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Health

Flu jab

(88 Posts)
Forsythia Tue 21-Sept-21 20:23:20

This year we had our flu jab at our local chemist. I rang on Friday and had it the next day. Usually, we have it at the GP surgery but this year they couldn’t confirm when it would be likely and said they couldn’t give us a timescale for the roll out. My brother in law had his at the chemist so we tried it and it was easy. I hope this might help others waiting to get their jab.

Janetashbolt Thu 23-Sept-21 11:48:55

I work at a GP, with delivery delays we are waiting til we actually receive them before we are making appointments, anyone that phones we add to a list but advise them to go to chemist if easier. I had mine last week at my chemist.

Funnygran Thu 23-Sept-21 11:31:04

We were sent appointments by our GP surgery and will have them on Saturday. Like last year they take place in the car park of a nearby school. Very quick, give your details, roll the window down and get the jab. Then the nurse goes round to the other side if there’s a passenger. Still can’t get a face to face appointment for anything else though.

greenlady102 Thu 23-Sept-21 11:26:10

SueDonim

Our doctors no longer do flu jabs. The health board has taken over responsibility for the programme. Their website says to watch their page for an update. No clues as to when that might be. Still, this is in Scotland where we’ve been told to think twice about calling 999 or even requesting a GP appointment. ?‍♀️

Meanwhile, I saw a private pharmacy offering flu jabs today so they’re obviously available if you’re able to pay.

if you are entitled to a free nhs one, local pharmacies do those too

Jane43 Wed 22-Sept-21 13:34:21

We had ours at Boots this morning. I booked on line and was able to choose a time convenient to us.

Sarnia Wed 22-Sept-21 13:25:06

I must agree with OP. My GP's surgery wasn't very forthcoming about flu jabs or vaccine boosters either. I had an e-mail from the chemist who makes up my prescriptions, made an appointment and went along this morning to have it done. I didn't want to leave it as there is a possibility that supplies may be harder to come by.

Aveline Wed 22-Sept-21 13:06:14

Nothing seems to be organised round here (Scotland) so I've booked an injection at Boots for DH and me. My friend was sent an appt but it was for a location miles from her. When she called the number given it was a Covid hotline. The person was very nice but couldn't do anything. He'd had lots of calls from people about flu vacs but nothing organised. That made me go ahead with a Boots appt. They were very busy. Earliest appt I could get was end of October.

rosie1959 Wed 22-Sept-21 11:33:09

Had a reminder text yesterday just booked us both in for October.
Had our first one last year I believe before this time they didn’t call under 65s in for a vaccination but will carry on this year although don’t think either of us has ever had flu

Whiff Wed 22-Sept-21 11:32:51

My surgery is doing flu jabs. My age group is end of September I'm 63. They started doing older people beginning of this month.

MiniMoon Wed 22-Sept-21 11:25:27

We had ours at a pharmacy last year. Quick and easy.
This year we were emailed by the Health Centre, made an appointment and went there. We queued behind 2 other people, and were in and out in about 5 minutes.
I was asked to make another appointment to have a pneumonia vaccine, but I'm going to wait a while as my arm feels like a pincushion.

growstuff Wed 22-Sept-21 11:12:58

The official advice from NHS England for diabetics is to have the flu jab as soon as possible to avoid catching anything before the "flu season" starts.

henetha Wed 22-Sept-21 10:16:55

I had an appointment at my local surgery for a flu jab on the 18th, but then it was postponed until the 25th, - so fingers crossed that it doesn't get postponed again.
I too aways have mine in September.

Forsythia Wed 22-Sept-21 09:59:34

We always have had ours in September for many years and have never had flu yet!

Teacheranne Wed 22-Sept-21 09:52:50

I’m following the advice to wait until closer to the flu season for my jab so I’ll have greater protection. I’m planning to have it in November or December as most flu cases are in January and February. Hopefully that’s the right decision!

Kate1949 Wed 22-Sept-21 09:48:34

We had ours at Boots last week. It was great. We were the only people there. In and out.

annodomini Wed 22-Sept-21 08:45:56

I had mine last Saturday. Surgery texted me and later phoned me to make a booking. The session in the town hall ran smoothly - straight in, straight out, and a steady stream of the local 'elderly'. I expect the same will happen with Covid boosters in a few weeks' time.

Jaxjacky Wed 22-Sept-21 08:45:02

Took an elderly couple to our GP’s yesterday and whilst they were there both were offered and given their flu jabs. Mine is booked for early October.

Froglady Wed 22-Sept-21 08:17:25

Just booked my flu jab at Boots for this afternoon being as I hadn't heard anything from my GPs,.

Gingster Wed 22-Sept-21 08:08:53

While in town last week, I passed a shop which had a board outside ‘ walk in flu jab centre’. I popped my head in the door and the pharmacist almost dragged me in. No waiting - in and out in 5 minutes. Brilliant!

Humbertbear Wed 22-Sept-21 07:58:34

Our large surgery doesn’t even have a supply of the flu jab yet but the pharmacy next door has been giving jabs on a walk in basis for over week. We are done and dusted. I think it’s a deliberate ploy on the part of the surgery - a good percentage of their patients will already be done.

LadyGracie Wed 22-Sept-21 07:52:25

Having ours at Boots this morning. I think our GP surgery is in hibernation.

Calendargirl Wed 22-Sept-21 06:48:42

Don’t know why some feel obliged to have their flu jabs at the GP’s, ‘supporting the surgery’.

Why?

We are frequently being told not to bother the doctor with ailments and conditions that the pharmacist can deal with, yet something like flu jabs they are keen for us to line up there amongst scores of others and have a quick jab.

Seems to me if more flu jabs were outsourced it would free up our GP’s, nurses and other health care workers to deal with other more pressing issues that cannot be done by the pharmacists.

The fees paid obviously make a difference though.

NotAGran55 Wed 22-Sept-21 06:24:53

I had mine yesterday in Boots , the over 65 version . Very efficient and no charge.

welbeck Wed 22-Sept-21 01:26:06

last few years our GPs do walk-in flu jabs on sunday mornings, probably because many people would not go on a saturday.
works well. no appts, just queue up. one way in and out.
i can remember when seeing the doc used to be like that; worked well too.
in fact my very first paid job was retrieving the patient records on saturday morning surgery. shews how long ago that was, in the 60s.
so had my flu jab on sunday, bit of a red mark since.

growstuff Wed 22-Sept-21 01:14:43

I had mine this morning. It was a booked appointment at a local pharmacy. No queue and done on time.

Apparently, the local GPs are rolling out Covid/flu vaccination programmes, but I spoke to a GP friend today, who said nobody knows when it's starting. I can't have my Covid booster until November and wanted the flu jab done.

twiglet77 Tue 21-Sept-21 23:11:09

I am eligible to have one from the GP - they do a clinic in our village - but it wouldn't be until at least the end of October. I work in a supermarket so am face to face with the public and other staff for hours at a time, I look after my grandson who has just started school, and I wanted to be protected as soon as possible. When I saw a notice in Boots in July, that they were taking bookings for the flu jab, I scanned the QR code on the notice and booked it then and there. It was done on Saturday, no problems at all.