Still unable to access third dose covid vac

[Mal42]

The computer 119 and call are still saying no to me. I am in a rabbit hole. Evidently this is happening to many. Doc and consultant can’t help.

Mal

[ygtgo]

no word here either ... and my local NHS area has just announced that it is at its highest level of alert due to covid increase ...

[JEEA]

The same thing happened to me. I went to a local walk in vaccination centre with some print outs of my CLL letters (from my consultant to my GP) to prove that I have CLL plus the NHS letter which said that I was Clinically Extremely Vulnerable. They had heard of the third vaccine, but said that I needed a letter from my GP to be able to get it. My GP receptionist then sent me a text telling me that I was eligible for a booster dose , I took this back to the walk centre which then gave me the vaccine.

I was quite upset and near to tears when I phoned the GP which they could hear. I told them how upset and concerned I was about my age and CLL , and would appreciate it if they could send me something that would be accepted by the vaccination centre. (They offered me a booster at the surgery on November 11th, but I said that I was too worried to wait that long.)

Of course, one should not have to get to this stage of 'upsettness' to be able to get this much needed important vaccine.

So I do recommend trying your local walk in vaccination centre. You can look that up by asking google. Mine were most sympathetic and eager to give it to me, and recorded it as a 'third vaccine needing a booster in 6 months'. Some walk in centre may now give it without a GP letter. Good luck and let us know what happens. Eleanor

[ChattahoocheeBoy in reply to JEEA]

Got mine at a local CVS pharmacy in U.S. with no issues…..but unsure if in U.K. surely ur doc can direct you to a location?

[JEEA in reply to ChattahoocheeBoy]

It seems easier to get the vaccine in the US than in the UK. Here you often seem to need a Doctor's okay for the vaccine centre to accept you--or at least that was my experience. Some may take you without the letter or text, but they would probably need to see your last vaccine certificates and that it was 6 months since you had your second jab. But Bramidan's reply below says that it is possible to find a way through without an appointment. In other words--there does not seem to be much consistency at present--not like there was when we were first offered our vaccines.

[sparkler]

Hi Mal42

I'm sorry you're still not finding a way through to get your 3rd dose.

I spoke to my GP surgery's Practice Manager, as I've discovered it's the only way I can get anything done. He got back to me and said the GP's (Federation/ Out of Hours Service) needed a letter/email from my CLL Consultant. My CNS emailed him on behalf of my Consultant, saying I needed the 3rd dose and the Practice Manager organised it at a local Vaccination Hub. It seems that it's a postcode lottery again and every area is different. I'm in London and I think I was just lucky!

Good luck and I hope you get your 3rd dose/Booster asap.

Love

sparkler x

[Bramidan]

I had problems with my GP surgery with a frist banal reply to my e mail from "reception" to say they did not give vaccinations at the GP surgery and suggesting I ring 119 . I did so just to show willing, finally when I was able to speak to a human being, she kindly explained I could not book it through them and it was up to the GP.Just to make sure I was reading the information correctly I telephoned Heamotology who confirmed I should have the third dose. The nurse was surprised my GP practice did not seem to now anything about it! Suggested I wait a wekk and then contact them again.

I then sent a letter to the Practice Manager as an attachment to an email. I included my e mail from Dept of Health confirming I was a "clinically vulnerable patient" I cut and pasted the link from the JCVI re the need for the third covid vaccination.

By chance I had to take a presciption up to the practice so I went in and asked to see the practice manage, surprise surprise he was in a meeting. I asked him to phone me back.

To his credit he did so and explained they were, with other GP practices , setting up a vaccination centre and leave it with me.

The second call suggested I just turn up at the vaacination center, with the original letter and any letters I had from my consultant. I explained I was worried about that becasue I envisaged getting to the front desk, the person asking for my appointment letter and then hearing my request coming back with " we are only giving the booster"

I asked him for the name of the individual who was running the vaccines and asked him to contact that person so I was not just wading through a series of individuals passing me up the line.

The day dawned, I went to the vaccination centre, explained I did'nt have an appointment etc etc. The lady just said I needed to fill out a form, directed me to somebody else, form filled out and I was directed to a booth for the vaccination. Received a card indicating the dose and it was the third vaccination. From entering to having the jab must have only taken 5 minutes!

I spent over a week trying to get somebody to listen to me, the frustration was unbelievable, I had sleepless notes composing letters in my brain and having to get up and type them out in the middle of the night because I knew I would not sleep unless I did so.

Meanwhile I see our bumbling P.M and Health Secretary encouraging people to come forward for their jabs, how my TV still has a screen is a miracle.

It seems obvious to me that senior figures just come out with sound bites and rubbish without putting in place the neccesary strutures in order to provide what they are advising.

I aked the Practice Manager why it was left to me, the person diagnosed with cancer, to fight for a third vaccine which nobody at his practice seemed to be aware of, his response was that in the NHS the right hand did not know what the left was doing!

I must thank this forum, for without it I would have been been armed with the neccesary information to fight my corner.

I ask again, why should it be left to the individual to take on the NHS?

Rant over.

Good luck to the others still struggling.

[Mal42]

Thnk you, what a mess this is. I went to a drop in on Saturday, they'd got too busy so no more drop ins. A taxi to another, it was midday, they closed at 1, a huge line, the possibility of running out. Phew I got it, but thank goodness I had a drs letter so I got the third dose Pfizer, no side effects, ooh now I worry does that mean it hasn't worked😱 Mal

[Newdawn Administrator]

I’ve got a link to access them but there’s no 3rd vaccine sessions available just booster sessions. I can’t get over my cough and cold long enough to have one anyway at the moment! Frankly, although I know I must have it, my enthusiasm for it is waning due to the organisational mess and the way the last one left me feeling 😔

Newdawn