COVID vaccine letters

elsien

Bogof_OAP said:

Tried again online this morning, managed to get a solitary slot for the first one locally but there was nothing available within 25 miles for the second one, so I couldn't confirm the first one.  Phoned 119 and the chap said you have to book them both at the same time, but we could phone nearer the date of the second one and see if we could change it.  Went back to my screen to do that, got to the final page and got told that the first appointment was no longer available.

This is all getting very stressful, my husband is quite angry now as he's desperate for his as he looks after his sister who is CEV.

Can you not just make a booking where the first jab is convenient then change the second one as something else comes up? There has to be a mechanism for that, given that not everyone will be able to attend the second jab as booked, for a variety of reasons. 

molerat

Blue envelopes dropped on the doormat this morning for appointments next Tuesday at the local vac centre.  Neither of us in priority groups, both 66.

NaughtiusMaximus

molerat said:

Blue envelopes dropped on the doormat this morning for appointments next Tuesday at the local vac centre.  Neither of us in priority groups, both 66.

Meanwhile my GF who is in a higher risk group has STILL not heard anything. 

hunnie

elsien said:

Bogof_OAP said:

Tried again online this morning, managed to get a solitary slot for the first one locally but there was nothing available within 25 miles for the second one, so I couldn't confirm the first one.  Phoned 119 and the chap said you have to book them both at the same time, but we could phone nearer the date of the second one and see if we could change it.  Went back to my screen to do that, got to the final page and got told that the first appointment was no longer available.

This is all getting very stressful, my husband is quite angry now as he's desperate for his as he looks after his sister who is CEV.

Can you not just make a booking where the first jab is convenient then change the second one as something else comes up? There has to be a mechanism for that, given that not everyone will be able to attend the second jab as booked, for a variety of reasons. 

Yes, when I phoned the 119 they told me to book the first near to where I live and just book anywhere for the second jab as it can be altered later.

[Deleted User]

NaughtiusMaximus said:

molerat said:

Blue envelopes dropped on the doormat this morning for appointments next Tuesday at the local vac centre.  Neither of us in priority groups, both 66.

Meanwhile my GF who is in a higher risk group has STILL not heard anything. 

Unfortunately it’s area specific. 

Vegastare

Any ideas on how to address not being accepted in a certain group.  Relative looks after Dad who had first vac - he took Dad to center as main carer and was told he should be in group 6 due to him having public facing job and the risk to his Dad should he become ill with covid as carer....he spoke with his GP practice and they said no such thing.  Despite finding concrete details on Gov website and phoning again he has got no where.  Any ideas on number to phone.

MattMattMattUK

Vegastare said:

Any ideas on how to address not being accepted in a certain group.  

They can ask their GP to reconsider.

Vegastare said:

Relative looks after Dad who had first vac - he took Dad to center as main carer and was told he should be in group 6 due to him having public facing job and the risk to his Dad should he become ill with covid as carer....he spoke with his GP practice and they said no such thing.  Despite finding concrete details on Gov website and phoning again he has got no where.  Any ideas on number to phone.

Is the relative the main carer, or one of several? If so then send them an email, with a link and a copy of the relevant text from the government website. The link below and the footnote would seem to add them to Group 6. That was published by the government on 31/12/2020, it looks like the guidance to GPs was updated at some point in mid-January. Most areas are currently vaccinating Group 4, some have moved onto Group 5 and a very few are starting Group 6, but in some parts of the country Group 6 could be several weeks away. 

This also includes those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-30-december-2020/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation-advice-on-priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-30-december-2020#fn:3

A option for advice might be Carers UK, however I suspect it is more an issue with GPs not updating their process quickly enough and likely being somewhat overwhelmed. 
https://www.carersuk.org/

Vegastare

Matt Matt
Thanks for this....have read another thread on here where several have come up against this.- possibly not getting past receptionist.  

parcival

Mrs Parcival (age 66) just had invite by text for 1st Jab - appointment booked for Saturday.

BooJewels

Vegastare said:

Matt Matt
Thanks for this....have read another thread on here where several have come up against this.- possibly not getting past receptionist.  

Can you email the practice or perhaps even write, so that there's a record that you asked and it might get opened by someone more sympathetic.  I'm in the same situation - I get Carer's Allowance for looking after my CEV husband (who has had Jab No1) and should therefore move to group 6 - but I'm diabetic too, so should be in that group anyway.