Bureaucratic nonsense

growstuff

With the original programme I was able to book both doses weeks in advance on a day and time which was convenient. The roll out was a remarkable achievement and I'm not being told by a random person that it's the same this time when it quite clearly isn't.

Trisha's post offers an explanation, as does the earlier one posted by somebody who works in a GP surgery.

Not keen on the evidence presented then? Rather rely on your own experience?

Okey dokey.

With the original programme I was able to book both doses weeks in advance on a day and time which was convenient. The roll out was a remarkable achievement and I'm not being told by a random person that it's the same this time when it quite clearly isn't.

Trisha's post offers an explanation, as does the earlier one posted by somebody who works in a GP surgery.

Maggiemaybe

^Fantastic work was done with the original programme. Why isn't it being replicated? Simple question.^

Simple answer. It is.

No, it most certainly isn't.

Thanks trisher. That could explain what's going on. Why didn't the NHS just be honest and say there might be some problems and delays, but hang on, we've got plenty and you'll all be vaccinated? Rather than treating us like mindless zombies who shouldn't question anything and should be grateful we don't live in Timbuctoo.

If this has been said before apologies. One of the things about the booster jab is that it is pfizer. It needs to be kept at very low temperatures. This meant that there were some vaccine centres that were unsuitable for its use. Add to that the standing down of some of the volunteers who kept the large centres going and yu have a system tring to accommodate the same number of people with less space and help. It's not possible.

Fantastic work was done with the original programme. Why isn't it being replicated? Simple question.

Simple answer. It is.

I'm not highlighting or picking on anyone in particular but I like a bit of evidence...

www.gransnet.com/forums/coronavirus/1293283-Twelve-weeks-on-Mum-still-hasnt-been-called-for-second-jab?pg=2

Good post Alegrias.

Oh yes, my daughter was involved in the organisation of the original vaccination programme in the South Eastern corridor. Maybe it’s because she’s no longer organising things growstuff. Well if patients hadn’t been so rude to her and others in her surgery she may still have been here instead of in New Zealand.

A case of rose tinted spectacles there, I think growstuff.

The graph is from the government site. Average number of daily doses administered at the moment, about 382,000 and rising. Average number of daily doses administered for the first couple of months of the original program? About 400,000. So hardly an abject failure.

And if I recall Gransnet was full of threads bemoaning how bad the rollout was in particular areas, how someone's Auntie Jeannie hadn't had their first dose while Johnny down the road had, how people had been sent to the wrong location; and remember the queuing outside Plymouth Argyle football club?

As someone upthread said, when the rules don't match your particular set of circumstances, you feel let down. Most people are doing just fine though.

Why is it up to me to explain what you call an ‘inefficient’ vaccination programme? Fact is, it isn’t up to me to explain. It’s up to other people, such as yourself growstuff to recognise that we are extremely privileged to be being offered a booster vaccine. There are millions of people in this world who haven’t even been offered a first vaccine. We are privileged to have the vaccination programme that we have in this country. Have you no thankfulness for the excellent vaccination programme and for the fact that you live in a first world country that is able to offer you a booster vaccination? No?

Maggiemaybe

I agree with you, maddyone, Alegrias and others who've made similar points.

325,140 booster doses were administered on Saturday alone in the UK. 325,140! This at a time when the race is still on to give vaccines to 12 to 15 year olds, and to catch up with those people who, for one reason or another, haven't had their first or second jab yet. It's a remarkable achievement. Of course there are going to be glitches in such a huge undertaking, but we really should take a step back and acknowledge the great work that's being done. And how lucky we are!

Fantastic work was done with the original programme. Why isn't it being replicated? Simple question.

maddyone

Sorry, but I’m fed up of the complains. We’re lucky in this country to have been vaccinated twice and offered a third booster jab. They are many in this world who haven’t been able to access a first jab. I’m fed up of constant complaining. No doubt I’d better take cover now because the already well off don’t know how well off they are!

So maybe you could explain why the roll out of the booster jabs is less efficient than the original vaccinations. Curious!

Fed up of people telling me how well off I am!

I agree with you, maddyone, Alegrias and others who've made similar points.

325,140 booster doses were administered on Saturday alone in the UK. 325,140! This at a time when the race is still on to give vaccines to 12 to 15 year olds, and to catch up with those people who, for one reason or another, haven't had their first or second jab yet. It's a remarkable achievement. Of course there are going to be glitches in such a huge undertaking, but we really should take a step back and acknowledge the great work that's being done. And how lucky we are!

Sorry, but I’m fed up of the complains. We’re lucky in this country to have been vaccinated twice and offered a third booster jab. They are many in this world who haven’t been able to access a first jab. I’m fed up of constant complaining. No doubt I’d better take cover now because the already well off don’t know how well off they are!

Also 2 systems running round here. A friend booked an appointment with the vaccine hub for her much older husband, and asked if hers could be done at the same time, as round trip of 70 miles involved. Was told no, as her 6 months not up till the next day, but no, both of them would not be able to be done the next day.
Then told by a neighbour that a centre closer to home had said anyone over 24 weeks since second dose could walk in and get it, which both of them already are. Guess what she did?

So sorry, Alegrias.

You certainly can lose your antibodies -and get Covid19- if not overnight then certainly before anything approaching 6 months after your second jab, Exdancer and Algeria’s, as I did, despite being ultra cautious about taking precautions to avoid exposure as DH is CEV.
So probably wise not to test them by exposing yourself to public transport and concert venues, when there is an alternative.

I had the text this morning and this afternoon I booked my booster for tomorrow morning. My six month anniversary was on Sunday so less than 6 months and a week so I’m surprised there is a problem after 30 weeks which is almost 7 months. Maybe it depends where you are. If I’d wanted it at my GP surgery I’d have had to wait nearly a month but if I drive less than 2 miles I get it tomorrow. Just go with the system folks. We’ll all get there in the end.

Algerias It's not really about trying to move up the queue is it? It transpired that the OP's booster was due in a few days' time but, as she was already on the phone, she asked if she could book it. That seems reasonable to me.

On the one hand, people are treated like traitors and lepers for not being vaccinated but, on the other hand, someone who is quite keen to have her booster vaccine - and who can't really be accused of trying to jump the queue - is made to feel as if she has done something wrong.

At the moment it is vulnerable people first with health conditions.

Joesoap

It would have made sense for the lady you spoke to on the phone for her to make an appointment for you there and then, when she sees you are elegable, it would save her another phone call.Red tape I would call it.

but it's more likely than not that the system will not allow her to make these decisions.
most people answering phones nowadays are merely speaking from a computerised system.
there is no possibility of altering it.
it can be annoying at times, but it is not the fault of the operator.
they must get fed up of callers demanding that they just do something, which is actually impossible for them to do.

Got an email and a text today stating I could book my booster!! Followed the instructions! All booked for Nov 5th
Simple!!!

I went for my annual flu and had previously been told that as ECV I could have a third primary vaccination at the same time. I got there and was told I could not have the third because my first two were AZ and I’d have to do 90mile round trip for another AZ because the surgery were only giving Pfizer vaccines. A little investigation revealed that after Two AZ, it is preferable to have an mRNA vaccine such as Pfizer (JCVI guidance). I got back to the surgery telling them the advice was wrong and they came back saying the person must have been thinking the request was for AZ - I had only asked for ’a’ primary dose vaccine and made no request as to the type. (Why can’t these bloody people accept they have made a mistake and just give an unconditional apology?) So then I asked for an appointment for the Pfizer primary first vaccination, only to be told they had run out and ’might’ know more at the end of the week.
I feel so vulnerable because this surgery has made several errors and misjudgements and might reasonably have avoided the life threatening condition I now live with (AIH) - yet it seems I can no longer rely on anything they do or say, but there are no alternative surgeries nrar enough

Have all of those on here complaining about alleged difficulties securing a covid booster, forgotten just what a massive undertaking this vaccine rollout has been?

There are still children and others who have only just come forward, having their first vaccine and all this is being run alongside the boosters and flu vaccines.

We have been assured that there is a plentiful supply of the Pfizer vaccine, so it’s just a case of getting round to contacting people to come forward when it’s their turn.

The other point is that our immunity won’t just fall off a cliff six months after our second jab, as it’s more of a gradual decline, so a few weeks either way won’t be a disaster.