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The problem with what she said is that it isn't everyone's experience, as others have said, and people have contacted their GP and then been offered a vaccine - presumably when their supply exceeds confirmed bookings. The fact that some areas are pushing on with under 80s instead of that supply being diverted to areas that are struggling is bad enough, but the fact that it's happening within the same area is shitty.
The bigger issue though is that the very people who are being prioritised are anxious and vulnerable, and patience may be difficult. My dad turns 90 in 2 weeks, is blind and very dependent on my 86 year-old mum and has diminishing short-term memory. Consequently he is repeatedly asking my mum if they've been invited to have their vaccine yet, maybe the letter's gone missing, check the answerphone, etc., which adds to her own anxiety. Waiting patiently for their GP to contact them, when they know other younger people in their own area have already had their vaccine, isn't an acceptable option.
Markyboy-
Like just about everything in this pandemic what's needed is clear communication from government, all we're getting is we're doing such a great job on vaccinating, how wonderful (and trying to claim it as their success when it's not, it's the NHS, local authorities, other organisations, volunteers etc. making it happen). And no clear messages on how it works or what you should do.
I sympathise with your dad's situation of course, but realistically the over 80s were never going to all be vaccinated in one go and the decision to start vaccinating people in their 70s has exacerbated the age inequality situation.
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The fact that some areas are pushing on with under 80s instead of that supply being diverted to areas that are struggling is bad enough
They are doing this and people are kvetching that their area is being punished for doing too good a job. Can't win.
Fox
grams
There's been some pretty questionable advice in this thread about what to do if you have elderly relatives who haven't had their first vaccination yet. People don't seem to get that the over 80s are still being worked through and that means there are people in their 80s or 90s who are legitimately still waiting for their first jab and they haven't been forgotten.
Today on R4 had a piece on this earlier (7.51am, if you want to listen).
They had Dame Clare Gerada on who is a London-based GP and previous chair of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
She said some areas are ahead of others - her part of SE London has done just over half of their over 80s - and "Please wait, you won't have been forgotten, it's highly unlikely you're not on the GP list and you will be called probably sooner than you think."
When they asked her what they should do the first thing she said was "If you ring your GP they're inundated at the moment, please don't call your GP".
And that applies even now and even if your relative is in their 90s, nevermind 80s.
She also pointed out that there's not much point calling your GP anyway because everything is being run centrally in the primary care network not GP's surgeries...
Tl;dr - DON'T call your GP/anyone at this point, DO be patient.