Pensioners say they have faced a massive runaround trying to book online appointments for a seasonal COVID vaccine booster.
The NHS online booking system has been referring people in Eden to pharmacies miles away — as far afield as Grasmere, Milnthorpe, Bradford and Newcastle.
The sudden race for jabs followed the discovery in August of a new coronavirus variant — BA.2.86, also known as Pirola, an offshoot of Omicron.
Its discovery saw the Department for Health, and the UK Health Security Agency order the NHS to bring the seasonal rollout of COVID vaccines forward to 11th September, rather than early October as had been planned.
Those vulnerable to COVID were told to book online or call 119 to arrange a booster jab. But it appears the infrastructure for administering jabs in the Eden area was not well set up or advertised. Herald readers have told of hanging on the phone to try to book jabs.
Peter Wood, of Stainton, near Penrith, said that when he went to book online the nearest locations offered were Ambleside or Windermere. Other alternatives included Newcastle.
Mr Wood said: “If the system had been more efficient we needn’t have spent a small fortune on petrol going to Brampton. They even offered us COVID jabs in Bradford.”
A Penrith resident, aged 75, who drives and is active, also had to travel miles for an appointment. She found pharmacies such as Boots in Penrith were not offering booster jabs.
Since the initial alarm, the Government has claimed there is currently no evidence to suggest that Pirola is more likely than other variants to make people seriously ill. It recommends that vulnerable people get vaccinated to have continued protection.
The confusion over where to get a jab appeared to have calmed down after an announcement that limited appointments are being offered at Penrith Rugby Club or Newton Rigg. However, the booking system was still not offering any walk-in options at Penrith pharmacies when the Herald checked.
Asked for comment, the NHS said it was pleased people in Penrith are coming forward for appointments.
