneumonia jab a few weeks ago & was told flu jab would be coming soon. I ring up more or less every other day & they say the same, they are waiting for supplies.

SueSocks Mon 26-Oct-20 10:28:55

Husband should get a free flu jab, has never bothered with it. This year I insisted that he had it. No communication from GP but I was told by friends that they had a 6 week wait time for appointments, this was mid September, I read in the paper that Boots did not have any supplies. We easily got an appointment with Lloyds Pharmacy who have a branch in Sainsburys. Booked a time for us both on line, he had the free NHS jab and I paid for mine. All very easy. I think you can make phone bookings as well.

Antonia Mon 26-Oct-20 10:24:39

Well, I'll certainly be more proactive next year. Last year, they offered me the jab at the pharmacy when I was picking up my medication. Lesson learned.

Kim19 Mon 26-Oct-20 10:21:42

Rang surgery early September. Was given an appointment for beginning October. Sorted.

rowyn Mon 26-Oct-20 10:20:51

Heard nothing from the GP and website wasn't very informative either. Waited to hear as I knew they'd contacted my neighbour and I'm in my 70s so knew I was eligible. In the end I phoned - about a week ago - and got probably the last appointment for the next day. They had a drive in service in the car park next to the surgery.

nipsmum Mon 26-Oct-20 10:20:47

I was told by the Nurse in my surgery that I would get a letter in the first week of October telling me which" HUB" to go to and giving me a date and time. Nothing has arrived yet. Bit I know several elderly people who have had theirs weeks ago. I still don't understand why I might have to travel halfway across Aberdeen when my surgery is literally next door to me.

Coconut Mon 26-Oct-20 10:18:29

Yes, my Dr sent me an appt last Saturday .....

Juliet27 Mon 26-Oct-20 10:14:05

I had both flu and pneumonia jabs when I had a routine blood test last month. My H booked his a couple of weeks in advance and had them done on a ‘jab day’. All very quick and efficient.

Antonia Mon 26-Oct-20 10:13:14

So, just had this text from the surgery:

"We are aware that you haven't had a invite for Flu vaccine as yet and we are working hard with suppliers due to increased uptake this year. Please be assured you will be invited when we have supply. If you do not want vaccinating please let us know. Thank you"

We'll have to wait and see then. Unfortunately you can't just turn up at our surgery, you need an appointment.

GrannyHaggis Mon 26-Oct-20 10:09:27

We both had ours at the surgery in September. I was very surprised at how efficient it all was especially our surgery's track record on other medical matters. Both of us are over 70 and OH is in the extremely clinically vulnerable category, so maybe that helped. I believe the under 60's have a different vaccine to us oldies.

Puzzler61 Mon 26-Oct-20 10:06:49

Have you got a Superdrug nearby Antonia ? They are doing a walk in vaccination service for NHS (free if you’re in the categorised age group/ qualifying conditions).
Also in our area we have a Tesco with in-store pharmacy and my SIL had one there (he paid as he doesn’t qualify for a free one).

tanith Mon 26-Oct-20 10:06:21

I got a text from the GP and had it on a Saturday back in Sept.

Rowsie Mon 26-Oct-20 10:05:19

It seems to be a different thing with each doctors surgery. I had a phone call from my surgery and had the jab and a meeting with the nurse within a week. At my sisters surgery they had like a conveyor belt going where they walked in one door, were injected and sent straight out another door.

maddyone Mon 26-Oct-20 10:03:58

We’ve both got an appointment on Thursday this week for our flu jabs. The surgery did run out of jabs but has now got more in.

Daisymae Mon 26-Oct-20 10:01:05

I would have waited in the telephone queue. They tend to move quickly and if you really want to get this organised?

Lilyflower Mon 26-Oct-20 09:59:32

I contacted my local GP's surgery and, consequently, one of the doctors came out and jabbed all we village oldies in the Scout Hut car park. Brilliant service. Go the NHS!

Kate1949 Mon 26-Oct-20 09:41:55

I can't get one either. I am on waiting lists at GP, two local pharmacies, Boots, Tesco and Asda. No luck.

Grannynannywanny Mon 26-Oct-20 09:40:34

CrazyH our health centre has been locked since March and absolutely no admission unless invited following a phone consultation. The health centre website advice page says do not come to the health centre unless instructed to do so. And do not phone unless it’s urgent.
There must be so many people at home ignoring/putting up with potentially serious symptoms. Particularly those who fall into the “don’t want to be a nuisance” category.

Grannybags Mon 26-Oct-20 09:38:10

Since Covid you are not allowed to visit our GP surgery without an appointment and have to phone. I was 9th in the queue.

Monday is always really busy to I would wait till tomorrow and try phoning again. Good Luck!

Grannynannywanny Mon 26-Oct-20 09:31:27

Our normally smooth running GP practice flu jab sessions have been taken over by Public Health. I was told don’t phone, you’ll receive a letter.
My letter arrived in the post last week at lunchtime. The appointment was for 8.45am that day! When I phoned to say the letter arrived 4 hrs after the appointment time I was told there had been a problem with their system and it involved a large number of patients. I managed to get one in Boots.

Esspee Mon 26-Oct-20 09:29:27

I’m still waiting for my appointment letter. Disgraceful. Any other year I would have had mine ages ago.

crazyH Mon 26-Oct-20 09:26:31

My advice would be to go to the Surgery rather than phone. It's Monday morning, so, the queue will probably be long but at least you will able to talk to the Receptionist and hopefully get an appointment. Good luck !

Antonia Mon 26-Oct-20 09:24:58

I've joined the waiting list for Boots' flu jab. Will try ringing the surgery again later on.

Shandy57 Mon 26-Oct-20 09:18:57

Just phoned the chemist, they've run out of 'under 65' vax, and recommended I try the doctor!

Antonia Mon 26-Oct-20 09:17:07

The message in September told us not to ring for an appointment, as they would call us.
I have just tried to call the surgery. After five minutes of recorded messages, I was number 21 in the queue! That would probably mean well over an hour's wait, which I won't do. It's probably 21 other people ringing to ask about their flu jab!