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Went to get my 1st jab today in Manchester, turned up and the queue to get in was all the way down the street, round the corner, all the way round the next street, round the next corner, and then most of the way up the next street! Must have been >100 people waiting, all of whom apparently had appointments (according to the guy checking people in). Waited for about 15 mins and we'd only moved forward by 4 people or so, so just binned it off - I'd have pissed myself before I got anywhere near the front!
Is this normal? Are they assuming a certain % of people won't show up so they're overbooking?
Pretty annoyed with the waste of time and it puts me off booking it again, might just wait til the GP calls me in. At least I can walk there...
Serco solutions?
😆 just be happy vaccine take up is excellent.
First of mine - maybe a dozen in a fast moving queue. Second, no queue at all. I find the fact that your queue wasn't moving to be the weirdest part of that - perhaps an incident of some kind inside the venue?
I'd guess it was a staff shortage, if a few people didn't show up I can see how a long line would build up over the course of the day. Amazed other people were willing to wait in it tbh. No idea who was running it.
Yeah, like anything else with a flow of people it doesn't take an awful lot to mess it up and just like viral doubling it takes a looong time to get stuff back under control.
(medical appointments are often scheduled on the assumption that a load of people won't turn up, too. So it doesn't even need to go wrong for it to go wrong, it just has to go slightly too right)
For mine, no queue at any point.
Pretty much walked straight in, got jabbed, walked straight out again.
As Northwind says, it only takes a couple of problems to block the vaccination PODs and the queue can build very quickly. We’ve had a few needle-phobic fainters all keel over at once in a sort of group-sympathy domino effect; that caused 2hr queues that took a while to get under control.
Average door to door time at our large vacc site is approx 10mins, so I think OP was just unlucky.
Yeah, probably just bad luck but feeling a bit frustrated by it!
Went to get my 1st jab today in Manchester
Could I just ask specifically which site? Etihad?
North Manchester, MMC
Not being funny cos I'd be brassed off too, I had to wait a while when I had my 1st one, 11 weeks ago, but there's one or two people in India who'd queue for a week without food for a jab.
'Had to wait for a vaccine jab that could save my life'. 1st world problems eh?
Probably an issue at the centre as normally it’s like a production line.
I think they’re just asking for an explanation essel not declaring an international crisis.
Walked straight in to first and expect to walk straight in for second on Monday. Both booked as first appointments so in theory shouldn't be many in front of me.
Stop moaning, if you wanted the jab you’d have waited !
Hardly worth moaning about, especially since it could save your life !
Walked in, walked out with jab and a free KitKat. Hope you cancelled the appointment so someone else had the chance to have it
Had my first one last Friday, Pfizer at Saracens rugby stadium, the whole process took 3 hours.
Nothing to complain about though, it was free and hardly any hassle, plus when I or person in front or behind needed a wee we just saved each others space.
Ps. Mine was booked for 3pm, the ladies running the queue said it was quite normal to see on a Friday or Saturday
Definitely a first world problem, and tbh I'm not that bothered about getting vaccinated - I'm pretty low risk and 99% certain I've had it already. Just venting as I was a bit frustrated at the waste of time!
Unfitgeezer, if no-one moaned on STW there would basically be no posts...
I had my first one at 8:30 on a Sunday morning so no queue. Popped into town on Tue afternoon and there was a significant queue for the vaccination centre.
Second one booked in for the same time on a Sunday, so hoping it will be just as quick.
Walked in, walked out with jab and a free KitKat
What? I didn't get a KitKat! Get me Matt Hancock on the blower!
What? I didn’t get a KitKat! Get me Matt Hancock on the blower!
More importantly, 2 fingers or 4?
Foil or plastic?
Kitkat? I didn’t even get a sticker..
I get jabbed at my local GP, 2nd jab next week. They have 4 jabbers running in parallel and 10mins per slot. You get allocated a 10min slot but they just stick you in the queue as soon as you arrive, first jab prob had 10 people in the queue, only waited a few mins. Queue was all outside, so little chance of anyone spreading Covid. Anyone with any symptoms is asked to leave rather than join the queue.
walked straight out again
hmm you are supposed to wait 15mins in case you have a reaction
Regarding a reaction I think it may depend on your medical history. They asked if I was driving and but I'd walked so they kicked me straight out.
Had mine at Plymouth Argle . Half an hour mid morning door to door with 15min waiting after jab.
Felt sorry for the line of people stood outside the initial tent when the weather took a biblical turn for the worse as i was coming out
I was supposed to go to argyle but got offered a GP appt just down the road as well so did that instead. I’d have needed all sorts of other jabs to take a trip to the muff.
hmm you are supposed to wait 15mins in case you have a reaction
Only for the Pfizer.
hmm you are supposed to wait 15mins in case you have a reaction
Not for AZ
We waited more than 30 minutes, prob nearer 45, to register at a mobile centre because the wifi was a dodgy connection on their tablets. Once inside took another 15. Most people still queued and took the jab, you're off work at that point and we had driven 45 minutes to get there. Also at the very least I expect more people now trying to get 'fully vaccinated' with 2 doses plus 2-3 weeks, if you want to travel abroad this summer should make everything much easier.
Etihad is really good. Cycled up, was directed to bike stands, locked up, walked in, checked in, then walked through to main hall, jabbed, and out. So many staff/volunteers.
If one person is vaccinating it takes about 8 minutes per client by the time you've done the paperwork, changed aprons, wiped down chairs etc.
Each centre may have different routines.
At mine everybody fills in a form before being assessed this is usually the bottleneck as you need a HCP to do this.
No iPads at ours but a team of people inputting all the paperwork on laptops.
Not sure how the written consent bit works with a tablet based system.
tbh I’m not that bothered about getting vaccinated – I’m pretty low risk and 99% certain I’ve had it already
This attitude is why there an issue in some areas. Just because you think your low risk doesn't mean you can't pass it on.
Be part of the solution, not the problem.
hmm you are supposed to wait 15mins in case you have a reaction
Not for AZ
I was requested to, both times.
Not sure how the written consent bit works with a tablet based system.
Do I have your consent to give you this vaccination?
Yes.
/Tick consent given.
A bit more to it than Drac suggests but e-consent means all the patients/individuals info gets instantly uploaded to one of the two systems (NIVS or Pinnacle) used to push the info into the GP record
2nd jab this Saturday, Glasgow central Mosque.
Which is quite good as I've always wanted to visit the central Mosque, but always miss their open days.
free KitKat.
I wonder if that's down to poor take up of the jab, as way of a bribe. For sure thats Tory idea of a bribe for the common masses. Cheap as it gets, I hope you checked the sell by date 😕
hmm you are supposed to wait 15mins in case you have a reaction
Not for AZ
I was requested to, both times.
Me too.
Bit of a queue for mine in Dundee this week (appointment is issued in Scotland rather than booking yourself). The volunteer lady said there'd been a bit of a hiccup with delivery earlier and it had thrown off everything and that usually the longest you'd wait is 10mins from when you sign in. I guess I waited about 20 but had expected to wait much longer based on the queue size.
OP - even if you've had COVID (I have) the vaccine reduces the chance you'll get it again, and even more importantly the chance you might pass it on. I hope you consider re-booking your jab.
I had the same experience as fossy: found the Sheffield stands and minimal queueing,no bother.
Have to say that not bothering to wait to get the jab is pretty poor. You can have covid more than once so that's no excuse either.
What? I didn’t get a KitKat! Get me Matt Hancock on the blower!
More importantly, 2 fingers or 4?
4, got a bottle of water too. Key worker innit.
Had 2 AZ now, had to wait 10mins each time Incase of a reaction.
/Tick consent given.
But that is potentially open to error/abuse.
We have to have the form signed.
That said, sitting down and rolling up your sleeve is inferred consent which is OK, so 🤷🏻♂️
I didn’t sign anything at my GP, or have to wait around.
I had Moderna last week, had to wait 15 minutes afterwards, but the area doing AZ didn't have a waiting area set up.
It took 30 minutes between going in and getting to the jab which wasn't too bad.
My wife was very upset that she didn't get a sticker but I did... But then I'm upset I didn't get a KitKat or a free beer 🙂
Had second jab arrived at 11.10 for 11.20 jab - jabbed at 11.19
4 fingers is a stretch..
Already got me coat and the line i passed is so far back i can't see it.
Second vaccination today in Barnard Castle. My wife's appointment was 1 hour in front of mine but we went in together with no waiting. It seemed quieter than for the first jab.
Do I have your consent to give you this vaccination?
Yes.
/Tick consent given.
Yep, I was just asked, didn't have to touch anything, just sat down, answerd a few Qs, was jabbed, stood up and left...
Better half has been working at one of the big centres.
All I will say is the staff have been monitored by a Time and Motion individual and they are expected to give the jab in a given set time.
And to counteract what Drac has reported it's a dam site more than a simple check box (a lot of people present with conditions and health issues, a number of people have fainted and this causes delays etc.)
Given the amount of job adverts out there for qualified staff I would say it's probably staff shortages.
Not ideal but a lot of the people helping are volunteers.
Better half has been working at one of the big centres.
All I will say is the staff have been monitored by a Time and Motion individual and they are expected to give the jab in a given set time.
And to counteract what the check box to give consen it's more than a simple check box (a lot of people present with conditions and health issues, a number of people have fainted and this causes delays etc.)
Given the amount of job adverts out there for qualified staff I would say it's probably staff shortages.
Not ideal but a lot of the people helping are volunteers.
My appointment they didn't even ask who I was until after they jabbed me, and even that was just writing it down from scratch rather than checking against a list of expected people.
4 mins total
But that is potentially open to error/abuse.
Only if they pin them down to give the injection. People wouldn’t turn up at the centres if they don’t want the injection.
And to counteract what the check box to give consen it’s more than a simple check box (a lot of people present with conditions and health issues, a number of people have fainted and this causes delays etc.)
Everyone is asked the same questions and one of those is consent.
First jab .... straight in straght out total time 15 mins max.
Second jab ... software/conection issue Total time 40 mins.
No issues all 1st world problems.
St Helens no queue, in out and back in car before appointment time.
Did look to be busier for 2nd jabs side
Awesome singletrackworld post.... I had to queue for my free, potentially life saving jab... I am outraged!
People wouldn’t turn up at the centres if they don’t want the injection.
Which is why I put the bit about inferred consent (which just turning up could be).
Only had 1st jab (AZ, I was told to wait 15 mins) and had to wait in car until 5 mins before appointment, small queue but once inside took about 25 mins, including the 15 min wait afterwards
20 mins for me including the 15 minute post jab waiting period. Castlemilk Sports Centre in Glasgow
Which is why I put the bit about inferred consent (which just turning up could be).
Not quite no, which is why they go through a series of questions when you turn up.
Waited for about 15 mins and we’d only moved forward by 4 people or so, so just binned it off – I’d have pissed myself before I got anywhere near the front!
This is pretty poor. Jabs need to be used and you not turning up to your jab means thats likely going to end in the bin.
Got my second jab at this centre in July. First was a model of efficiency and service at Blackburn catherderal. Would happily have gone back there but couldn't get a second appointment. It hasn't helped in the Northwest that mixed messages have been sent out about them jabbing anyone just turning up which aren't true, hence loads of people queuing and being turned away.
This is pretty poor. Jabs need to be used and you not turning up to your jab means thats likely going to end in the bin.
Our hub will use up spare doses on volunteers that need their second, or will call in people. AZ can also be stored.
We ask people to wait for 15 mins after AZ if they are driving. If not, they can got straight out. As we're now putting more people through per day, we're asking people to wait their 15 mins in their cars.
I went to one of the large scale vaccination centres for my first jab (Bath & West Showground). I had a time to turn up but still took about 1.5hrs.
It was quite an operation with parking lanes and holding bays.
It was a long wait but was happy to be getting a vaccination.
"This attitude is why there an issue in some areas. Just because you think your low risk doesn’t mean you can’t pass it on."
Just because you're vaccinated doesn't mean you can't pass it on. According to a triumphant Matt Hancock carriers are 30-40% less likely to pass it on if vaccinated, but that's it!
When I had my first jab there was a big queue. The volunteers were walking the queue to check for people who had booked, and if found moved them to the front.
Haha unbelievable!
Someone actually posted about their intense frustration at a long jab queue! Poor wee boy, my heart bleeds for you.
Volunteer vaccinator here, mostly working at a large mass vaccination centre (800-1100 people per day). A big issue there is people turning up outside their alloted appointment time. Sometimes an hour or two before, this causes queues to quickly build. More recently they've been taking a much stricter line with this and turning people away if they turn up more than 15 mins outside their appointment time.
It's a huge logistical effort to process that many people, but it mostly does work very well. It's a slick operation and at our centre has been subject to "time and motion" style assessments. However, people faint, require translators to be consented, have complicated medical histories which need to be checked, insist on male/female vaccinators for cultural reasons, come dressed in 5 layers and take 10 minutes to bare their arm etc. All this chuck spanners in the works and can slow things right down.
As a vaccinator I typically see each person for a minute or less before I wipe their chair down, sanitise my hands as the next person is walking up. We get bollockings from the nurse in charge if we chat too much to the 'customers' as it slows things down, it really is a production line!
Had the first Pfizer jab Friday. Booked in for 12.30 got there for 12.15, only 2 people in front of me so was out for 12.45 including the post jab wait. No Kitkat though 🙁
As we’re now putting more people through per day, we’re asking people to wait their 15 mins in their cars.
Eh, how does this work, if you have a reaction sitting alone in your car it could be a while before anyone notices?
Fully supportive of the amazing effort at these centres, and no complaints about any waits though.
My first one was fine (yet to have the second), was given a 15 minute window, I arrived at the start of that and had to queue outside for about 10 minutes then took less than 10 minutes once I was in the door and have given details etc.
People that arrived before their 15 minute window were told to wait in their cars (or stand away from the main queue) until it was their time. Seemed a better system than having the long queues that are shown on the news
Also I have a 75 year old aunt who had to wait outside in the cold and rain when she had her first jab (early March), seemed a bit crap way of doing it for the elderly (at least she was wearing a coat, others had apparently expected to go straight in and were shivering in a shirt)
Re the waiting in cars, we have lots of people in the car park who can get help if needed.
I was there yesterday, the number of solo drivers who actually waited the full time was about 20%.
With AZ people who weren't driving are allowed to leave straight away, so I think the anaphylaxis risk is negligible.
Still, I don't make the rules! I just wave at cars.