I just keep myself busy.
I think we have cope better shielding for the past 34 weeks compared to those that are moaning just over a couple of weeks isolation.
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Coronavirus
- Thread starter Jb85
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I just keep myself busy.
I think we have cope better shielding for the past 34 weeks compared to those that are moaning just over a couple of weeks isolation.
Thameslink Rail
TS Member
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I take it your local operator doesn't do reservations, some (like LNER) have made them compulsory.
I took at train to Glasgow last week with a reservation. Only 2 people in our carriage. Yup you guessed it. I was sat in a single seat with the other person on the table next to me.
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Rick
TS Member
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Northern barely do trains I'm afraid...
Going back to vaccination, am I the only one who hears complaints from elderly locals about the struggle to get the flu jab then?
Three elderly punters complain each year about issues with the jab...surgery overbooked, district nurses struggling to get supplies, or being told there are simply not enough to go round, and so have to wait until mid season...unless they want to pay privately.
I used to get vaccinated because of my care job, but now I go without.
Will be more than happy to take the corona vaccine...when we get the chance.
Three elderly punters complain each year about issues with the jab...surgery overbooked, district nurses struggling to get supplies, or being told there are simply not enough to go round, and so have to wait until mid season...unless they want to pay privately.
I used to get vaccinated because of my care job, but now I go without.
Will be more than happy to take the corona vaccine...when we get the chance.
Islander
TS Member
I mean it has surprised me as well. I got the flu jab a couple of weeks back, felt it was the right thing to do for herd immunity, but I'm not elegible for it for free. Paid for it in a Lloyd's pharmacy, £12ish, no hassle at all.
Something's definitely amiss if it's easy enough to get done privately, but a problem getting on the NHS for those that need it.
Something's definitely amiss if it's easy enough to get done privately, but a problem getting on the NHS for those that need it.
O
Orange Ribena
There are lots of GPs where its a pain in the backside to get an appointment. I should be a free flu vaccine on the NHS but I don't bother with that. I always go to Boots and just pay. Walk in and get it done there and then. No trouble unlike trying to arrange something with the GP.
No, not this year. Jess and I have the flu vaccine every year by October without fail. We are on their books for having it. I've lost count how many times Jess and I have spoken to our GP receptionist about getting the flu vaccine this year. We been told that we must have it despite shielding. We have requested ours back in September. We are still waiting. They said on the news last night that it takes 4 months to give out the flu vaccine each year. So it could be February before Jess and I get our flu vaccine, which I think defeats the object of having it.
Looking on our GP website, it appears that they are currently rolling out the flu vaccine to 65 years and over. They will roll out the vaccine to the under 65 soon.
It is rumoured (from what I've been told by my neighbour) that our surgery has ran out of the flu vaccine.
So if they are struggling to give out the flu vaccine to the over 50's, I doubt that we will see that we will have the covid-19 given out to the whole of the UK by summer. I think this is going to take longer.
Islander
TS Member
Should've mentioned as well, my Mum is entitled to a free flu jab, and got it no problem - like above, getting a GP appointment is near-impossible, but in this case the practice contacted her, and it was a nurse that administered the jab. So again, very odd - no real issues here.
Given that your experience (very unfortunately) differs from others in this thread, don't think it's a reasonable jump to assume that because your surgery is struggling with the flu vaccine, the whole UK will struggle with a COVID vaccine.
Seen two nice long queues of old people recently outside the local surgery at 7:30 am...you can guess why.
Drop in clinic from 8am, supplies run out by 9.
Some areas, often the more affluent, have few problems accessing the flu jab, other areas it is quite a challenge to get it on the NHS.
I cant get the flu jab yet, neither can my wife, we are both considered higher risk due to health issues, and three elderly vulnerable clients of mine have also raised issues this year so far.
It ain't just Roy and Jess.
The flu jab has been round for years and doesn't need storing at minus eighty.
After previous experience with Boris, I have little faith that the new vaccines delivery will be trouble free.
Lots of weasel words used by those in power, should, could and may!
Drop in clinic from 8am, supplies run out by 9.
Some areas, often the more affluent, have few problems accessing the flu jab, other areas it is quite a challenge to get it on the NHS.
I cant get the flu jab yet, neither can my wife, we are both considered higher risk due to health issues, and three elderly vulnerable clients of mine have also raised issues this year so far.
It ain't just Roy and Jess.
The flu jab has been round for years and doesn't need storing at minus eighty.
After previous experience with Boris, I have little faith that the new vaccines delivery will be trouble free.
Lots of weasel words used by those in power, should, could and may!
It was mentioned on the news last night that it takes 4 months each year to roll out the flu vaccine to the whole of the UK. The covid vaccine will take longer
jon81uk
TS Member
I get the flu jab as I have Asthma. My doctors did a whole Saturday of nothing but flu and pneumonia vaccinations, patients had appointments 5min apart, came in the front door, checked in at reception, sat down, called for the vaccine, saw the nurse, was escorted out the back door of the surgery. It was all very efficient and I was in and out in around five minutes. I wore a mask as did all the staff. Arriving by car and I only saw the four staff/nurses in the surgery.
I am assuming it is home visits for those unable to visit a surgery that are harder to arrange, likely as the demand is significantly higher than normal.
I have no doubt that some people get good service delivery of the flu vaccine, the point I am making is consistency...service provision is not universally good.
...and all three clients I mentioned are awaiting surgery appointments like yours jon.
The appointments have either been postponed...with no new appointment given, or simply not given..."We will contact you when we know the product is coming".
No problems though, at all, if you are willing to pay.
Simply expressed, further evidence of the privatisation of the NHS by stealth.
It will be interesting to see if the new vaccine is offered privately, quickly.
I bet it will.
...and all three clients I mentioned are awaiting surgery appointments like yours jon.
The appointments have either been postponed...with no new appointment given, or simply not given..."We will contact you when we know the product is coming".
No problems though, at all, if you are willing to pay.
Simply expressed, further evidence of the privatisation of the NHS by stealth.
It will be interesting to see if the new vaccine is offered privately, quickly.
I bet it will.
Dave
TS Founding Member
The Flu jab availability depends on how early the circulating strains are identified, years where the strains change mid season can require production halts and restarts and this then slows the production and delivery. So although the concept of a flu vaccine has existed for a while, it’s actually a new vaccine combination each year depending on which flu virus’s are circulating.
The difference with Covid is unlike Flu, there is one strain currently (5 recognised variations but they all share the same protein spike which is the important thing). So there isn’t the guess work required for vaccine distribution. Now that might change over time but that’s a bridge to cross in the future.
That said it’s going to be the biggest single logistical challenge the NHS has ever faced so I suspect there will be issues. But the Flu jab is not a good comparison.
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jon81uk
TS Member
Have they tried making appointments with Boots or Lloyds pharmacy instead?
Last few years I got my NHS jab from Boots as it was offered at more convenient times than my surgery. Its still "free" even if the pharmacy give the injection.
Although scrap that idea, I just checked their websites and they are no longer taking bookings due to overwhelming demand.
Rob
TS Team
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I think any country would face significant issues in rolling out a mass vacination programme of the like that has never been seen before. It does not take a genius to work out that it is going to take a long time and that there will be supply issues. Worldwide demand will initially exceed worldwide supply by a long way.
Hopefully the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine also proves to be effective and safe, as that will significaltly bolster UK supplies of a vaccine.
Hopefully the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine also proves to be effective and safe, as that will significaltly bolster UK supplies of a vaccine.
I think there is something seriously wrong with society if vulnerable people are struggling to get the flu vaccine free on the NHS, but yet a healthy person can pay and get the vaccine immediately without any problems by going to the pharmacy.
I'm fully aware that you can get it free if entitled to by going to your local pharmacy, but we have been advise not to by our surgery.
The good news is, that the covid vaccine can be stored in a normal fridge providing that it is used up within 5 days.