Under 65 and flu jab?

[Tico]

As anybody under 65 had a call from there surgery about having the flu jab this year? I read somewhere this morning that their are fears already they are running low. I've heard nothing yet. I'm presuming they are priortising the over 65's first. Tina.🤗

[linphy]

Hi Tina, my surgery contacted me last week for flu vaccine, I'm have mine 17th October. Might be worth you ringing your surgery x

[Tico in reply to linphy]

Do you mind me asking how old you are? Tina.🤗

[mjfin72 in reply to Tico]

Hi Tina. I had mine yesterday. As far as I'm aware shielders were being prioritised then the elderly. I'm 48

Maybe worth ringing your surgery to ask how they are working their appointments.

Take care

Mandy

[Tico in reply to mjfin72]

Thanks, I'm going to call the surgery at 8am. Tina🤗

[linphy in reply to Tico]

I'm 58 x

[Jody00]

Hi Tina I had a text from my doctors last week to get flu jab done 5th October I am age 41 been sheilding has i have a condition xx

[PhilReade]

I’m booked in for October 24 th Saturday at GP the over 65 S are on the 5 th at mine

[EleanorPV]

I'm in Grampian Scotland. Neither myself or my husband (over 65) have heard anything. GP said the flu jab's are being organised centrally during our October school holidays (the tattie holidays). Waiting patiently.

[Tico in reply to EleanorPV]

Hi Eleanor. I've just phoned my surgery and was told at the moment they are only doing the over 65's and that the other vaccines are not expected in until the end of next week but said their was nothing definite and thats why the flu clinic hadn't been set up as yet. I was told they will book me in straight away and call me when its in. Tina.🤗

[EleanorPV in reply to Tico]

Thanks Tina

[Ebot]

There appear to be widespread issues with vaccine availability this year both for the over and under 65s.

Our GP practice said they would roll it out for the under 65s sometime in October but when it became apparent the local pharmacies were struggling to get doses this year we took whatever was going and luckily got offered a cancellation at a pharmacy. Take what you can get!

Remember you don’t need to pay if you get it done at another outlet (like a pharmacy or shop) offering NHS jabs.

[Tico in reply to Ebot]

Hi Ebot. Unfortunately my nearest pharmacy is next door to my surgery and as its linked to it ,when the surgery can't get their hands on the vaccine neither can they.

[Ebot in reply to Tico]

The pharmacy I used last year said they didn’t know whether they would get any under 65 vaccines at all this year which really rang alarm bells. Boots have apparently pulled their appointments (and in my past experience have been generally unreliable). Are you within access of alternative pharmacies / private facilities? This seems to be an issue beyond the UK.

[Tico in reply to Ebot]

My next nearest is Boots and I also heard yesterday that they had already run out of it,so I suppose its a case of waiting. Tina.🤗

[Sallush]

I’ve had mine. I’m 54. I had a text from the GP stating I was eligible and would I phone for an appt. I did and they offered that same 1.45pm afternoon.

I believe in the UK this year, it’s going to be available to everyone over the age of 50 - irrespective of health conditions.

The logic is to free hospital beds from winter flu patients - in case they are needed for COVID-19 patients.

[Paul_1971]

Over 65's and those who required to shield are being given priority. Dont forget those living with those who were shielding are also eligible.

Those 'healthy' between 50 and 65 will be eliglbe for the jab also but will be later in the process.

My parents, and I and my wife are booked in during October for this. I know some years I have had mine as late as November.

Obviously flu can occur any time however its called seasonal flu for a reason because the peak is winter months (Dec-Mar), we are only a few days into autumn right now.

The media is blowing things up as they always do, but the plan is to immunise 30 million people, not everyone is going to get it done within the first couple of weeks.

I would imagine some of those 'healthy' 50+ will still be getting it come close to Christmas.

[Tico in reply to Paul_1971]

Hi paul. To be honest I don't think their will be enough vaccines for the'healthy' over 50's. I think the Government keeps setting these targets and they keep falling woefully short and thats coming off a Bojo supporter! Tina🤗

[Doggy1903]

Good morning, yes I live in Worthing West Sussex. My surgery kindly called me in for a flu jab this week. I have E T, aged 62 years.

Hope they will accept you as a patient in the higher risk category.

[Tico]

Hi Doggy1903. Unfortunately I am in the higher risk category due to other health conditions as well as an mpn. I'm just a little worried over the timing of having it as last year my surgery had trouble accessing it and I ended up having it pretty late. We know this year it will be in more demand than ever because of Covid 19 and also the Government promising all over 50's will be offered it regardless of health. Tina.🤗

[Kari1961]

I received a text from my GP last month. Mine is booked for October 21st - I'm 59. From what I gathered the 'shortages' are mostly for people who aren't 'at risk', those who would usually purchase them privately from Boots etc. My surgery has set up clinics in an out-of-town centre (It's a larger building) and have laid on extra buses to get everyone there. There are two flu clinics for the over 65's and one for the under 65's.

[piggie50 in reply to Kari1961]

Hi Kari,

I hope you are keeping well. I went to the first clinic, it was very well organised. If you are having a problem getting there I’m happy to give you a lift. Some of my neighbours have not been happy with 2 buses each way.

I had my blood done on Monday at the GP surgery (Exwick) and the nurse said it all went so well they are thinking of using the premises for the Covid vaccine when it’s available.

Take care

Judy

[Kari1961 in reply to piggie50]

Thank you so much for the offer of a lift Judy, and apologies for the late reply - I've had a hectic few days of work and have only just got around to checking my personal email. Things have changed since I wrote my reply to Tico... I've now been given a Saturday (24th Oct) Flu Jab appointment at the Methodist Church in Cowick St... thankfully it's only a 5-minute walk away from where I live, which is a blessing as I also wasn't looking forward to the multiple bus trips to get to the Matford Centre and back. I was told today that they've laid on two extra weekend dates for the under 65's.

Thanks again for your offer and I'm glad to hear you're keeping well during these crazy times. Kari.x

[Tico in reply to Kari1961]

Hi kari. It seems to be a poscode lottery as my surgery seems to be getting later every year. Its that or they are not that very well organised in ordering it in, in advance. I remember once I actually had to wait until the January for it.Tina.🤗

[swimswam]

I had mine at Boots, (although they said they wasn’t offering further appointments to the under 65’s. ). Also offered one by the nurse at GP when I went recently. I’m 63

[beckyluck]

Hi, I was contacted by my doctors several times during August and was able to book mine for the 14th September. I’m 42

X

[hunter5582]

My PCP just advised me to wait for a bit on the flu shot. Said that it only covers you for about 4 months and if you get it too early it will not cover you for the whole flue season. He advised t wait until mid-October.

[Dovme in reply to hunter5582]

Hi Hunter

I think that’s normally correct but it’s been widely reported in the press ( Germany and UK at least) that stocks are insufficient to meet global demand.this year due to Corona My haematologist confirmed this when l queried why so early. Hence they are vaccinating all risk groups first before general population

Vaccine also takes two weeks to work

Guess some variation in flu season timings ?

[Manouche in reply to hunter5582]

The only reason why the flu jab sometimes work only 4-5 months is because of the frequent mutation of the virus at the end of the season. In order to get advantage of the vaccine, it’s important to get vaccinated right at the beginning of the season.

[Tico in reply to Manouche]

Makes sense.Tina.🤗

[mhos61]

Hi Tina, nothing from our GP practice yet, even though it states on their website from ‘end of September ‘.

[Tico in reply to mhos61]

Hi mary. Hope you and yours keeping well.I phoned Gp"s surgery this morning and was told over 65 being done now and informed that the rest should be in next week but seemed a bit unsure. Luckily i'm a good friend of the main receptionist and she told me she would book me in as soon as it was in and personally phone me. Friends in high places hey mary!😉Lol. Keep safe especially now this dreaded Covid on the rise. Tina.xx🤗

[mhos61]

Hi Tina, I’m now 65🙁. I phoned a couple of pharmacists (prefer having it done there)....they’re out of ‘over 65 vaccine’!! Sadly, I can’t say I’m surprised.

Hopefully the GP practice will contact us in the next couple of weeks.

You keep safe too, it’s pretty bad down your way. Xx

[Tico in reply to mhos61]

Yes mary, the Covid is bad down here at the moment and getting worse not better at the moment,even the hospital I attend for my bloods are recording a fair amount of infections and deaths and we are under local rescrictions like quite a few are. Looks like christmas might be cancelled at this rate.😒 Whats it like your way? Tina.🤗

[mhos61 in reply to Tico]

Like everywhere, its creeping up here in Nottinghamshire, but in comparison to other areas of the UK we’re not too bad. Things can change quickly though. Xx

[Helpatlast]

Hi Tina I am like you waiting for mine my surgery hope to have the under 65 variation of the vaccine in next week and are phoning me soon as it is - think it just depends on supplies to surgeries under each trust even in normal years - all my over 65 friends have had theirs done several weeks ago at same surgery so even if on vulnerable list if you are under 65 you have to wait for that one to come in- like you it's frustrating this year when we know the risks are much higher - let's hope we get in soon!! All the best x

[Tico in reply to Helpatlast]

Hi Helpatlast. Yes, I was told the same as you, over 65's first then the vunerable then the rest, ie,family members who are carers ect.Yes we can only hope they come in soon but I think its a postcode lottery by some of the answers. Atb,tina.🤗

[Helena303]

I had mine 3 weeks ago. My surgery called me I’m over 65 now.

[mjn500]

I am 61 and contacted my surgery to ask - they said they were sending out letters this week to under-65s.

[Ellafea]

All those who are considered vulnerable or who have been sheilding should be eligible. I'm 27 and was sent the text and am booked in for next week. I would ring your gp and get booked in X

[Tico in reply to Ellafea]

Thanks Ellafea. I have already been in touch with my surgery and they are doing the over 65's first and waiting for another batch to arrive before I can get booked in. My Daughter who''s a carer for someone had her flu jab yesterday but she''s at a different surgery and comes under a different area. Tina.🤗

[Jenny_F]

I have it every year as its on my GP record but rather than wait for their surgeries I got it done from Tesco just over a week ago. I am 49