Corona Virus Treatment

It is a proper mess to be honest. The best of it is, when you get to the vaccine (community) centre and decline because they have Pfizer that day they do not even bat an eyelid - it seems as though they are well aware and almost expect it.

 

I don't get the choice - none of the GP surgeries are doing it in my area, it is all the big centres; absolutely fine if you have no risk factors, but if you cannot simply take what is on offer on the day.... Frustratingly, the neighbouring borough to mine is a London Borough and one of my staff that lives in the borough discovered that they know at the health centre he went to which vaccine they are going to have on which day and even plan the nurses team around it.

 

@lolimac

A 40 mile trip to the Vaccination point is a long way, loli, isn't there a local GP offering jabs??

 

From my experience today, it appears that there may be three! Today was my attempt number four, and fingers crossed I might just have managed it this time - I will find out on Monday.

First attempt - online booking form, vaccine wholly unknown, take what you get. NICS (whoever they are)

Second attempt - phone call, incoming, from 'NHS' - same as first attempt, wholly unknown, so I declined to seek advice from my GP. Spoke to GP, who told me they don't do it and have nothing to do with it, nor did they have a number for who to call at whoever was doing the bookings. Nor did I, as the incoming call was from a withheld number, so I couldn't call back. Possibly NICS

Third attempt - GP called, they now have access to book me in, although still had no numbers to actually seek advice from. They advised to book anyway and just go along and see. Two hours in the car (had to pick Mrs C up from work first which is 15 mins in one direction and vaccine centre is in the entire opposite direction) to get there, have my hands sanitised and find out that it was Pfizer - appointment wasted.

Today, I spoke to a rather nice gent at the NHS 119 (finally got through to a human being after three attempts) and went through the rigmarole. He was firstly amazed that only one appointment had been booked on any of the attempts as their system automatically books you in for two and a reference number is given for each dose - it will categorically not allow them to make just one.
He said that that they only book the Oxford AZ vaccine, although there is a very minor risk that will change on the day, in which case I should just refuse and not feel bad about doing so as they too had been warned not to book in folks who were CEV with allergies etc for the Pfizer and still asked three times if I should have it and was my GP aware (they are, as above!) and when it came down to the site, all became clear - - this one is at one of the bigger, nationally ran vaccine centres which is at the Harlequins Rugby Ground in London Borough of Richmond. So, as soon as I have gone outside Surrey and or Surrey's contractors, I appear to have gotten somewhere. I will find out on Monday evening.

 

Over here the timing is different - assuming they don't change things. These are extracted from a document from Which?:-

"From 8 March, you will be able to meet someone from another household outdoors for recreational activity. For instance, you could meet a friend or relative for a coffee on a park bench."

"Three weeks later on 29 March, you’ll able to meet up outdoors in groups of up to six people from different households. Or you can meet in groups of more than six provided everyone is from the same two households. This includes all outdoor settings, such as private gardens. It means, for example, you’ll be able to see grandchildren in the garden. Social distancing still applies though, so you won’t be allowed to hug friends or relatives just yet, unfortunately."

"12 April, at the earliest, things will start to open up a little more. Non-essential shops will re-open. And you’ll be able to get a haircut, massage or manicure as personal care services are restarted. Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and swimming pools will be options again for people who like to exercise in this way. And libraries and community centres will be welcoming visitors again, meaning some support services for older people that have been closed during the restrictions will hopefully start to be available again."

"Indoor mixing will be permitted no earlier than 17 May. If all goes well with the lockdown easing plan, you will be able to meet indoors with five other people from different households – or more, if everyone is from the same two households. That means you could stay overnight at a friend or relative’s house or eat a meal inside with them at a restaurant. Ceremonies such as weddings and funerals will be able to go ahead with up to 30 people by this point. And it is hoped that advice on social distancing will be updated by then so people can hug their loved ones. But until this point, the government says people should continue to keep their distance from anyone not in their household or support bubble."

"Five weeks later, no earlier than June 21, if everything goes as planned, all limits on social contact will be removed. And there will be no restrictions on the number of people that can attend weddings, funerals and other ceremonial events."