GPs know nothing about 4th vaccine.

I know that I need to have my 4th vaccine by now & it has been well over the 91 days needed. I visited one of my GPs on Tuesday (for another reason) & asked her about it. She looked very surprised & said she had never heard of anyone having a 4th one but that she would talk to the other doctors & get back to me. The following day I had a text from her to say I could just book it online. I tried to do that but the instructions said that I would need to take either a letter or a text in order to have the vaccination. I got back to the surgery & spoke to a nurse who said that she had never heard of anyone having a 4th vaccine but she would pass on my request to the doctors for a letter or text. Since then I have heard nothing. It really doesn’t give me much confidence in the surgery when they know nothing about this. Surely there must be others amongst their patients who should have this vaccine as well.

[Wobbies]

Had the same problem but fortunately he got the prescription clerk at the surgery to look into it and then sent me the letter I needed. First though I emailed my local commissioning group, head pharmacist to ask if I should have the 4th. vaccine and received a yes response and to get in touch with GP, so I did tell GP that which may have prompted the action.

[Hidden in reply to Wobbies]

Thank you for your reply Wobbies. I find it hard to believe that doctors don't know what they are supposed to do for the patients that they are supposed to be looking after. I will ring the surgery again on Monday and keep bothering them every day until they get so fed up with me that they do what they are supposed to do. After all, it won't take them long to send a text or to write a short letter for me to take.

[vonniesims]

I had the same. My consultant has done a letter now

[Hidden]

Hi vonniesims, I think that if I don't get what I need from the doctors soon then I will ring the nurses at the rheumatology clinic.

[vonniesims in reply to Hidden]

I find the consultants secretary better if you know what you want. Good Luck

[Hidden]

Unfortunately it has been the case that this is happening all over. There has been no communication to GPs or Rheumatologists that they must furnish evidence.

119 has ‘apparently’ got information now, that would enable you to book a 4th vaccine through them. [I have been reading posts on here, don’t have first hand experience].

I am awaiting a text, if I don’t get one, I will chat to my Chemist, who knows me and also does Covid vaccinations. Good luck!

[vonniesims in reply to Hidden]

Tried that on3, Our chemist who does the covid jabs looked at all my evidence to show I should have one, but said he needs it in writing from The Gp or consultant

[Mmrr]

I booked my 4th vaccination online, no issues, and received it 93 days after my 3rd. No 'evidence' required. I turned up at the appointment, was jabbed and the 4th vaccination was available on my Covid passport within hours. (I'm in Scotland). I despair at the huge variations in service and lack of information. It is beyond belief that some GPs still have never heard of a 4th vaccination. Apologies for the rant.

[aliplayspiano]

I was told to go to a gp led walk in centre with the letter I got saying I was eligible for third primary dose which I didn’t receive until after I’d had my third dose which was recorded as a booster! I just kept getting different answers from 119 but fortunately my daughters sister in law is a gp and that was the advice she gave me.

[Runrig01]

The nhs website states you just need to take your letter stating you needed your 3rd dose to any walk-in centre. Sadly communication re immunosuppressed has been lacking throughout this pandemic.

[ABwn]

I've been incredibly lucky in that my GP gave all 4 jabs at the Practice. No letters needed or reminders. But it does prove that GP's know all about the recommendations.

[JEM95]

I found my GP surgery knew very little - was told ‘somebody somewhere will send you a letter’! They were pretty unhelpful.I followed the advice here

nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir...

I took my 3rd vaccine letter and evidence of previous 3 vaccines to a walk-in clinic.

I had a little trouble as they were working to 120 days not 91, but after asking them to check had my 4th vaccine a few days later.

One thing I have learned is that you have to be on the ball and proactive in getting things done. The NHS website is helpful as is the NRAS one. Good luck! x

[cathie]

Where are you? I think that makes quite a difference. I'm in Scotland, checked online after reading what another contributor on here had experienced, spoke to a lovely lady who worked out when I'd be entitled to the 4th jag and booked me an appointment. She emailed me so I had something to show, but the next day I received a blue letter inviting me to a clinic. No problem whatsoever. I am on Rituximab so I was quite a clear priority.

[ColinRR]

I had a text from my local surgery inviting me to book an appointment for my fourth jab a week or so before it was due. So I booked an appointment and then received an email from NHS to tell me that I should take that with me to any walk-in centre for my fourth jab. All very efficient. I had it at the surgery on Wednesday. I live in Gloucestershire.

[Ailsa-NRAS Partner NRAS]

Hi Holly-willow I'm afraid they are all in a bit of a muddle over booster/4th vaccine, but the government guidelines are clearer (refer to the NRAS COVID information on the website). You can do what I did and just walk in without an appt. or any paperwork and ask for your 4th vaccine. As long as they are able to access your records and you can confirm that you are immuno-compromised, you shouldn't have a problem. I didn't. Good luck

Ailsa Bosworth, National Patient Champion, NRAS

[Maxadolf]

That’s what happens when they “work” from home. The 3rd injection, according to the NHS is no longer defined as a booster, but simply another injection. The 4th is defined as a booster. Of course, if another variant appears and we require to be injected, then the 4th is no longer a booster. I have regularly a need to attend my local surgery for an INR test. Plenty of nurses around - bless them! - but no GP’s and no patients waiting to see a GP. You can draw your own inferences. Similar situation with public servants who still insist on not attending their place of work! I don’t think that GP’s are familiar with the Hippocratic Oath practised in by-gone years.

[Mandalou]

Hi holly-willow.I emailed my GP receptionist and explained I was Immunosuppressed but my Biologics come from a hospital prescription and I needed a 4th jab.

They emailed me back with a telephone number for the walk in hub locally . I phoned them a week before my 90 days and they booked me an appointment for the 91st day after my third.

It’s now all listed on my patient access online.

Good luck, keep pushing. I would write a letter , shocking that GP’s can still be so out of the loop.

Mx

[Hidden]

GPs and Rheumatology departments have been told nothing. Just ‘tick’ to say you have the letter, and when you go for your appointment take proof of meds. Alternatively take your NHS number, and they can access your records.

[Rupert2001]

I think there has not been enough information provided to either GPS or hospital consultants. Partly, I think that is because the vaccination people are making decisions based on evidence from studies in ongoing immunosuppressed patients looking at how well they respond to vaccines etc. These studies are still ongoing and information to GPs and hospital consultants is not as complete as it would normally be.You can’t always have the booster at 91 days post 3rd primary as timing depends on what immunosuppressant you are taking. I have rituximab infusions and have been told by my rheumatologist to have my booster 4 weeks after the 2nd of the 2 recent infusions which I have every 6 months. So for some immunosuppressed patients it is probably better to get advice or the required letter from your consultant so that you get the timing correct.