Strange thing - COVID-19 vaccination booking

[Oleboyredw-uk]

Just been booking wife’s jab online. When I booked and had mine I picked one date for first jab and that was it. Only choice, from memory was local centre, which I think might be GP run.

Today wife had to pick both slots and kept getting ‘one is not available’. Eventually, we moved them two days away from first available and it all worked. But it is 12 miles away.

Now, where’s my second slot! Much as the process of getting the jab is very smooth the admin of booking does not seem to fit the same description, but only based on my experience.

best to all, rob

[Newdawn Administrator]

You can go back into the NHS site and ‘manage your booking’ Rob.

The problem we are having is there are no vaccination centres remotely near us now for my husband’s jab. The closest is nearly 2 hrs away! I had mine at a pharmacy a mile away.

Newdawn

[Oleboyredw-uk in reply to Newdawn]

Thanks Newdawn. I had kept the original text from the GPs surgery. I just tried to re-use it and it responded already done (cant remember exact message). So, I tried the NHS site with 'book or manage'. Seems to be offering me first appointment! I'm sitting in a crack in the pavement. I'll get it sussed, love a challenge like this. At least I'm over three weeks after first jab now.

Actually, looking at the texts, letters and web sites it occurs to me that my invite was from my GP practice whereas my wife's invite was from an NHS service. It appears to me at first look that there is a gap between the two.

best, rob

[Hidden]

Oh dear. They’re now trying to cope with twice the amount of people. There will be hiccups as the system tries to cope. The amount of vaccination centres has not doubled but the people to vaccinate has.

I know 12 miles may seem inconvenient, I think you may live in a city. My choice in semi rural was 9 miles away for the nearest, or 60 miles!

I was prepared to drive the 60 miles for a day trip out! LOL. But chose the local pharmacy (9miles) as I wanted to avoid large centres.

If you booked via the National site your second booking will be, as NewDawn says in “Manage my booking”.

To all the vaccination volunteers where ever you are a “Thank You”😀

[Oleboyredw-uk in reply to Hidden]

I think I'd stick with the local, although a big trip sounds very tempting right now.

As you say, the delivery service seems awesome, logistics on such a diverse project must be very slick to even deliver a small percentage of what they've done.

I was particularly impressed with what I heard from a nearby town where they are calling people up at end of day to complete part used batches. That is a great approach.

[Peggy4]

Yes there have been quite a few mix ups over the bookings. Understandable as a mammoth task now that we’re dealing with second vaccines also. Very confusing though. I have a centre a few mile down the road yet had to travel to one 30 odd miles away. Happy to get the jab so no problem but difficult if relying on other people.Peggy

[Rebrin-UK]

Hi Rob,

Spookily had same discussion with my GP practise, there are (at least) 2 systems in place 1 GP lead which can't guarantee supply/date until much nearer 12 week due date and Govt. web site that can (apparently). In the rush to get the 1st jab done it seems to have been a bit of a pigs ear organisation wise, but I have been assured that I will be contacted (around w/c 15th April in my case.

[Oleboyredw-uk in reply to Rebrin-UK]

Hi Rebrin, I think you and I both.

Somewhat ironically, on paper it looks like my wife is overtaking me (she has confirmed second date whereas I dont). That'll teach me to moan!!

[Coffeejenny]

I had mine at gp surgery and told would automatically be recalled in same way for jab 2.friends who have booked online have prebooked 2nd jab

[Milla15]

My daughter had first jab, organised by GP surgery, told she would be recalled for her second. I've just booked my first and second jab, organised by a regional vaccination centre. Just two different systems. Personally I'm happier having got my second appointment secured, but hopefully nothing will go wrong with the recall process for my daughter's second jab.

[Uplawmoorlass]

My vaccination was just under a month ago and through an alliance of local surgeries. I was invited by text from my own surgery. Apparently i will be offered the second jab within the 12 weeks but again it will be a text with a link to time slots and sent a few days beforehand. My husband had his at an nhs vaccination centre and he was given the date & time for his second jab at the same time. I’m sure you will be recalled in the same way Rob but I can understand that it’s frustrating not to have a specific date.

[Country_est]

Mine was similar, but got a phone call during the first snow in Feb saying a few of the older people were having to cancel due to the snow. But if I could make it 12 miles I could get mine done with in the hour. So that done but no idea of when the 2nd one is going to be. But would like to book it as I may not be able to do it at short notice again.

[Hidden in reply to Country_est]

Oh, snow! Not seen any here since 2016. Envy.

The joy of the online booking is that you book your 2nd jab appointment when booking the first. I prefer that as you don’t have to worry when it’s week 10 and you’ve heard nothing.

[bennevisplace]

While the UK's Covid19 vaccination programme is going really well, the national appointment-booking system seems to work a lot less efficiently than bookings handled locally. Our local surgery phoned me, agreed to vaccinate me and my wife at the same time, the drive to the surgery was 8 minutes and the waiting time less than 5 minutes. Had they not intervened and I had booked online, I dread to think...

The national appointment booking system is provided by private IT providers on the Digital Care Services Buying Catalogue of NHS Digital.

[Hidden in reply to bennevisplace]

My experience was opposite to yours. Booking system and pharmacy centre brilliant. I was let down by the GP’s system.

So many different local and regional viewpoints/experiences I expect. But we got the jab and that’s what is important.