Booking appointments for Covid Spring boosters

[Mai45]

Just a thought for those booking appointments for spring boosters/4th dose on line. I do shifts at a walk in centre, and several of our clients have - particularly when these jabs were first released - been extremely cross that they booked a specific time appointment but ended up in a long queue. Other centres are appointment only, but at a walk in centre on a busy day you can find a lot of people already in front of you.

The initial post-release rush is calming down now, but please just be aware of the possibility. I’ve seen more than one set of grandparents carefully book appointments 30 minutes before they were due to pick up grandchildren from the school playground, and whilst on a normal day that should work fine, on a busy day it might not, so if it’s a walk in centre just book a time that could allow longer if needed.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Good advice……

[pal-o-mine]

Excellent advice - thank you.

[OldPenny]

That's very good advice. I booked a time slot and was surprised to see a 30m queue outside (took an hour to get jabbed). People turning up without bookings were turned away. Many old, infirm people, some in wheelchairs, in the hot sun. Good job it wasn't raining. This was down to a spontaneous staff shortage we were told. Maybe they had tested positive for COVID? 🤔

[Mai45 in reply to OldPenny]

I hope not! It’s impossible to predict how busy walk in centres will be. Sometimes I’ve sat and read a book for 20 minutes in an empty hall and then on the next shift turned up to find every seat taken and a long queue outside. Makes it very hard for the clinical leads to gauge how many people he or she will need each day. The good thing is that if you bring obviously frail people from a jam packed queue out of turn, most people are fine about it. Wish I could say they all are…

[Coffeebeans]

Good advice. I turned up for my booster recently and there was quite a large queue just as you describe.

Wasn't an issue but last time it was very much in and out.

[Lonsdalelass]

Thanks!

[Exflex]

I’d wait in a queue but I’m not allowed the spring booster, aged 70. I suffer from non-reversible bronchiectasis and I’m on steroids for PMR (currently 3.5 mg, but triple that when I was initially jabbed). 😡

[Mai45 in reply to Exflex]

I can’t tell you if you would qualify on medical grounds but if it’s not difficult for you, it might be worth going to your nearest walk in centre and asking. Take all your labelled medication and your prescriptions and be able to tell them exactly how long you’ve been on steroids. It may be a wasted trip and if getting there is a problem you may not want to risk it, but if it’s fairly easy to do so it could be worth a try. At least you’d know then.

[Rugger]

Thank you for volunteering. My sister does shifts in London and says it can be busy or quiet, just as you report. My husband walked in & out for one of his vaccinations, but I had to stand in a queue for one of mine, even though we had timed appointments. I certainly didn't grumble!