Covid Injection

[riptide]

Just had a very rude receptionist from my Medical Centre offer me Monday 8th for my injection, no other options if you do not take it up you will not be offered one again. Surely this is not the case, I thought you could get this jab at a later date if you wished. I have made the appointment but am concerned that snow is forecast for my area and I will not be able to get there by car or foot. She said they had very few allocations but surely they will get more. Anyone else had this problem. Thanks

[riptide]

I also said that I thought I might have had it a while back but had different symptoms to the ones mentioned and asked if I could have an antibody test. No was the answer and if I had it within the last 4 weeks then I should not have the jab. These receptionists should learn some manners.

[iluvmargie]

I'm shocked at that. The lady who spoke to me was very nice and I was offered a selection of dates, all close by. Could you not email the medical centre and query this? I don't think they welcome phone calls on the matter.

[bobbinwales]

There working really hard and probably getting lots of requests to change times, complaints about the weather, can I wait until Phizer say 12 weeks is okay for second delay, etc.
Its awkward for some to get there in snow but of course snow could come at any time over next 3 months so theres always a risk unless you wait till Spring but they might of run out by then.
Only you can decide

[iluvmargie]

No need to be rude though!

[bobbinwales]

Agreed but theres nothing in the description that sounds rude to me- it just seemed like the answers were'nt what riptide wanted to hear. If they interrupted or swore or insulted her then yes thats rude so a complaint is needed but riptide hasnt said what the rudeness was

[eve1974]

rudeness can be in the tone ...not necessarily the words.

[bobbinwales]

Yes- works both ways. We dont know the receptionists perception. But if riptide thinks receptionist was rude then a complaint is due

[bhg481]

I think there's a lot of learning going on by the local vaccination organisers. I was telephoned a few weeks ago and offered an appointment at 14:02 on a Saturday (note the exact time); that was convenient so I accepted it. Had it not been I think we would have entered into (possibly) a long discussion.
Yesterday my wife received a text message asking her to go online and book her appointment at the same location as mine. After logging in she was presented with several appointments to choose from so accepted the most convenient.
Perhaps over the weeks they've realised that letting people choose from a list is more efficient than telephoning individuals and spending time trying to find an appointment which is suitable for them. In my wife's case had there not been a convenient one on the list she could have tried again at a later time and been given a different set of times.

[woofgang]

riptide, the GP stream is not the Mega hub NHS stream but in either case I think if you can't accept what you are offered then they carry on down the list. There is also the issue that they can only make appointments for vaccine that they have or KNOW they will get which means short times between making the appointment and getting the jab. Its a pity that she was terse with you but I bet that she is getting fed up with people asking can they have it xyz and not when they are offered. It used to drive me wild at work (although I hope I was polite) when I would phone to make what had been told me was an urgent appointment, to be told that hairdressers, bingo and so on were more important and when we explained that in that case the person would be taken off our urgent list and put on the routine list, they would get miffed!
Yes they will get more vaccine but the queue is long and everyone has the same issues with the weather.
There is no point at all giving you an antibody test...it just wastes money and lab time.

[riptide]

I think it is so much easier for those who are contacted online or by text. Trouble is I gave them my mobile phone number a long time ago and they seem to have lost it. She would not take any details when on the phone so I will drop a letter into them. I do not understand how they have very few allocations for these jabs and what happens if you have to cancel as you cannot get there I wonder. It was just her manner I suppose that was off putting, most of them there are very pleasant, does not hurt to be courteous on the phone.

[Arrods]

I went through the online booking process after having received the NHS letter. After getting to the end of the process to 'Submit', I was told that sorry that time is no longer available - try again. Tried three more times in quick succession with same result until eventually it was accepted. (In the meantime I received 10 texts about the no longer available appointments.) In the end the local surgery called my wife last night and they agreed to do both of us this morning. I contacted the online booking system to cancel the original booking. Not complaining mind.

[davebro]

I had mine last Saturday at a centre serving a group of GP practices. They said they were doing 400 that morning & 400 in the afternoon (and it's ongoing). I'm sure there will be some no-shows and others who had to turn down their appointment for whatever reason. 100% sure they will get another chance.

[woofgang]

yes I am sure they will too dave, but they may have to wait and again appointment choice may be limited. While there are so many people waiting and able to take what is offered and while the goal is to get as many as possible vaccinated as quickly as possible, they won't want to mess around.

[woofgang]

PS I speak as someone who may have to turn down my appointment depending on when i get offered :(

[Maydup]

I wonder why some people receive a letter and invitation to book online, which allows you the freedom to do so at your leisure, while others are being invited by phone from the local GP surgery wth the usual take it or leave it options?

[teacake44]

Maydup Really down to what big venues are available and people available to give the vaccines I would think, there's still more opening on a daily basis. Regarding some younger getting it before some older ones have had it, depends again different areas coping better, nothing more.

[davebro]

"I wonder why some people receive a letter and invitation to book online, which allows you the freedom to do so at your leisure, while others are being invited by phone from the local GP surgery wth the usual take it or leave it options?"

I had the NHS letter & tried to book on line. As I was going through the process my local centre disappeared from the available list & I wasn't prepared to travel to the remaining ones. The next day I got a text appointment from my GP with an appt at (a different) local centre which I attended.

I think the 2 booking methods are running together but independently.

[woofgang]

Maydup, as I understand it, the plan is that everyone not in a care home at least in the current cohorts ie up to over 50's will get both invites (gp and mega hub) and its likely to be the book it yourself national scheme one that you get first. Pro with national scheme seems to be more choice of appomtment and location, cons that you may have to travel further and there is no conversation with a real person. Pro with the GP scheme is that it might be closer to you and maybe easier diabled access, con is that you get less choice. I don't have "special" knowledge, just know quite a few people who have been or who have relis who have been. Once you have been done, wherever you went will tell the other one. You will go back to the same place for your second jab.

[iluvmargie]

I had my injection yesterday and in today's post I got my NHS letter asking me to apply. Naturally, I'm going to ignore it. I'm glad I got the phone call first.

[iluvmargie]

10:05 what are you on about?? riptide said she was rude and my reaction was in relation to that. Not interested if 'nothing sounds rude to you'!!