WHEN called for a Covid jab, get it – no matter how young you are or where you think you should be in the queue.
The NHS is trying to vaccinate as many as possible.
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In some areas, healthy under-50s are already getting called. In others, over-65s still wait. It might feel unfair, and is.
It is not perfect.
This is the first vaccine programme of its kind the NHS has had to roll out so quickly and there WILL be glitches.
But mostly, the only reason healthy, young people are getting the call is because in their area it is their turn. For example, I live in an affluent part of South London where there are mostly young, healthy people.
I work in an area with many more elderly and vulnerable people. So the GP practice where I am a patient has vaccinated the elderly and vulnerable on their lists quickly and is working down through the age groups.
It is ahead of schedule. At the practice where I work, we are ahead of schedule but not as far.
‘You are ultimately helping to protect the wider community’
You might think that by calling your GP practice and questioning why you have been called, you are helping – or that by not booking in, you open the way for someone older or more vulnerable.
But it makes most sense for GP practices to get through their patient base as soon as possible, then they can potentially free up doctors, nurses and other staff to help neighbouring areas. So while you might be trying to do right, you could end up slowing things down.
If you do feel guilty, there are three reasons not to.
First, by having the jab you protect yourself from infection.
Secondly, you are protecting the people close to you and those you come into contact with.
Thirdly, you are ultimately helping to protect the wider community, and everybody in the world.
Anyone 70 or clinically extremely vulnerable who has not been contacted should use the online booking service to get their vaccine.
To book, see nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination.
