Younger people booked a coronavirus vaccine appointment after an online post appeared to say they could get the jab regardless of their age - but it had been "inappropriately shared" and they will not be eligible.
The booking link for Aintree Hospital seemed to advise people they could get the vaccine despite not being part of the initial cohorts eligible at this stage.
It led to many scrambling to get a slot, as people in their 20s, 30s and 40s quickly signed up to get their first dose of Covid-19 protection.
But the message had been wrongly circulated, due to it being "inappropriately shared" on social media, and it was instead meant solely for NHS employees.
Nobody received a vaccine who should not have, NHS bosses confirmed.
People who had managed to book have now been informed their appointments have been cancelled.
On social media one woman, from Halewood, said: "We got a message circulated on a WhatsApp group, and other people were saying they'd received a similar message.
"It was saying that everyone of any age was welcome to book the vaccine as they were trying to work their way through their stocks.
"But it didn't seem right to me."
The 41-year-old added: "I phoned up Aintree Hospital, but the front desk said they didn't know anything about it.
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"My aunt booked it for herself, but that's been cancelled now.
"It seems a lot of people in Liverpool have had the message."
One man, 40, from Liverpool city centre, added: "I got the link and booked in, but it did seem a little too good to be true, so I wasn't surprised when I got an email only hours later saying it was cancelled.
"As I'm in my 40s, I'm still hoping I get to have my jab by the summer."
A spokesperson for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “There was a temporary issue where our booking system for staff was inappropriately shared on social media.
“We took immediate action to cancel these appointments, ensuring appointment slots are available for those who are eligible.
"No one outside of the eligible groups received a vaccine.
"While we understand the frustration this may have caused, it is important that we focus vaccinations on the most vulnerable individuals.”
