Bureaucratic nonsense

It’s not queue-jumping if all a person is doing is using the system we’ve been given.

As it is, I’ve heard nothing about a flu or booster yet, except that it may not be until Jan/Feb. The local health board page hasn’t been updated since 13th October. My Dh has been done but the system now seems to have stalled.

Presumably, as it's all computerised, that file wasn't open yet and she couldn't book you in.
Daughter had flu jab today at Pharmacy but that has to be noted at surgery. My 2 Covid jabs were at a centre, that data also had to be sent to my doctor. All this cross-referencing must be very complicated.

My DH is severely vulnerable due to his treatment for cancer. He is older than I am. Both had the two vaccinations at same time, last one over six months ago. I had booster 3 weeks ago. DH no appointment as yet. Worried he had been missed tried every number and contact via website, GP practice (not interested,). Eventually took a stab in the dark phoned a number other side of country, selected the first option which didn't seem appropriate and behold the operator described herself as an agent, contacted other agents and came up with an appointment for end of week. Perseverance, and 3 hours of trying came up with a result. System is chaotic.

I booked a booster jab then had to cancel it as I hadn’t waited for 6 months. Then received a text from my surgery asking me to make my appointment. So I’m now having it on Friday - one week less than five months after my second jab.

We were called in for our boosters by text. My husband accepted his appointment but I couldn't as I needed a gap between 'flu inoculation and booster, as I have a reaction to them.

I was then sent daily texts offering me an appointment, none of which I could accept. Finally, after an 8-day gap (which I was advised to have) I could accept an appointment.

I write the above to show that, in our case, at least, the system worked well. 'They' know when one is due and when someone has not accepted an appointment. I was very impressed.

The original poster's conversation with the appointment clerk was interesting as the clerk obviously could not slot her in - the computer programme she was using would not let her. It was not a matter of the clerk being difficult, the system was set up and that's that.

Has the original poster considered stocks of vaccine? Stocks are not held in vast quantities and are allocated as to the number of booked appointments. If many people tried (I understand she felt she was within the prescribed time-span) to book appointments before their allotted slot, there would not be enough vaccine.

As to those who have been cross that their GP's cannot book them in - this was very probably because the practice had not been given a date whereby they would receive their vaccine supply.

I am sure it must have been annoying for Luckygirl but in a pandemic situation as we have at the moment, computer systems are required to help run the vaccine roll-outs, be they 'flu jabs, anti-Covid inoculations or boosters.

There is much to organising vaccine sessions, everything from staffing, clerical help and even toilet cleaners. Everything is not as straightforward as it may at first appear.

I can't really comment as l had my booster jab as a keyworker. The first two vaccinations were at the hospital. I booked my booster online with Boots. All l would say is that people were just walking on, as well as those of us who had booked, but as long as.people were over 65 they weren't turning anyone away. Although l had paperwork stating l was a keyworker (l am over 65) no one was bothered about looking at the paperwork.

Hattiehelga

On the front page of Mail on Sunday it stated that the Health Minister has instructed the NHS to give boosters after FIVE months to get the programme rolled out quicker.

Well, that's not really the case is it?

The Health Minister has "ordered" the NHS to allow people over 50 to book their boosters a month before they are due to have them. Which should make some people posting here very happy.

However, that doesn't mean they get their boosters a month early. Just in case anyone was thinking of complaining that their 5 months are up and they haven't had their booster yet.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10124033/Millions-Covid-vaccine-ministers-rip-booster-jab-booking-system.html

I too have had problems trying to book booster: GP got no vaccines; NHS online I’m not eligible; 119 I’m not eligible.
So...... I went to the Etihad Stadium Walk-In Centre Manchester yesterday and, hey ho, came out having been ‘boostered’ ... no hassle, job done.

DH got a message a while ago inviting him to make an appointment for the booster, so, after some trouble getting through to the surgery, he made an appointment. He asked to make one for me - we had our 2nd jabs on the same day and was told that they couldn't book me in because they had no record of my 2nd jab. I was unable to get through to the surgery (this is normal now, engaged all day every day) so I went there and presented my little card and my record must have been amended because I got through yesterday after 5pm and the receptionist could see my 2nd jab registered, but still was unable to make me an appointment. The system wouldn't allow it! So I am about to take myself back to the surgery (lucky we live quite close isn't it?) and try to speak to the person who she said was the only member of staff who could help me. Wish me luck folks!

I agree with Luckgirl, because as she says she's NOT trying to get her booster ANY earlier at all- just trying now to get the date for when it IS due to be had- i mean, she might ring back on that thursday in question and then there might not be any appts till say for example, another 2, or even 3 or 4 weeks- its like when dentist says, 'make an appt for 6months', for example then you leave it and ring at right time to find there's NOTHING for over another month! Only with booster jabs it really does need doing by date given, or immunity starts to go down, and thats not good in these covid times, especially with winter on the way- it may not be such a risk if you are staying in the house, out of (mostly) harms way, till your given appt date- but if you are out & about (no matter what your reason) then the risk is going to be greater- so Luckygirl is quite right, and yes she should be allowed to book the date now, so long as the appt date is on or after when its become due- she's NOT asking to jump any queues, just secure her due date! Whats wrong with that? ! It must be that system is not set up to accept it now, which of course IS nonsense! Especially if there's a human operator who is putting dates in- they should be able to choose it manually now, by overriding the system, so long as the 6months and 1week date is observed.

I agree with you Luckygirl,I don't think you were trying to move up the queue to go to a concert,you were trying to do what we have been told to do,and being sensible too

Singingnutty- Good luck, sounds like you'll need it?I hope ours will be easier, because i cant even prove my youngest sons with his blue card, it went in the wash in his hoody pocket when we got home after going for 2nd jab! (Maybe if they had given us small laminated cards instead of paper/card type ones it would have survived the wash!)??

Granless, its a trail though, to get it done, even for us Lancashire area dwellers- cant see my OCD son wanting to drive all the way there for it..he only leaves house if strictly no other option...ditto other one who was on shielding list..?

I just am afraid we will be 'missed out' altogether as we had our flu jabs separate from covid booster, at chemist, as our docs surgery usually gets flu jabs in later...

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

So sorry, Alegrias.

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?