I found out today that 2 of my neighbours in the Close have had both their vaccines, the other is having her second one tomorrow.
One of them who is 90 yrs old, nearly didn't go for hers as she had heard you have to wait 12 weeks now, but as she already had her appointment she went along and got it, no problem.
So is this vaccine dependent on which part of the country you live in?
While she was waiting for her jab, she mentioned to a nurse how she was unsure if she would get it and the nurse told her there are all sorts of rumours going around about how there are not enough phials, some have forgotten to order enough cotton wool balls and other paraphernalia that goes with the jab. So, if these are just rumours, does this mean the vaccine programme is going ahead as it was planned too? Or do you know different where you live?
I still don't know of anyone having jab here in East London.
Unless they're all keeping quiet. I have elderly neighbours and I've asked them regularly and no news.
I wasn't sure whether my 2cnd appt was going ahead tomorrow . But my GP surgery rang me to confirm. I was very glad they did but if I hadn't heard I would have turned up as instructed.
There have been teething problems in some areas (including late delivery to the surgery Hancock was doing a photo opp at!!) but on the whole its going well and GPs have started to roll out the new one today. It seems to me thou that some peopel are wanting this to fail and are looking to make mountains out of molehills or going out of there way look for problems so they can point fingers at the goverment and the health service. My faith in Professor Van Tam is still there
I would have thought Jen would have got a letter by now because of low immunity system, but also me aswell because Jen doesn't / can't go out so I am more likely to fetch covid home and infect Jen.
there's supposed to be an update today on how many people have been vaccinated so far. As of Tuesday it was 1.3m people, half of them over 80. So there's a way to go. There are 3.2m people over 80.
I don't think there currently is enough for everywhere to stay in lockstep. When it was only the Pfizer vaccine, it could only be deployed in certain places where there was close enough super cold storage. Vaccinations have started where I live and are limited by vaccine supply but its not happened where my sister lives. JVT has said several times that filling and finishing (vials) is a global bottleneck issue and I believe there is a new facility opening up now or soon. Essential safety checks are slowing release but that will be sped up soon. I am not sure that cotton wool is essential...surely blue roll, tissues or kitchen roll can be used? I wouldn't say that the delays were planned but I am sure that the delay issues were known about and planned for.
GP's receptionist was not very helpful, I will chase again tomorrow. We have district nurse coming tomorrow so will ask him / her for their advice. In the meantime I am going out just for essentials i.e. Shopping and chemists and self distancing from people.
What i can't understand is that back office staff in NHS hospitals are (apparently) being seconded into working on the wards, while retired nurses and doctors are having to jump through hoops to even volunteer. Unbelievable! The staff in our GP have been told they won't get offered the vaccine until all their vulnerable patients have been vaccinated, something I don't agree with as all the vulnerable patients are supposed to be shielding anyway,