How I got my 3rd primary and acknowledgment of my booster

[Piwacket]

Good morning everyone

I have had a long and emotionally exhausting battle to get the above

But this is how simple it should have been

It is important to understand that this is not part of the national vaccine programme and is being handled locally

2nd September JVCI wrote to all health care providers nationally asking GP’s/ consultants to identify those eligible and arrange for vaccines

My consultant did this and wrote to my GP

All GPs have guidance regarding 3rd primary eligibility of immune compromised patients to follow in the Green Book

They then should identify the local vaccination centre that is dealing with this through a booking service they use - then either ring and book or send link to patient

None of this happened for me so last Tuesday I emailed my local CCG (Cheshire) and on Thursday I received 4 texts from my surgery asking me urgently to follow a link and book my third primary and booster. This was followed immediately by a telephone call from surgery and I had it on Friday

The nurse who vaccinated me said there is as yet no way to record on system but through this vaccine hub I will be contacted again in 6 months

I have found out all this information while trying to get this vaccine

Now I don’t know where it is going wrong but their are only 500,000 of us who are eligible and I believe equates to approximately 15 patients per GP surgery

We should have had this in September in preparation for this inevitable spike in infection rates we are experiencing now and for many of us we could hopefully have been better protected

I know how stretched the NHS is but I think we deserve better

I hope by sharing this it helps others to get third primary and crucially booster

[Lolabridge]

In my area it was going wrong at the Rheumatology dept. They did not notify the GPs which patients were eligible nor when the vaccination should be given for maximum efficacy.

[Piwacket in reply to Lolabridge]

Your situation is much more complicated due to meds and timings

i take methotrexate and adalimumab

But I have struggled so much with the layers of unnecessary bureaucracy regarding this roll out - whatever happened to old fashioned communication ?

Good luck to you

[Moomin8]

Well done you 🙂As you say, we shouldn't have had this trouble.

[Gnarli]

I'm due the 3rd primary on Tuesday. The invitation was by txt and email. It was issued based entirely on my age, no reference to RD or any other comorbidities. I'm just grateful to be honest

[Oshgosh]

I had my booster vaccine 3 3 weeks ago at the GP. nurse had rung me the week before to make an appointment. There were quite a few people there.all wearing masks.

When I had the first vaccination I had a specific time,was admitted through a locked door and only saw the nurse who vaccinated me,no one else around.

This made me feel safe. I’m happy with GP up to now.

My flu vaccination was a bit different.

I need up going to Boots,as my Gp couldn’t offer anything before this week.

I got it done a month sooner by going to Boots. I feel that it’s a supply problem, surely GPS should have priority for vaccines.perhaps. I’m old fashioned?

I hope everyone gets their vaccines soon.tak care x

[Runrig01]

I had a similar battle as both my rheumatologist and GP denied it had anything to do with them, despite emailing NHSE memo sent to them. Had to get in touch with mp who contacted CCG. The CCG contacted my rheumatologist and rapped his knuckles, and I go the letter 2 days later. It is clear many are confused, even some of the replies here refer to the booster, which it is not. It is completely separate to the booster program, for those who are immunosuppressed or on certain immunosuppressants. Mine was recorded as a second second vaccine, and my passport revoked till I complete the primary course, which is 2 weeks after the third dose, so should be reinstated on Tuesday.

[nanapat61]

I had a similar frustrating experience when both my GP surgery and Rheumatology Nurse (on hospital telephone helpline) denied knowing anything about a "third primary dose"! They both said I'd get invited for my booster when appropriate, despite my insistence that I wasn't talking about a booster. I left it for two weeks, expecting to hear something once the necessary logistics had been sorted. No word came, so I rang my local CCG myself last week, spoke to a lovely lady who knew all about it and she was aghast that the Surgery knew nothing, because GPs' deadline to invite the relevant patients for a third primary dose was Friday last week (i.e. 4 days hence, at the time). She said she would contact my Surgery herself to sort it out PDQ and, lo and behold, within half an hour I was phoned by the surgery asking me to come along for my 3rd primary dose this coming Wednesday. I did tell the CCG lady that I didn't doubt that the GP receptionist truly had no knowledge of the JCVI's recommendations regarding 3rd doses, but I was appalled to think that someone at the Practice had received the advice on 2nd September, had not acted upon it and obviously had not promptly cascaded the relevant information to the very people (receptionists) who actually take the calls from patients like me who might make enquiries to them.

[99Michelle]

I just wanted to say a massive thank you for this post. I have today contacted my surgery about getting my 3rd vaccine and was told to ring 119, I did and they advised that it has to be booked through the GP, so armed with your information I told them what the process was and was insistent that they had to arrange it for me. I have just had a phone call and I’m all booked in for Friday 😀. Thank you x

[Hollyhock123]

Thanks for this. I enquired with my GP as still not heard. GP phoned me this evening. Yes I should get 3rd vaccine then booster later. But he had no idea on how to get me booked for my 3rd vaccine! My booster is due in a fortnight so might end up having to relabel it!