Covid jab - chemist too crowded

I went for both mine at my surgery at the weekend. Think yourselves lucky to be inside - we had to queue outside!

I recently had a flu jab at a local school, in their huge hall. It was a very efficient production line, in and out again in seconds.
My Covid jab was at the pharmacy and took much longer, finally getting the jab in what appeared to be a cupboard.
We should all complain if venues are crowded or unsuitable when other places, like our school, are available.

Maybe wait a week or two till all the panic has died down
It ll last longer through the winter too
It’s just the mad first week or so rush

Desdemona

I booked it via the NHS Covid booking site Chestnut, and it was the nearest place doing the jabs. I won't go there again.

Don't you get a text from your doctor's surgery? Have you had your 'flu jab?

I get told by text to make an appointment at the surgery, where they have an afternoon of jabbing. There is no-one on the desk, they are waiting for you and just tick you off the list when you arrive. You walk in and are told to stand over there for a minute, then straight in to the nurse, jab + jab and straight out. Very well organised and takes all of 5 minutes.

Next time I would ring the surgery and ask them outright if they do vaccinations there. Maybe you can book there with the nurse? Tell them you had a very unhealthy experience at the pharmacy because it was! And exactly the opposite of my experience.

I had a similar experience at my small local chemist too. As they were short-staffed it was a longer wait than many of us had anticipated. We were divided into two queues - one for covid jabs and the other for flu. Anyone who wanted both could just walk round the back of the cubicle.

There was an attempt at crowd control and although there was much muttering it was largely good natured.

A couple of weeks later I went to a larger branch in my nearest large city for a 'walk-in' flu jab and it appeared to be better organised and we were all seated at a fair distance from each other - but of course they had the space.

We were told when to go to our Gp's for both jabs.
It was like musical chairs no one on the desk just someone shouting next. Thankfully people had the sense to ask each other their time and get themselves sorted it snaked around the waiting room on the chairs. They took partners in together and you were moving around the seats all the time ,some wag shouted move and made everyone laugh.
The chap in front of DH kept letting others go passed so DH whispered "Are you flate?", our local word for frightened the chap who was well over 6 feet answered "Bloody terrified marra". He did move the next time by then a chap had started talking my head off, he was shaking and asked if he could come in with us, of course, he was told no but a lovely nurse linked him along the corridor.
He had waited for us to come out and thanked us for talking and giving him the courage to go in.
It needs to be organised and spacious for the poor people who are frightened of needles.
I can remember all the rugby team at school going first and fainting,they started to put the girls first.

I booked it via the NHS Covid booking site Chestnut, and it was the nearest place doing the jabs. I won't go there again.

That's disgusting! I was called up by text to make an appointment at my doctor's surgery for both 'flu and covid. The waiting room is a large spacious area which had been cleared of chairs. They handed you a mask on arrival, people were processed immediately and walked straight out.

Surely you can go to your surgery or to a processing centre (if they still exist). Why were you at the chemist, were you told to go there?

Sorry I pressed send to quickly!!! People waiting were literally pressed up against each other, several were coughing and sneezing. Surely people should have been spaced out better? I did speak to a member of staff about it but they didn't seem bothered.