Covid jab - chemist too crowded

Despite being summonsed for jabs a week before DH to a Boys Brigade hut, instead of the former medical centre - (new one now installed within new eco friendly hospital next door which had served during the Lockdown) , the process for both flu and Covid jabs, was swift, on time and efficient, though the venue was rather cold for the staff. The nurse said DH could just have come with me but he had a) said he did not want me to phone to enquire and b) would not come with me on the off chance.... Apparently we had been given separate appointments 'because he is now 75'... and I am 15 months younger. I must say we seem well served here in general. Just this year, on our little lane of 10 houses there has been 2 hip replacements and a knee that I know of and various responses by ambulance within 10 minutes. I am in the process of being assessed, following a face to face appt with GP, for bilateral hip replacement, have had an x-ray within 2 weeks of the appointment and have already seen an orthotist as one leg is longer than the other.....!

I’d have turned around and left.
My covid was at the GP surgery, queued for five minutes, then in and out, flu at the pharmacy, no queue. Separate jabs was my choice.

A year ago, I made an appointment on line at a local pharmacy, The timing was precise and, as it appeared that everyone had turned up on time, there was no queue and it was all over in less than five minutes. This time, having re-located, I booked on line and arrived at a nearby high school to join what looked like an enormous queue. However, the hall was set out with a large number of tables, each with a doctor or nurse to administer the jabs, and the queue dispersed so quickly that I got my two vaccinations at exactly the time I'd booked.
With good planning, either way can work.

I was given an appointment at a pharmacy on a Sunday, they were not open for business just vaccinations . I was the only person in at the time of my appointment.

RosiesMaw

Frankly that was the opposite of my experience last time. I cannot speak too highly of the calm efficient way the jabs were administered. It was a small independent chemist too.
This time our health centre had also got their act together for the afternoon appointments but according to the nurse, had been “going like a fair” in the morning as lots of people turned up far too early.
Let’s face it, places and personnel vary. We should just be glad these jabs are so readily available and not be too impatient if it does not always fun like clockwork.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Took my Mum for hers at a pharmacy, just a small queue inside, yes, the room was like a cupboard where the nurse gave the jabs but so what? She sat on a chair and they were friendly and efficient and we were out of there in about 5 minutes.

I had mine by appointment at an NHS vaccination centre in a local shopping mall. All organised well and v efficient.
Two weeks later we went on holiday. Lots of queues and crowds at the airport. Very close proximity on the plane etc and the same on the way home. Buffet meals with shared utensils etc in the hotel. We fully expected to have caught colds or worse. But nothing happened. All was fine. Crowds at a vaccination centre really shouldn't be a worry.

Crowds at a vaccination centre shouldn't be a worry : They are if you are CEV or immunocompromised.

I was talking about Joe Public not the very special people

???????
I'm sure Joe Public is as much at risk in very crowded places and can understand the OP's concerns.. I have heard of so many people recently, coming back from holiday, having caught Covid.

I always knew I was special!. 😉

I would have preferred to be vaccinated in an open ventilated area ...not a large cupboard where the previous patients had been breathing out maybe Covid viruses. That's the answer to the "so what?" Oreo.
I am not being precious. Am pleased to have had the jab. But it is all very different from the early vaccination days. And from the above posts some surgeries etc are managing and organising it better than others.

I had to go to Boots for my flu and then drive 25miles to a chemist for my Covid. Luckily neither were busy. Our surgery is slowly very slowly doing injections but if you dont have internet or a mobile you arent currently contacted! Told a neighbour to go in to gp and ask about her elderlyparents who are in their late 80s. They confirmed practice was at fault by not following up.

Every poster has a different story to tell about their vaccination experience. Clearly in some areas it’s dealt with more effectively than in others. Whilst I understand totally the need for some people to avoid crowds the rest of us must deal with this as thankfully social distance is a thing of the past.

Exactly the same when I got my latest covid jab. It was small, hot and crowded in the pharmacy. I’d never had covid before but came down with it a few days later and I’m pretty sure that’s where I picked it up! I will also avoid that pharmacy in the future. I booked online and it was the nearest, but I’ll hold out for a better place next time.

DH had his is morning, administered by a paramedic in one of two ambulances situated in our sports centre car park.
Word got out that there was a drop in mobile unit visiting the town. At least it's a nice day. The queue snaked all through the town centre. DH said it turned into a social event, because people knew each other!

I got my reminder online and was allowed to say what sort of place I preferred. I chose 'nearby parking' and was booked into a local chemist situated in a small shopping centre. I parked quite literally outside the door and went into to find 3 people sitting in a row waiting for their jabs. I sat in the one empty seat and the volunteer asked me if I would like a flu jab too ,to which I said 'yes please'! I waited only a few minutes before it was my turn.
The chemist was busy but we were placed on one side well away from customers, so there was no problem!
I can't believe that your chemist was allowing walk ins. The whole point of booking is to avoid crowding!!
I think you should complain to your GP and the NHS about your experience!

There's been a local hooha in this area as the flu and covid jabs haven't been made available in our area, all have to travel. There was a mass flu jabbing for over 60?'s is it and those with issues at a local centre, I had mine as I'm mum's carer (49). Mum could have had hers but was being ockered with wanting a certain pharmacist to jab, but had hers done at Boots nearly 2 weeks ago. My covid was at a fire station, lovely building, I turned up half an hour early and was prepared to wait, there was 1 person there. These are BOOKED slots so where are the people? I got my jab early then left. Mum had hers done Saturday just gone at a pharmacy 18 miles away (only available slot) and she said they got there early yet only 2 people ahead of her, she was jabbed soon after them.

It makes me wonder if people book the slots or not. My sister had a flu jab previous years, as she's a self employed child minder (a job that would drive me bonkers, I have dogs, (and mum) they're enough) and the flu jab, being free, she's claimed it, but she said she's not been offered it free this year, but she can't afford to not work, yet these slots, where are the folk?

After my flu jab, I logged onto the local Facebook page and a few folk bragged how they snagged a jab, though they werent invited, or booked a slot, because they didn't want to pay for one. I have to admit I wouldn't do that as it's not how I was brought up, I'm oldfashioned! However, saying that, when I had my Covid jab, an old chap come in and tried his best to get a jab and the lady at the desk refused, said it was appointment only, would have to go back to his GP.

As far as I am aware, all are run by Shropshire Health etc but maybe limited stock on Covid.

However, big plusses to the ladies who jabbed me, no pain either time, which surprised me as the Covid vaccine has been hell previous times, the needles have been too thick and bloody well hurt. I told them so too!

As of this year we have either the option of the local chemist or a vaccination centre miles away and off the bus routes. GPs no longer being issued with the vaccines.

Ask the chemist what time of day is slackest, don't just turn up.

Avoid the couple of hours mid-morning and mid-afteroon when the local doctors have most appointments, as their patients will "pop into the chemist for their vaccinations" afterwards filling the place to the doors.

Find out how long the chemists will be offering this service and turn up in the last week. By then most people will have had theirs, so the crush should be less.

My story: in the past we’ve had our jabs together at a disused office behind the health centre. All very organised. This year OH was invited by text but not me - he’s a year older and asthmatic. He duly had covid and flu jabs. A nurse friend suggested I get it done so I booked a slot at a nearby pharmacy. There were no slots at my health centre. Off I went to find a huge queue and apparently lots of people had turned up without an appointment. After an hour or so queuing I was finally inside the building where half an hour later I fainted. Shenanigans ensued. Eventually OH came and collected me - they wouldn’t give me the jab. OH also had to arrange with a friend to collect my car. I saw my GP the next day who confirmed I had cellulitis and put me on strong antibiotics. OH and I then went to France where we caught covid at the wedding… He is fine but I am still not the full picnic. I am having a flu jab this Friday but I was told by the receptionist at the health centre that I can’t have a covid jab until 28 days after I tested positive. I couldn’t book online as the slots didn’t go that far ahead so I had to ring NHS England. They told a different story. If your symptoms have gone (mine have apart from fatigue) I can have the jab. So I went back online and booked a slot on the latest date listed. Phew. Also, I’m not totally sure my cellulitis has cleared! I don’t really want to go back on those antibiotics with awful side effects

Stayed at my sons on Saturday night to look after the grandchildren and today my DIL tested positive for covid. He tells me that there are no rules regarding covid now and if you have it and feel ok you can just go into work etc. Not sure how long the incubation period is now so hoping I haven’t caught it.

This seems to be the current advice in England.

What to do if you have a positive COVID-19 test result
Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people
If you have a positive COVID-19 test result, it is very likely that you have COVID-19 even if you do not have any symptoms. You can pass on the infection to others, even if you have no symptoms.

Most people with COVID-19 will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days. If you have a positive COVID-19 test result, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the day you took your test. There is different advice for children and young people aged 18 and under.

During this period there are actions you can take to reduce the risk of passing COVID-19 on to others.

Try to work from home if you can. If you are unable to work from home, talk to your employer about options available to you.

If you have been asked to attend a medical or dental appointment in person, contact your healthcare provider and let them know about your positive test result.

You may wish to ask friends, family or neighbours to get food and other essentials for you.

At the end of this period, if you have a high temperature or feel unwell, try to follow this advice until you feel well enough to resume normal activities and you no longer have a high temperature if you had one.

Although most people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days, some people may be infectious to other people for up to 10 days from the start of their infection. You should avoid meeting people at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from COVID-19, especially those whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, despite vaccination, for 10 days after the day you took your test.

If you leave your home
If you leave your home during the 5 days after your positive test result the following steps will reduce the chance of passing on COVID-19 to others:

wear a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask
avoid crowded places such as public transport, large social gatherings, or anywhere that is enclosed or poorly ventilated
take any exercise outdoors in places where you will not have close contact with other people
cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose and before you eat or handle food; avoid touching your face

I had my Covid jab at the beginning of October in a horrible rabbit warren of a run down health centre, heaving with folk coughing and funnelled together. Exactly 5 days later I tested positive for Covid. I have had all my jabs and had managed to keep clear until then. I have no doubt I caught it while I attended the health centre.

I wonder how many people knowing they have Covid go out and about their daily business regardless.

I don’t think people get paid if they stay off work with covid now if they only have it mildly.

I do realise not everyone can work from home.

We don’t even know what is happening with the infection rate do we? If I’ve got away with it this time I think I’ll be back to living like a recluse again. I still haven’t been to the cinema or theatre or travelled on public transport. I do go into shops, but not very often.