Pharmacies facing angry patients over Covid jab confusion

Pharmacists in England say that they are faced with “main problems” when a large number of patients are booking meetings for broadcasting only in order to find that they no longer have the right.

The criteria were tightened this year, so only those who are at the age of 75 and older are offered free booster, as well as young patients who have a weakened immune system.

According to the Pharmasy Apport Angland (CPE) community, between the third and a half people who appear on the appointment, they must be rejected in many areas, including more than 10,000 chemists, including many large networks.

He called the situation “unacceptable” with reports of evil, disappointed patients and abuse aimed at staff.

Director of CPE Services Alastair Buxton said that it became clear within an hour from NHS web reservation system Last week, on the air that was a problem.

He said that many people seem to have missed information about the right to the reservation system and the assumption that they are still right.

But when they appear to their vaccinations, pharmacies can only give them a flu.

“This obviously requires a lot of explanation to patients. This causes disorder, anxiety and, possibly, anger for some patients.

“We, of course, had examples of how some patients became offensive among pharmacy members.”

Henry Gregg, the head of the National Pharmacy Association, which represents independent pharmacists, says the problem was raised with NHS England and the government.

“This should have been available to avoid, and it deeply disappoints both pharmacies and patients. We urge any patient in this situation to treat pharmacies with respect, since pharmacies are trying to cope with the new NHS clinical criteria. ”

The pharmacists said that more should have been done so that people knew about changes – given the programs of influenza and damned vaccines, largely outplayed last year.

In response to the problems, NHS England said that the wording on the web site was changed to clarify that the acceptability criteria were tightened.

The press secretary added: “Please check twice, you still have the right to receive a covid vaccine before reservation -the NHS website sets whether your age, health or medicine means, you have the right, and your practice GP or the pharmacist will confirm this before providing you with the vaccine.”

Paul Williamson, 71 years old, from Doncaster, is one of those who just discovered that he no longer has the right to Covid booster.

He realized that when he went to the reservation site and told your voice, your BBC news, he was shocked, learning that the criteria had changed.

“I am disappointed. This is similar to a cost reduction exercise. ”

Being an elderly person, he said that he would do everything possible to protect himself, and now he will consider the consideration for this in private.

Covid vaccines are affordable in the High Street pharmacists and cost about 100 pounds per person.

Changes in the right to participate were made on the advice of a group of independent experts called the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI).

This It is recommended to change the right to participate Since 2025.

Last year, Jab was offered free of charge all 65 years or more, and those who had a long list of chronic or long -term states.

Now it has been changed with an age -related restriction raised for everyone who is 75 years old until March 2026, plus residents in the houses of older people for older people and people classified as immunosepressure.

This includes those who are treated with cancer and patients with transplantation, along with those who live with HIV and some genetic disorders.

But this means that many people with states such as diabetes, heart diseases, breathing Ilnesi, asthma and serious mental illness will no longer be qualified.

In addition, pregnant women and health and social security workers will not offer Jab for free this fall.

JCVI said that Covid is currently “a relatively mild disease for most people”, and the indicators of hospitalization and death were “significantly reduced”.

It said that focusing on the oldest adults and people whose immune systems are compromised, since the two groups, which are still at higher risk, were based on a “standard assessment of economic efficiency in accordance with other routine vaccinations”.