Coronavirus vaccine

[Essie361]

Hi just wondered if anyone could help. I have T2 diabetes, diagnosed around 2013. I was without a gp for around 12 months last year as we moved house and to be honest we were a bit lax in registering with a new one (I paid privately as my sugars got haywire and was prescribed metformin). I'd assumed I would be in group 6 with being T2 diabetic but been told I'm not eligible. Has anyone else had this experience. We joined new surgery in Feb. Thanks.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

You surely are in group 6, but it's possible you've dropped through a gap by not being registered at the right time. Worth contacting your GP surgery and seeing if they can help. Or the Diabetes UK helpline if that fails.

 

[Essie361]

You surely are in group 6, but it's possible you've dropped through a gap by not being registered at the right time. Worth contacting your GP surgery and seeing if they can help. Or the Diabetes UK helpline if that fails.

Thanks. I thought I should be. I'll give the GPs a call today.

 

[Essie361]

You surely are in group 6, but it's possible you've dropped through a gap by not being registered at the right time. Worth contacting your GP surgery and seeing if they can help. Or the Diabetes UK helpline if that fails.

I've rang 119 and my GP and unfortunately although I am in group 6 I can't have a vaccine at present. My GPs receptionist explained that when vaccines have been left over in clinics at the end of the day rather than discarding the vaccine as they'd been told to do the staff have been giving them to all their family and friends (even though not currently eligible for the vaccine). This means all these people who should not have had the vaccine yet are now due to have their second vaccines. So now lots of people who are clinically vulnerable or who are eligible due to age cannot even have their first vaccines as there are not enough to go round ‍♀️ At least I know now. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

My GPs receptionist explained that when vaccines have been left over in clinics at the end of the day rather than discarding the vaccine as they'd been told to do the staff have been giving them to all their family and friends (even though not currently eligible for the vaccine).

I think they did the right thing. (And whoever instructed staff to discard the vaccines should be disciplined. That's surely immoral given the situation.) I agree it leaves you in a situation that you shouldn't be in.

I'd hope that you'd be included in the next lot of people to be invited (presumably for the Moderna vaccines since this is the first lot of those that the UK is using) but that's perhaps me being a bit naive.

(The GP surgeries should have had backup lists to use up "spare" doses. That's how I got my first dose: I got an invite late one Friday evening and an appointment on Sunday, presumably because they had doses they needed to use that weekend. So I'm sure it's mostly not "family and friends" really, rather it's people just a bit further down the list who are contactable and available.)

 

[Inka]

I've rang 119 and my GP and unfortunately although I am in group 6 I can't have a vaccine at present. My GPs receptionist explained that when vaccines have been left over in clinics at the end of the day rather than discarding the vaccine as they'd been told to do the staff have been giving them to all their family and friends (even though not currently eligible for the vaccine). This means all these people who should not have had the vaccine yet are now due to have their second vaccines. So now lots of people who are clinically vulnerable or who are eligible due to age cannot even have their first vaccines as there are not enough to go round ‍♀️ At least I know now. Thanks for your reply.

Have you checked the National Booking site to see if you can book that way? Has the GP now put you on a list for the next lot of vaccines?

 

[Essie361]

I think they did the right thing. (And whoever instructed staff to discard the vaccines should be disciplined. That's surely immoral given the situation.) I agree it leaves you in a situation that you shouldn't be in.

I'd hope that you'd be included in the next lot of people to be invited (presumably for the Moderna vaccines since this is the first lot of those that the UK is using) but that's perhaps me being a bit naive.

(The GP surgeries should have had backup lists to use up "spare" doses. That's how I got my first dose: I got an invite late one Friday evening and an appointment on Sunday, presumably because they had doses they needed to use that weekend. So I'm sure it's mostly not "family and friends" really, rather it's people just a bit further down the list who are contactable and available.)

I do know that my sisters friend got her whole extended family vaccinated with left over vaccine. At the time I didn't think of the impact this would have further down the line.
It would've been better to have back up lists. Disposing of the vaccine is awful! I would've happily gone at any time of the day to have it.
I'm a stay at home mum so I don't have much contact with people at the minute. Lots of clinically vulnerable people have had to continue working so I'm in a better position than lots of people anyway.
I'll wait my turn.

 

[Essie361]

Have you checked the National Booking site to see if you can book that way? Has the GP now put you on a list for the next lot of vaccines?

Yes I've checked, I can't book as it's all focused on second jabs. I'm a stay at home mum and have very little contact with anyone at the minute so I'll just wait until they call me. There's people in worse situations than me.

 

[Inka]

Yes, there are people worse off, of course, but there are people in better situations too. Mainly, I think it’s most efficient to stick to the Group order. The National site says people might find it harder to book their 1st appointment in April but it doesn’t say people can’t or can’t book a later appointment.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coron...rus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

Depending on where you are in the U.K., a number of pharmacies have started doing vaccinations. I know a number of people who’ve booked their first vaccination in the last week or two via the site above.

Worth keeping in mind as an option 🙂

 

[Essie361]

Yes, there are people worse off, of course, but there are people in better situations too. Mainly, I think it’s most efficient to stick to the Group order. The National site says people might find it harder to book their 1st appointment in April but it doesn’t say people can’t or can’t book a later appointment.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coron...rus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

Depending on where you are in the U.K., a number of pharmacies have started doing vaccinations. I know a number of people who’ve booked their first vaccination in the last week or two via the site above.

Worth keeping in mind as an option 🙂

I had tried to book via the NHS site but it said I wasn't eligible. I managed to dial to an actual GP today. We only joined the surgery in Feb. She said there are no notes at all about me at present so that's probably why I haven't had a letter offering me one. The good thing is she's doing complete bloods and check on me which I haven't had for a while. Thanks for the advice.