If like me you know you fall into the immunosuppressed group and are entitled to a 3rd primary dose of covid vaccine yet have been unsuccessful in obtaining it, mainly due to stubbornness and ignorance of medics and receptionists, then please contact your local Clinical commissioning group. CCG. Explain your situation to them and basically they will give your surgery a kick up the backside. It worked for Mary on here and when she shared the tip I tried and within a few days my surgery rang to tell me I have now been coded as immunosuppressed. I will wait to see what happens next. In the meantime everyone needs to know about this way of getting help in the UK.
Carol
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MCW22
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Hello Carol - really hope that helps others - I got absolutely nowhere with either GP, consultant (though will try again with them on my telephone consult next week if I can keep my temper in check)! or the CCG who helpfully suggested I ring my GP - aaaargh!!! (I also wrote and hand delivered letters along with MPN letter, bloodwise letter + jcvi publication reminding them that I should be on someone’s list) - next attempt will maybe be a walk-in centre next week. Soz rant over - onwards + upwards! Anne-Marie x
As you may be aware, I also battled my way through being recognised as both CEV and trying to ensure I obtained a ‘Third Primary Dose’ Vaccine.
Basically, I had no luck with either GPs (receptionist) or Haematologist, so I decided to contact the CCG by email.
I briefly explained that I was a blood cancer patient previously identified as CEV and on oral chemotherapy. I presented my argument that BCUK and MPN Voice advised that ‘ALL’ blood cancer patients should receive a ‘Third Primary Dose’ Vaccine.
I also discussed the terms third dose and booster seemed to be interchangeable and confusing for many and asked them to clarify the following.
(A) How I would be identified for a ‘Third Primary Dose.’ (B) Assurance it would be differentiated from a ‘Booster.’
I also enclosed the updated JCVI letter, as it stated it had been sent out to ALL CCGs/Hospitals/GPs, just in case they claimed they didn’t know anything.
They were actually extremely helpful, and agreed I should have been contacted. They contacted the GPs on my behalf and followed it through with me until I was booked in.
I don’t know if any of this will be helpful to you. But, I would try your CCG again explaining that you have had no success with your GPs and could they intervene on your behalf, as you should have been identified by 11 October. Clearly, a ‘duty of care’ is lacking somewhere, and it may add weight to your argument to suggest that.
Haha! as I am reading this just logged in to bang off an e mail to the ccg having decided to keep pushing (+ in the knowledge that speaking to the consultant Monday is probably unlikely to yield any result other that a rise in blood pressure)! - will see if anything comes of this attempt. Anne-Marie x
I contacted my local ccg by phone explaining that I was getting nowhere with my gp surgery and they said they would sort it out. Next thing I know I'm getting a call from surgery saying they've re coded me to flag up that I'm immunosuppressed.
I had already tried a walk in centre and although they actually knew what I was talking about, they wouldn't give me the jab without a letter from gp authorising it. So I too was going round in circles until the ccg took over on my behalf. Hopefully the gp will soon issue the letter I need.
I also contacted the CCG by email. They were really helpful. They have a team responsible for people like us who have been overlooked. Someone from the team contacted my GP who confirmed I should be having the 3rd primary vaccination but said it should be done by the local hospital not them. (I am not under the local hospital) The very helpful gentleman then arranged an appointment for me that day at a local pharmacy. Karen
Hi I received a text off Manchester Christies hospital below I got mine but still had to mither the practice manager to get the vaccine The receptionist was rude and the practice manager when I complained I always had to chase them said a thank you would be nice !
I’m in the list but still have to wait till six months have past after second dose. Then g p said I’ll have to have third dose and then a booster after that. Not sure they know much about it. I’ll go on the day after six months and try and get jabbed.
Hi, I am getting really confused about this. I have had two jabs and now reading all of these posts it appears the booster is different to the 3rd vaccine which is identified as a primary. So do you know if the 3rd primary is given 6 months after the 2nd vaccine and do we still have to have the booster and if so what is the time scale for that injection? It's not easy is it!!
People who are immunosuppressed (which is most of us on here with blood cancer) are entitled to a 3rd primary jab which can be given 8 weeks after the second, then follow that up 6 months later with a booster. As the system is not working the majority of us have already gone over 6 months since our 2nd jab. People who are not immunosuppressed but are over 50 get a booster 6 months after their second .
No its not too late. Its just the government announced we should get this 3rd jab without actually making it easy for us to get it. It dosn't give you the option to book a 3rd primary on NHS. 119 couldnt book it. Gp receptionist said there was no such thing. Consultant and Gp didnt know about it. Walk in centre wouldnt do it without a letter from GP. One huge big circle until i contacted the CCG . Now the surgery have re coded me to show that I am immunosupressed so hopefully something will happen soon. If only they read the information sent to them it told them they had to code their immunosupressed patients and gave the codes to use. Why the f..... dont they read the stuff they are sent.
Thanks for that info but what a farce it all is, sometimes you feel like giving up and just take your chance. I think we are all involved in a game of Russian Roulette with our condition. I will start the process of asking my GP about my 3rd jab, wish me luck!!
The reason they don't know anything about this 3rd primary dose is because they don't read the documentation that has been sent to them telling them about it. Not only do they not know, but they don't want to know.
Having written to my GP and requested my 3rd/booster, I received a standard invitation on my mobile. As before, when I followed all the steps, it came up with "No appointments available". So I went through Systmonline (our surgery's new IT system) and found I could book an appointment at a pharmacy in a local town, which I did (online) but was unable to find out what brand of jab it would be, so on Tuesday, I prepared for a battle to get a third primary jab followed later by a booster. I was relieved that it was Pfizer again, so no battle was necessary. On my way home I noticed that the surgery was providing vaccinations and wondered whether I should have been phoned about an appointment as I was for the first and second. I can't believe every single person queueing for the jab that day had booked online and used up all the appointments within an hour! My arm has been very sore this time but feeling better today. Flu jab next week - this time, only four miles to drive.
Had a phone call yesterday, and just had my 3rd jab today, Pfizer, previous two both Astra, will get booster in 6 Months I am told. Good care in Aberystwyth.
I have tried everyone without success but will try CCG tomorrow. My GP was given a copy of MPN letter but I was told they couldn’t arrange it and 119 couldn’t either.
I followed the earlier advice of sending letters to GP requesting third dose. Two weeks later and still no response, My CNS 's response to the same letters was get the booster when offered through your GP. So today I have followed the advice above and emailed the local CCG Surrey Heartlands attaching the MPN and blood cancer letters, explaining the problems and mentioning duty of care. Lets see what happens now ! I will also be mentioning again to my CNS when we have our quarterly telecon on Wednesday.
I have tried and tried...I am told I cannot get any vaccine (I have had the first two) until it is my turn...well, when is that? You just have to wait, was the answer. I nearly didnt get my second vaccin either. I got it a little late but it was just luck...
Following on from my post on Monday, reporting that after 2 weeks no response from my GP despite sending both the relevant letters from MPN voice and blood cancer UK, nor a satisfactory response from my CNS , I sent an email to my local CCG complaints email. I received a response within an hour asking could they contact my GP. They sent an email to the GP that same day. This morning, I had a call not from my GP but from the GP consortium who have been coordinating and organising local COVID vaccinations to say they had been cc’d on the email to the GP and could see that I hadn’t had a response yet.
The caller said she had decided to call and sort it all out. You are not alone , she said, .
The outcome is that I have an appointment on Friday and my husband too. She commented that the NHS IT isn’t up to coping with the current needs, and I should contact them at the GP hub for a fourth jab when it is announced . Coincidently I had a telecon with my CNS this afternoon, and she had brought up the issue at a team meeting last week with my email and attachments. She thanked me and said that the hospital would be sending letters to all the entitled patients and their GPs. I’ll wait and see what the letters say !
So the CCG route works one way or another. Make use of it. Thanks to the forum members who pointed us in this direction.
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