please empty your brain below
I have a booking for a few week’s away. The invitation does not request me to bring my NHS number, but I bet, like the last two times, they ask me to.

Following yesterday’s announcement though I’m
going to rock up at a walk-in centre instead this week, and hope the 3 month message has got through to them (and hope that 15 million other 3 monthees don’t try the same thing).

Dan | 30.11.21 - 7:09 a.m. | #

I’m an unfortunate Pf-Pf-Pf, which despite sounding like a pathetically slow steam train, also meant I had a much bigger reaction to the third dose.

Kirk | 30.11.21 - 7:27 a.m. | #

It is hard to sync most cheap digital clocks, to any external source.

There are radio controlled clocks available but a) most people are unaware of the possibility and b) they are about £10 more expensive in common larger sizes

MilesT | 30.11.21 - 8:17 a.m. | #

Welcome to the 182 Club

scrumpy | 30.11.21 - 8:24 a.m. | #

I have been Pf X3 and had zero reaction all through. But the ‘flu jab was painful this year.

So, with four jabs and a mask, I hope I am relatively safe until the time everybody gets some form of this ever-changing disease.

Herbof | 30.11.21 - 8:31 a.m. | #

My experience at Croydon Centrale was virtually identical except that the clocks weren't digital.

The place was huge and the setup appeared to be semi-permanent. I bet the NHS got a good deal from Centrale. They occupied almost all of the top floor which says something about the number of excess retail outlets. The NHS also has a blood/platelet centre on the lower ground floor so now take up a fair proportion of the shopping centre.

Before I went I memorised my NHS number so was hugely disappointed when they didn't ask for it.

Pedantic of Purley | 30.11.21 - 8:57 a.m. | #

I'm off to a Methodist church for mine next week. Looking at the instructions I only need my booking reference and a face covering. Sounds like someone is making things overcomplicated at Westfield!

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 30.11.21 - 9:15 a.m. | #

I had all 3 Pf jabs at Hornchurch Library Vaccination Centre. On each occasion every jabbee was given an individual timer set for 15 minutes. Lots of merry tinkling every few seconds to indicate to staff to collect timers and then say "You can go now".

Bob S | 30.11.21 - 9:21 a.m. | #

I had Moderna as my booster and was given a leaflet which said I would need a second dose within 28 days. When I queried it I was told that didn't apply to boosters ("so why doesn't it say that?" was my unspoken response).

Andrew S | 30.11.21 - 9:23 a.m. | #

"Pfizer the geezer booster" ( to the tune of Paxo the Rooster Booster)

John Styles | 30.11.21 - 9:32 a.m. | #

I had my booster jab on Saturday, with an almost identical experience. On all my three visits so far, I have been hugely impressed by the efficiency of the entire set-up and the cheerfulness, without exception, of all the staff I have encountered - many of whom have probably had to give the same instructions/ask the same questions thousands of times over. Well done to all concerned!

Carllo | 30.11.21 - 9:35 a.m. | #

It will be near 200 days before I become an Az-Az-Pz this week. Local GP surgeries that provided Jab 1+2 aren't an option when boost booking online. I declined the option to travel c.10 miles to a bulk jab site, and on speaking with my local surgery found they were boost jabbing but on a tiny scale and only very occasionally, hence the delay.

Frank F | 30.11.21 - 9:41 a.m. | #

I tried to book online on Sunday and was only offered one remote place a week before christmas. Tried again yesterday and got a choice of several local appointments next week. Perhaps Sunday might not be the best day to apply.

kev | 30.11.21 - 9:59 a.m. | #

Attempted to book a slot four weeks before the due date, but am having to wait five. Other local locations may have had earlier dates, but only one or two of those on offer ticked the easily-accessible-by-public-transport box.

Man of Kent | 30.11.21 - 10:01 a.m. | #

Had my booster 2 weeks ago in Romford Mall, was a bit annoyed having to stand in a queue for more than 1/2 hour when I had a timed appointment. Previous jabs had been at local clinic, with no waiting.

Fred | 30.11.21 - 10:34 a.m. | #

I had my booster jab a few weeks ago, and afterwards asked the lady in the holding area whether I really had to wait 15 minutes before leaving. She said 'I won't force you to stay' so I proceeded to the exit. There were no ill-effects except a slight ache in the arm for the next 2 days.

I was surprised not to get a certificate for the booster jab, so noted down the date and 'Pfizer' on the back of the NHS vaccination card.

Ian Paton | 30.11.21 - 10:46 a.m. | #

For what I suspect is a data error, I am categorized of high-risk; for the privilege (we are apparently 1.5 million) I get NHS letters once in a while. It may turn handy one day. Anyway I read in Metro that HiRsk could get a 4th jab. This looks like OTT to me, but after all cattle get injections or oral medication all the time at the whim of their overseers; I guess I am in the same boat.
So far Pf-Pf-Mo worked well for me. And it is streamlined and free.

Maurice Areuil | 30.11.21 - 11:07 a.m. | #

I'm Az-Az-Pf with a flu jab in between.
The flu jab was done at a local pharmacy and was so painless I questioned whether he'd done it! Best Jab Ever.

Unfortunately my booster 3 weeks ago at the big centre was the opposite and the resultant bruise at the stab point took 2 weeks to fade!

Still, no aches, pains or adverse reaction to any of them so now I feel a lot happier that hopefully very little will get through my next self-imposed semi-lockdown! Yeah - I'm not going to chance it out there for the foreseeable future.

Cornish Cockney | 30.11.21 - 11:09 a.m. | #

I had mine 3 weeks ago (also AZ-AZ-Pf). It was organised once again through my GP surgery, and booked through the App on my phone, though unlike the first 2 jabs was done away from the GP surgery. At the Jewish Vegetarian Society headquarters! As I'd prebooked, no need for me to bring details of my NHS number etc.

Minor side affects, unlike my flu jab earlier this autumn, which gave me a severe fever.

Mikey C | 30.11.21 - 11:19 a.m. | #

I too had my jabs at Croydon Centrale.

re NHS number I did not need to give it but I heard others being asked for it. But my surname is probably unique in Croydon - if you were John Smith you might need more than your date of birth.

As for where the site is - I don't think there have ever been shops in that part of Centrale and that was built before 2008 - Croydon's shopping population has been dropping for some time.

Mark | 30.11.21 - 11:29 a.m. | #

I’ve had my three jabs at different places — two different local health centres and the Francis Crick Institute (now reverted to its normal functions) — and the professionalism, efficiency and sheer friendliness of all the medical and volunteer staff has been awe-inspiring. One jabber (if that’s the correct term) was a Crick researcher who was doing three voluntary vaccination sessions a week, two at the Crick, one at her local surgery, on top of her full-time job; and all three appeared — from their accents — to have come originally from outside the UK, so thank goodness for immigration, too, whatever the gutter press thinks.

Labourer | 30.11.21 - 12:58 p.m. | #

I was among the first 25 million to get a first jab, first 24 million to get a second jab and first 18 million to get a booster, so take-up has definitely slowed down.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 30.11.21 - 1:02 p.m. | #

Bravo - well said 'Labourer'
Through this last couple of years I have listened to and read many people's viewpoints - but appreciation for the thousands of folk going above and beyond is so often absent.

Frank F | 30.11.21 - 1:20 p.m. | #

First two at Scout hut turned into vaccination centre. Very efficient jabbed within 2 minutes of arrival.

Booked booster jab at replacement vaccination hub in hospital car park. Hopelessly rubbish. Took almost 20 minutes before I was jabbed. Yes had to switch masks. Had to give personal info to 3 different sets of people before getting to be jabbed. One of them was repeating very loudly everyone's details back to them.

Centre plastered with posters promoting Comirnaty and lots of other rubbish that made the experience very cheap. Yet unfortunately it will probably have cost far more than the volunteers in the Scout hut as a building had to be constructed from scratch that from the sound of it was relying on diesel generators for power.

ap | 30.11.21 - 2:00 p.m. | #

I only become eligible to book for my booster (under the old rules) on Thursday, which I fear may be the same day that the NHS website changes to the new rules and so I'll end up fighting for an appointment alongside millions more people.

I still only know two people personally who, like me, had Moderna for their first two jabs (it only started being used the day before), so I'll be interested to see what I get this time. I just hope I don't get the horrible flu-like reaction that I got with the second. Still worth it though!

Anders | 30.11.21 - 2:46 p.m. | #

I've booked my booster for tomorrow. Went on the NHS website Monday, booked for Weds, loads of time slots. Got the official text and email today saying I can now book, so was ahead of officialdom by a day. I'll be AZ-AZ-?? Getting it done at the same place (Evergreen, Edmonton) - last two times I was ushered out the door by the bins before I'd finished rolling down my sleeve.

Jayne | 30.11.21 - 4:51 p.m. | #

Yes, I got mine as a 'walk up' this morning. Did someone above mention the 100 club? Now THAT would be a cool place to get your booster.

Nigel | 30.11.21 - 8:39 p.m. | #

I, too received my booster yesterday - only because I was ill last week when I’d originally booked it for.
Due to the aforementioned lack of EcCel choice, I opted for the former Sports Direct store in Romford.
All went well, and despite a slightly sore arm, the Pfizer hasn’t yet clashed with the previous doses of Astra-Zenica.

Rob Healy | Homepage | 30.11.21 - 10:02 p.m. | #

Ooh, my vaccination centre appeared in the lead item on the Ten O'Clock News.

The BBC's Health editor sat on the chair in front of the chair I sat on.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 30.11.21 - 10:06 p.m. | #

I saw a brief mention on Twitter that the Westfield vaccination centre went rogue and were offering walk-up boosters to all and sundry for a short while the other day.

I'm 6 months since my second jab but under 40, so suspect I'll be eligible very soon - and happy to break my usual rule of avoiding Westfield in December for a bit more immunity.

martin | 01.12.21 - 7:39 a.m. | #

I had astra x2 then booster was Pfizer

1st jab felt like I had 24 hour flu, 2nd jab no reaction

Booster jab had 1 and a week ago and felt queasy for a few days and a bit rundown but that might because work is super busy

Rachel | 01.12.21 - 11:04 a.m. | #

I too am team AZ-AZ-Pf

flyingfish93 | 01.12.21 - 1:51 p.m. | #

I was AZ-AZ-Pf. No need of NHS number, was wearing a mask so no need of front of house staff ensuring or offering, security guard by door pointed to hand sanitiser (which I think sanitises the fact I had to touch the sanitiser, not foot controlled), no temp taken, vaccination 'pod' was a room, no leaflet, again out the door by the bins as I was pulling on my coat, told to wait for 10 mins in the 'observation room', no one there official observing, I observed most people slinking off after a cursory minute, and after the full ten I did the same.

Jayne | 01.12.21 - 5:07 p.m. | #

Received a rather unexpected text from my GP yesterday inviting me for my booster. Appointments available today. Arrived at the centre and was nearly turned away for not being 40, but I guess I'm close enough that they Pfizered me up anyway. Good to see it's all joined up...

martin | 02.12.21 - 11:44 a.m. | #

I did one volunteer session at the vaccination centre at Excel - which they then moved to Stratford - and they insisted on patients having their NHS number ready.

I did many more volunteer sessions at Barking (Broadway Theatre, now Vicarage Fields shopping centre) and there we didn't insist on having your NHS number (it's handy to have but wasn't a prerequisite).

The setup at both Barking centres is excellent, well run and friendly. Recommended.

Ted Blair | 22.12.21 - 1:35 p.m. | #











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