Today was another chaotic day for the NHS’s Covid booster program. Medicare-eligible over-40s couldn’t book appointments until Christmas Eve.
As part of No10’s campaign to eradicate the Omicron variant, people in this age group that had received their second dose no less than three weeks ago were encouraged to make their appointments for their next jabs.
MailOnline photos show that some people have not been able to get a vital boost via the Health Service’s Website for at least two additional weeks.
One man in his 40s, living in Hemel Hempstead, was unable to get his booster until December 24 — the earliest available appointment in his area.
NHS England was approached for comment.
The rollout of the booster program was fraught with problems, as people below 40 received boosters against NHS guidance.
Numerous over-40s were denied online appointments, forcing officials in the health services to take action and end clinics refusing any person who may be eligible.
With over-40s who are eligible for Covid, the NHS’s Covid booster program has become even more chaotic today. They can no longer book their appointments up until Christmas Eve.
Today, scores of Britons were waiting in long lines at London’s Saint Thomas’ Hospital to get the Covid booster jab.
Critics have criticised the rollout as being slow and not reaching the Government’s goal of 500,000 per day.
Staff and volunteers are currently dishing out around 380,000 a day, with 469,479 third doses given out yesterday according to official data.
Matthew Lesh, Head of Research at Adam Smith Institute, the thinktank described the booster campaign to be the best way for the UK to fight Omicron. He also argued that the restrictions on ‘Plan B’ won’t stop the rising tide.
He said that failure to expedite the booster program will result in lost lives and destruction of livelihoods.
“The new restrictions, guidance, and penalties are going to cause economic damage in the billions.”
“It is a simple matter of course to get boosters in arms as soon as possible. A national war effort is necessary.
The online booking system is currently only available to over-40s. However, plans are underway to make the program accessible to everyone next week.
M. Lesh said that the booking system had to have been open for all ages, just as Prime Minister stated would be happening weeks ago.
“Anyone with a history of more than 3 months after their last dose should have the ability to get a third right away.
“There is no more supply issue, it’s all logistics. It can be done.”
In defiance of NHS guidance, GPs have been texting 30-somethings to invite them to schedule appointments.
Some say they could get booked in as quickly as 36 hours.
Everyone who received their second shot three months ago may be eligible to receive a walk-in booster.
Even if they are older than six months, those who have been vaccinated in the past will be allowed to continue their vaccinations through normal channels.
Although there is concern that younger people could be pushed ahead of the older ones, experts say it will protect the public and increase general immunity.
Britain won’t be offering every eligible adult Covid booster shots by January 31st due to the current pace of booster rollout. This means they will instead miss this deadline by February 10th.
NHS data indicates that people in their 40s and 50s who have received a Covid boost since September have double-digit numbers of eligible patients who still need to be given a third dose. The NHS opened yesterday the online ordering system for Covid boosters to people over 40. 71% of the people between 40-50 have never had a booster.
Ruth Rankine, director of primary care at the NHS Confederation, told The Guardian: ‘While the NHS’s focus remains on offering boosters to eligible people aged over 40 before the national booking system opens up more widely next week, we are aware that some primary care sites have begun to offer boosters to eligible people aged under 40 where they have spare appointments that have not been filled by the current cohorts and where they have sufficient vaccine stock.
“The National Guidance on the Difference Between Doses is Clear” and people are advised to wait until they contact the NHS before getting their booster shots.
The Royal College of GPs chair Professor Martin Marshall supported the decision and suggested that family physicians could trust to provide vaccines for younger patients if necessary.
He said, “We have to put as many jabs as we can into as many arm as fast as possible.”
‘It’s important that at-risk groups are prioritised so people should wait to be contacted before trying to book their booster.
‘However, it’s possible that some regions will be going at a quicker pace than others for varying reasons to do with capacity and workload and GPs will use their judgment in the best interests of their patients and the wider public’s health.
‘GPs and their teams are working incredibly hard to deliver the vaccination programme, as well as continuing to deliver essential care and services to patients, and we’d urge anyone who is offered the booster to have it.’
Covid vaccinations are not new to the younger age groups.
Similar events occurred in the first vaccine rollout. These were usually at walk-in centers and where local providers had excess supply.
After NHS chiefs announced a clampdown on booster jab chaos last night, telling hospitals to stop accepting eligible Britons, the latest stumble in the booster campaign is the following:
Numerous people have complained via social media about being wrongly sent off after they booked their appointments online.
According to them, they were told that certain clinics could not give out jabs due to outdated guidance. This was despite the fact that boosters are now available after only three months.
Representatives from NHS said that the NHS would vaccinate most people at highest risk of contracting coronavirus according to JCVI guidelines. At present, this includes individuals over 40 years old, along with those in need of healthcare and workers.
“Nobody can be refused a appointment for boosters if they have been booked.” People 40 years and older who have not had their last dose in three months may get their booster at walkin centres.
Over 40s received the second Covid vaccine in July. Most 30- to 39-year-olds got their second Covid shot by August. These numbers mean that millions are now eligible to get a booster.
The majority of adult and over-16-year-olds have already received their Covid jabs. Children aged 12-15 have seen an increase in their chances of getting their first vaccine.
The latest blow to the beleaguered booster drive came after experts demanded Boris Johnson throw the ‘kitchen sink’ at the rollout.
MailOnline suggests that the number of people aged under 40 getting their second jab within three months could rise.
UK hopes to avoid a devastating Omicron wave. The controversial “Plan B” restrictions that were introduced earlier in the week by the Prime Minister meant to allow as many people as possible to receive an additional jab.
The announcement of new restrictions, such as working from home guidance, compulsory mask orders, came as studies suggested a third dose of Pfizer’s vaccine — which Britain’s roll-out is reliant on — was able to offer people people substantial protection from Omicron.
Britain’s booster program began with older people in September. It was initiated after it became apparent that the protection provided by vaccines had waned six months following the last dose.
It was intended to provide additional protection for people ahead of what was expected to be a challenging winter for NHS.
No10, in response to Omicron’s threat, has promised to give a boost to all 53million adult UK citizens by January 31 and to raise the daily jab rate to 500,000.
Although the ramp up was launched with much pomp, it has failed to accelerate despite the fact that the booster campaign had been planned well.
It actually performed worse than before ministers promised to give it’steroids’. Instead, it languishes at around 386,000 per day.
Critics believe that allowing under-40s to book online would speed up the process.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, the map above shows the top ten locations with the highest number of Omicron-related cases. Although West Northamptonshire, the nation’s most popular area for this mutant strain is in London, eight of the ten other areas are located in the county.
Others, however, cautioned against such an action. They stated that although the booster campaign was necessary, it would cause chaos and the country should prioritise the people whose immunity is waning.
Dr Simon Clarke from University of Reading is a cell microbiologist.The government could open up the door to the booster program for adults, allowing people with weakened immunity to take their place.
“It’s better to duplicate the gradual release of boosters and to move through the different age groups as rapidly as possible.