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Coronavirus

Coronavirus - The Poll

  • Total voters
    97
RoyJess said:
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.
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As noted in the part of my post you didn't quote, I checked and Boots and Lloyds Pharmacy are not currently taking any appointments for flu vaccines.

From memory as well it didn't matter if I was paying for it or it was on the NHS, the process of making the appointment with Boots was the same. I don't think Boots were prioritising people paying over those who get it "free".

RoyJess said:
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.
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Rob mentioned people who would have gone to the surgery but couldn't get an appointment, I was making the suggestion that if they can get to the surgery they may be able to get to the pharmacy instead, if the pharmacy has better availability of appointments. For those who want the vaccine on the NHS, their local pharmacy may be a good option, although it seems Boots and Lloyds may not have availability, others could.
But yes, for you and Jess who are not leaving the house it isn't an option.
 
I think this year's flu jab rollout has gone terribly. How much is due to production issues; worldwide demand; national demand; or Matt Hancock, I suspect will be difficult to fully pin point.

There are some positive signs that the COVID inoculation roll out might go a bit better, namely: NHS will be the only way of obtaining it, so no internal competition; military logistics; anyone and everyone who has ever held a needle professionally looks likely to be allowed to dispense it - I'm personally looking forward to going to the vet for treatment.
 
People complain about people getting it through Boots, well I am someone who would be entitled to get it free on the NHS. I could take up space at GP surgery from an older person but I free up space and resource by paying for it myself at Boots or similar place. I've paid directly to see various medical professional in my time freeing up appointments for those who can't or won't pay at the GPs. In effect I am paying twice as I pay taxes just like anyone and don't use the service as other would. I don't see anything wrong with this at all. I don't earn lots of money but I do believe people over use and don't value the NHS because they don't pay for it directly. People in Scotland often get paracetamols paid for them by the NHS.
 
jon81uk said:
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.
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They aren't visiting any town centres at all, all of them, on medical advice...they send me on their bloody errands!
 
Swarm Chris said:
I think this year's flu jab rollout has gone terribly. How much is due to production issues; worldwide demand; national demand; or Matt Hancock, I suspect will be difficult to fully pin point.

There are some positive signs that the COVID inoculation roll out might go a bit better, namely: NHS will be the only way of obtaining it, so no internal competition; military logistics; anyone and everyone who has ever held a needle professionally looks likely to be allowed to dispense it - I'm personally looking forward to going to the vet for treatment.
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Worldwide demand was the issue. Manufacturers couldn’t keep up and as the window is so small before the strains start to fluctuate you can’t stockpile.

Hopefully Covid will stay stable long enough to get a large amount of vaccination complete. And in theory future strains should be quicker and easier to create vaccine combinations against.
 
Orange Ribena said:
People complain about people getting it through Boots, well I am someone who would be entitled to get it free on the NHS. I could take up space at GP surgery from an older person but I free up space and resource by paying for it myself at Boots or similar place. I've paid directly to see various medical professional in my time freeing up appointments for those who can't or won't pay at the GPs. In effect I am paying twice as I pay taxes just like anyone and don't use the service as other would. I don't see anything wrong with this at all. I don't earn lots of money but I do believe people over use and don't value the NHS because they don't pay for it directly. People in Scotland often get paracetamols paid for them by the NHS.
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Why not get your "free" flu jab at Boots?
 
Orange Ribena said:
People in Scotland often get paracetamols paid for them by the NHS.
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We do here in England too. Even though they are very cheap from the supermarkets and cost the NHS a fortune, we wouldn't be able to purchase the amount required for Jess through the supermarkets due to limitations on the amount you can purchase at any one time, plus the Drs need to monitor the amount she is taking, plus they want it on record due to the complexity of her condition.
 
You have to remember that the NHS is really a series of smaller trusts so there will be inconsistencies, both deliberately or less consciously, in how each trust chooses to opperate and where they spend their funds.

Here in Essex we seem to be awash with flu vaccine, all four of my parents and in-laws have had the vaccine and to do so made an appointment the day before with no wait or availability issues. Our trust has clearly prioritised funds and resources for this.

On the other hand, if you cannot conceive naturally you have zero free IVF attempts here. You want a kid, you spend your thousands and go private. This is not the case in the vast majority of health trusts. While the two issues might appear completely unrelated they are not. There is not an unlimited budget and it sounds like in a lot of places some unwise decisions have been made.
 
pluk said:
You have to remember that the NHS is really a series of smaller trusts so there will be inconsistencies, both deliberately or less consciously, in how each trust chooses to opperate and where they spend their funds.

Here in Essex we seem to be awash with flu vaccine, all four of my parents and in-laws have had the vaccine and to do so made an appointment the day before with no wait or availability issues. Our trust has clearly prioritised funds and resources for this.

On the other hand, if you cannot conceive naturally you have zero free IVF attempts here. You want a kid, you spend your thousands and go private. This is not the case in the vast majority of health trusts. While the two issues might appear completely unrelated they are not. There is not an unlimited budget and it sounds like in a lot of places some unwise decisions have been made.
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Its actually more complicated than that, NHS Trusts don’t manage GP’s, most GP practices are actually privately owned in partnerships and contract NHS work. So they have quite a lot of control over what sort of service they provide.

The decision on what happens in each area is made by the local CCG and they commission different treatments from different providers. NHS Trusts are either hospitals or primary care providers who are paid by the CCG to provide specific services. In general the only people NHS Hospital Trusts vaccinate are their staff.

Very rarely and for more rare treatments NHS England directly commission services from NHS Trusts/ other providers. The vaccine programme for Covid therefore isn’t being rolled out in the same manner the flu (and other) vaccines currently are. It’s being centrally coordinated.
 
Dave said:
The vaccine programme for Covid therefore isn’t being rolled out in the same manner the flu (and other) vaccines currently are. It’s being centrally coordinated.
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Well that's Jess and me screwed then :rolleyes: I see you all in 2025 when we eventually emerge from our covid hibernation
 
So we are currently in a lock down. But yet our next door neighbours currently have visitors. These are the same neighbours that flouted the rules during the first lockdown and don't think that social distancing don't apply to them over the past 7 months. I resent that they are older than Jess and me and the thought that they will above Jess for a vaccine. Am I being selfish?
 
RoyJess said:
So we are currently in a lock down. But yet our next door neighbours currently have visitors. These are the same neighbours that flouted the rules during the first lockdown and don't think that social distancing don't apply to them over the past 7 months. I resent that they are older than Jess and me and the thought that they will above Jess for a vaccine. Am I being selfish?
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report to police on 101.
 
Do it online Roy, takes two minutes.
By coincidence, just had the PCSO's round regarding last weeks complaint!
Complete denial next door, unsurprisingly, but the frequent visitors appear to have stopped.
Absolutely no regrets in doing it, and their advice was to do the same again if required.
You got an anonymous plug, Pluk!
 
Who says the COVID vaccine won’t be available privately? I absolutely guarantee it will be, where there is money to be made private companies will always outsource governments, that’s the way capitalism works.

I don’t mind paying for it, like has been said I’m then freeing up a “free” vaccine for someone else.
 
But if the supplies of the vaccine are limited, which they will be of course, you won't be freeing up a "free" vaccine for someone else, you will simply be using money to jump the queue.
 
BigT said:
Who says the COVID vaccine won’t be available privately? I absolutely guarantee it will be, where there is money to be made private companies will always outsource governments, that’s the way capitalism works.

I don’t mind paying for it, like has been said I’m then freeing up a “free” vaccine for someone else.
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Telegraph report from Government sources. The report says there'll be no fastrack to the system, not even for Government or royalty.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politic...vailable-purchase-privately-insiders-confirm/
 
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