Vaccination queue jumping.

swingaloo2

Just been on a local neighbourhood forum. One man on there has booked a vaccination  and got a date for his second one by using the NHS booking site. Now this person is in the extremely clinically vulnerable group but has not had a letter inviting him to book. 
On the website booking page the first thing it says is to only book if you have had the letter inviting you to do so. I looked because I have 2 relatives both on the ECV list who have not yet had a call from a doctor or a letter inviting them to book online and if it was possible to book for one of the mass vaccination centers further away then my son would have done so.
However, it's not possible as he has not had an invitation letter yet there are now several people who have bypassed the system and booked which has annoyed me as they are taking slots from those higher on the list so in effect they are queue jumping.
As anyone had a letter and booked on the website, if so, did you have to show your invitation letter or do they check you are entitled to the jab. Hopefully people who have booked without an invite are turned away.  

strawb_shortcake

I thought I read that you had to enter the reference number from your letter to book the vaccine so it shouldn't be possible to jump ahead - that was on another thread on here rather than independent reading 

Browntoa

You need to now turn up with ID and your letter on the day 

JJ_Egan

You can certainly book without the letter or its reference number . I ran through the booking procedure just to see what was what and where centres are , without making an actual booking that is .  But pointless if actual letter required on the day .

swingaloo2

Thank you both. Ive not looked as he obviously didnt try to book having seen the instruction and Im in the next group after the current one. 
I do hope you have to show the letter, the person in question that said he had booked said that the instructions tell you to bring I.D and you booking number, no mention of a letter. 

cattie

My neighbour took somebody she helps care for aged 83 along after receiving her letter. At the vaccination centre neighbour was asked how old she was (mid 70's) & was told 'oh whilst you're here we may just as well do you'. She is not considered a vulnerable person I have to add & not yet had a letter or call.

Her husband is considered vulnerable & was a bit miffed at not yet receiving a letter so decided to phone & was given an appointment for 2 days later.

It is a bit of a lottery, but you can't blame people wanting to queue jump, it's human nature & the majority of people are keen to get vaccinated asap.

Pollycat

cattie said:

My neighbour took somebody she helps care for aged 83 along after receiving her letter. At the vaccination centre neighbour was asked how old she was (mid 70's) & was told 'oh whilst you're here we may just as well do you'. She is not considered a vulnerable person I have to add & not yet had a letter or call.

Her husband is considered vulnerable & was a bit miffed at not yet receiving a letter so decided to phone & was given an appointment for 2 days later.

It is a bit of a lottery, but you can't blame people wanting to queue jump, it's human nature & the majority of people are keen to get vaccinated asap.

Actually, I do blame those people who want to and do queue jump.

They're selfish.

I hope the system stops this behaviour.

[Deleted User]

Dunno about covid, but I had a flu vaccine this week and they weren't interested in seeing the letter, I could have walked in there any time. I rang and asked months ago when they first reduced the age limit to 50 and was told to wait for a letter, but a remark I got from them this week suggested they thought I'd left it a bit too late.

68ComebackSpecial

Browntoa said:

You need to now turn up with ID and your letter on the day 

You don't get a letter if your appointment has been made by your GP and they've called you. Husband had his vaccine on Friday after just such a call - it was administered at a GP practice, but not our one, and he wasn't asked for ID either - just his name and DOB.

clive0510

My GP put me forward for it, unbeknown to me. I got a text telling me I been invited to have a vaccine jab and reply to message to book an appointment. so did that, booked the 1st one available, sat 6th feb. job done.

Grumpy_chap

swingaloo2 said:

Just been on a local neighbourhood forum. One man on there has booked a vaccination  but has not had a letter inviting him to book. 

On the website booking page the first thing it says is to only book if you have had the letter inviting you to do so. 

Hopefully people who have booked without an invite are turned away.  

I would not worry about what you read on neighbourhood social media sites.  There may be individuals jumping the queue and they may find a work around the system that lets them do so.  It is probably a small number so best not to worry about it, and just follow the correct procedure yourself.

As for turning them away when they turn up, although I understand your rationale for that thinking, if they are booked (even incorrectly) and turn up, they might as well receive the jab otherwise that slot goes to waste.