The COVID-19 vaccination is being rolled out to priority groups across South-East London. Lewisham Council would like to better understand how people feel about getting the vaccine. To take part in their short survey and share your views select link below:
I’ve responded to this as although I don’t live in Lewisham, I am a key worker in the borough.
For me it’s quite simple.
I want to protect my friends, family and the customers I serve.
I want to protect my health.
I want my life to get back to normal. My husband hasn’t seen his elderly mother in over a year. I haven’t hugged two of my offspring or my grandaughter in over a year because they don’t live with me. I miss live football - I’ve not been in a full stadium since March last year although I was lucky enough to attend a limited capacity match back in November. I want to hug my wonderful colleagues who have slogged through this horrible time and served the nation.
I want my life back.
I would get vaccinated today if I could, although i am likely to be at the back of the queue.
A friend of mine is 40 but clinically very vulnerable, she has her appointment next week and wept with relief when it arrived.
What the survey doesn’t ask about is whether we would choose between the different vaccines that have been developed. I’m no biologist, but the Pfizer vaccine works in a different way to the ‘conventional’ Oxford vaccine. I believe the Moderna one is similar to Pfizer and the Johnson one is similar to the Oxford. My guess is we will eventually get both types, maybe wrapped into one jab.
I guess as we’re not getting a choice in which vaccine we get there’s no point in asking us!!
Posts from those who’ve already had their first vaccine locally seem to indicate that both the Jenner and Sydenham Green have been supplied with the Pfizer vaccine so far but given the recent news that there is likely to be some short term delivery delays to future Pfizer deliveries that may change!
There may be competing vaccines in the market later in the year, so pharmacies could be offering a choice. I hope the NHS is going to maintain accurate data on vaccine roll-out, so that efficacy can be properly assessed.
It’s an interesting question.
The Oxford one is clearly easier to roll-out, and cheaper (which on the scale this need to be done, and likely for a very long time, is important). I don’t know how many places can offer the Pfizer one in view of the temperature it needs to be kept at.
However it appears the Pfizer one based on the RNA technology (if that is the correct term) are apparently much easier to amend for new variants so I guess the question will be how quickly the Oxford one can be changed and how often it will need to be.
I suspect, especially as this will be a global issue, we will continue to have multiple vaccines and we will use a multitude based on which are ready in time for the variant that is around each year. I’m sure they will test combining different vaccines, but suspect (with no knowledge whatsover!) that the biggest issue will be getting out new vaccines for new variants.
The good news appears to be that even with new variants, it looks like vaccines might still work to some extent but it could all change of course.
Me, I’ll take any vaccine offered and will tell everyone in my family to do the same!
Me too. I’ll take what I am given. I am at very low risk of getting seriously ill with Covid so the primary benefit of vaccinating people like me is to contribute to the herd immunity we need.
There was a good argument for vaccinating the young and mobile first of all, to prevent the spread, as a first priority, rather than protecting the vulnerable as a first priority. That made sense to me: vaccinate the care workers of care homes (especially those who work at several homes) before vaccinating the residents. But as I understand it, even if you are vaccinated and immunised, the boffins are not certain whether you could still be a carrier and infect others, which I guess undermined that alternative priority. If true that immunised people can infect others, it would also reduce the value of any vaccine-based passport system.
But I suppose the point is to make Covid less severe so if people do get it then it is more like the cold or even symptomless infection some of us already expereience it as.
Yes, it’s this to help reduce pressure on healthcare and hospitalisations in particular.
I’m must admit that out of the elderly and vulnerable people i know, most of them have either been vaccinated or have appointments in the next week. It seems to be going quite well, though I’m sure there will be some people still waiting.
Certainly are. Are any of the elderly people you’re talking about under 80?
A couple under 80, but with other health issues / history that would probably have flagged them at being in ‘at risk’ categories.
Thanks. I’m reassured (a bit).
In London, but not Lewisham, my Dad 80+ and underlying health issues has 2 jabs (Pfizer). My Mum 75+ appointed for 1st jab this weekend, next one will be 12 weeks after. My mother-in-law 70+ waiting for information.
The lady (mid 80s) in Lewisham I help a bit one day per week got her 1st jab the same week my Dad got his 2nd I think. Her second jab will be in 12 weeks (Pfizer). I don’t see my parents basically, but I am so happy this lady got her jab as I am terrified each time I see her I might risk giving her Covid - in this respect I am also pleased my kids are off school.
//not sure that helps but there you go.
My wife and I (both in our seventies) have been booked in for an appointment tomorrow afternoon at Bell Green,
Geat news! The vaccination programme really seems to be gathering speed.
Is that a GP practice?
Yes. I should have said ‘Sydenham Green Health Centre.’
I’m over 70 with no underlying conditions and I got my invitation last evening; I’m booked in at Sydenham Green and don’t care which vaccine they give me.
I just got invite for first jab tomorrow at Jenner and just shy 60. I do have asthma which means annual flu jab. Oh and went to Kings Hospital a couple of years ago to have a tooth out and had ultra high bp that day though tablets have since lowered. Perhaps that moved me forward - I was thinking I would be perhaps March…but will have the vaccine.
Jenner seem pretty organised. I wonder if they are either getting through everyone really quickly, or like you say maybe you got bumped up the list a bit, or maybe of they can’t fill a slot for the next day or someone cancels they just try to make sure they fill it so they call people in other priority groups to make sure thry keep operating to as full as capacity throughput wise as they can, which would make sense.
Whatever the reason happy you have been offered a jab!
@squashst It does seem a little strange as I thought it was only those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable of any age which is those who have been told to shield that were included in the first phase of vaccination by mid February. As your invite was at short notice perhaps they’ve had some cancellations or operational changes which means they can’t fill all the appointments tomorrow with anyone from the initial first 4 groups. Lucky you!
All done and dusted. Very quick and efficient. And they give you a badge to wear, so you can show off afterwards to your friends!
Pfizer vaccine, by the way. None of your Oxford rubbish.
Thanks - Clearly because I was on car parking duty there last Friday and have it all running like clockwork!
But in all seriousness, Jenner vaccinated approx 2300 last week and are restarting tomorrow when new supplies arrive - target is 400+ for the day. They are now nearly through the JCVI cohorts 1-4, and will be concentrating on the 70+ and Clinically Extremely Vulnerable this week, according to an email sent to volunteers a couple of days ago.
My understanding is once a batch of Pfizer vaccine is brought down to injectable temperature is has to be used, you can’t re-freeze, so you could end up giving doses to people out of priority ‘sync’ to avoid wastage. I have known this happen to several friends who work in major NHS centres.
75+, 70+ and Clinically Extremely Vulnerable are cohorts 3 & 4
Right so they’re focusing on group 4 from what they said. Aiming to finish 1-4. The statement makes sense doesn’t it?
Sorry Claus I misunderstood your original post! I thought that saying they were nearly through cohorts 1-4 and were concentrating on the 70+ and Clinically Extremely Vulnerable this week you were inferring that the 70+ and Clinically Extremely Vulnerable were different cohorts.
No worries. If you put the two together it all makes sense. I think we helped explain the message 
Thank you all for sharing your first hand experiences. I’ve got a question for those who have received the vaccine. Regardless of whether you request it or not, do you get offered some kind of physical proof that you’ve had the vaccine? For instance, would they be happy to make a formal entry into an ICV (International Certificate of Vaccination, the little yellow book you need for travel to some countries)?
I’m aware of suggestions that it won’t be needed, but I’d rather have some form of proof that is recognised abroad just in case.
Thanks!
We were just given a little PHE card with a record of the date and the batch number of the vaccine on it, which we were told to keep and bring along to our second jab when we’re summoned for it. Our own names or ID not recorded on it, so I’m sure it has no international validity. However, I read or heard that the vaccination will automatically be recorded on our GP medical record, so no doubt GPs could provide a certificate in proper form if you asked them (though I expect you’d have to pay for it.)
Priority 8 for me, early spring by all accounts. Of course a denyer in store tonight was trying to persuade me that I shouldn’t have the jab.
Bring it on.
I have heard about a surprisingly large number of people locally who are resisting having the vaccine. Some don’t believe that Covid-19 exists at all - it’s just flu! I think many of us tend to under-estimate the extent to which people don’t use or don’t trust the mainstream media. They tend instead to get information and advice from more informal sources which we would regard as highly unreliable or dangerously wrong. .
I have an acquaintance who denied Covid existed and that it was a type of flu. His brother died of Covid just before Christmas. He attitude has changed dramatically.
They study I am on is crying out for help from the BAME community as they are so underrepresented.
Cllr Obajimi Adefiranye, ward member for Brockley, received his vaccine last week. He said of his experience, “I had the COVID-19 vaccination last week. It was completely painless and easy – no trouble at all. It’s going to help protect my family, friends and everyone in my community. My message to everyone, would be – when the NHS gets in touch, go out and get your vaccination.”