20/21 Flu Jab

Torry_Quine

Well today I finally got through to the helpline. They booked me an appointment for Saturday. 

silvercar

I paid to have mine privately last week as my GP surgery told me that those age 50-65 without underlying issues were at the bottom of the queue and there may well be a shortage of supply. They expected that i would be called towards the end of November but no guarantees. Given it takes 14 days to be effective and the government is advising that people age 50+ should have it particularly this year as you don't want to get covid-19 and flu at the same time, I made the decision to pay to get it privately.
Luckily I did as the GP still don't know if/ when I could be called and local pharmacies appear to have run out of stock.
Morally, I've saved the NHS the cost of supply and delivery, potentially saved the NHS more if I would otherwise have had flu and needed care. It is a different vaccine to that given to the over 65s, so I haven't deprived anyone in greater need.

ladyholly

Had an app for husband and I on 29th sept. It was cancelled. I still cant get any sense out of Lloyds pharmacy why an appointment booked at the beginning of September is still outstanding. All they tell me is on line booking is now closed. I didnt book on line I booked in the pharmacy but can get no information from the shop, customer services or anyone else except they will contact me for next years vaccination!!! I would add that dh is over 70 and I am over 65. I have contacted CEO of Lloyds, emailed them several times even contacted my MP but am getting nowhere. Anyone got any ideas?

Torry_Quine

ladyholly said:

Had an app for husband and I on 29th sept. It was cancelled. I still cant get any sense out of Lloyds pharmacy why an appointment booked at the beginning of September is still outstanding. All they tell me is on line booking is now closed. I didnt book on line I booked in the pharmacy but can get no information from the shop, customer services or anyone else except they will contact me for next years vaccination!!! I would add that dh is over 70 and I am over 65. I have contacted CEO of Lloyds, emailed them several times even contacted my MP but am getting nowhere. Anyone got any ideas?

What does your GP surgery say?

Barny1979

ladyholly said:

Had an app for husband and I on 29th sept. It was cancelled. I still cant get any sense out of Lloyds pharmacy why an appointment booked at the beginning of September is still outstanding. All they tell me is on line booking is now closed. I didnt book on line I booked in the pharmacy but can get no information from the shop, customer services or anyone else except they will contact me for next years vaccination!!! I would add that dh is over 70 and I am over 65. I have contacted CEO of Lloyds, emailed them several times even contacted my MP but am getting nowhere. Anyone got any ideas?

Why didn't you go through the NHS?

ladyholly

I didn't go to gp as I thought they had enough on their plate at the moment plus trying to get through to them on the phone is impossible. They don't have on line booking. 

Barny1979

ladyholly said:

I didn't go to gp as I thought they had enough on their plate at the moment plus trying to get through to them on the phone is impossible. They don't have on line booking. 

You should have as they are prepared for it and possibly have a dedicated booking line.

ladyholly

I am going to try on Monday but I am still very angry that the pharmacy has let us down so badly. The implication when they cancelled was it would be a few days but it now over 5 weeks since the app was cancelled and the reason I am so angry is no one is giving any information except to tell me I can't book. I shouldn't need to book I did that at the beginning of September. They have failed to honour the booking which I made in good faith. 

Torry_Quine

I'm in Scotland where you can't get the vaccine free from a pharmacy so I wouldn't have gone there. Previously it was via GPS but now it's the local health boards. I go to a local school to get mine tomorrow after calling the local helpline.
Did you not get a letter about it?

ladyholly

No I have had no communication from anyone. I do wonder how many other people roud here are in the same position as I live in an area with  a high number of elderly people. As up to now I can get no information I don't see a letter would have helped. I foolishly assumed the pharmacy would do as they said and let me know when they had the vaccine so I can only assume that in the last five weeks they have not had any.  If I had been late booking I could understand the problem but as I booked at the beginning of September they must have known how many doses they would need. I just don't get it.