I am a retired dentist and practising acupuncturist, and wanted to volunteer as a Covid vaccinator (Letters, 5 January). I have been trying to complete the online application form on the NHS Professionals website since Saturday. There are no volunteering opportunities and I have to apply for a paid non-professional vaccinator post, as I am no longer registered with the British Dental Association.
The link to apply for this post does not work. On a live chat at the weekend I had a Groundhog Day experience of being referred many times to the website that I was already on, then it was suggested I change device, then use the most recent form of Chrome. I was then told it would be working by Tuesday; it was not.
If I ever get to completing the application, there are several hours worth of modules I have to do before I would be considered, which I would be prepared to do. The government has known for months that it would need extra personnel. I feel like I am participating in a bizarre endurance test and swing between rage and despair. I’m sure I’m not alone.
Paula Dunleavy
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
• As a retired healthcare professional contemplating wading through hours of e-learning modules to become a volunteer vaccinator, should a fire alarm sound while arguing about the correct use of PPE with a terminally ill person suffering cardiac arrest, I’ll know it is important to recognise the signs of radicalisation and the location of the data logger on the medicines fridge. Haven’t even got to the “jabby” bit yet.
Paul Baines
Bristol
• 21 December: I have my first Pfizer vaccine jab at the Norfolk and Norwich university hospital. I’m told I must return on 18 January, for which I’m booked in, for the vaccine to be effective.
6 January: a call comes from the vaccination centre to tell me that government guidelines mean that my second jab is postponed until 1 March. After strongly protesting and saying that Pfizer does not have evidence that the vaccine is effective beyond three weeks, I’m told they can’t enforce this change and that 18 January is still booked for me.
12 January: a phone call comes from the hospital to tell me that my 18 January appointment is cancelled again and that a GP practice will contact me at a later date to offer me a jab. After I protest, the caller says that she’ll get her manager to ring me.
Ten minutes later she rings back to say that she’s consulted her manager and the 18 January appointment is still booked for me.
Fifteen minutes later: a call comes from the hospital telling me that because of very recently received government guidelines, it has cancelled my 18 January appointment and I will hear from a GP practice offering a jab at some future date. The caller apologises and says I have been badly messed about.
Martin Payne
Bawburgh, Norfolk
• My 91-year-old mother lives alone, with support from a carer and family members. This week, feeling unwell, she phoned me in a breathless state. I suggested she call 111 while waiting for me to get to her. Their advice was to “go online”. Last week, I asked her health centre why she had not yet been offered a Covid vaccination and was told that they had prioritised patients who could be contacted by text message. My mother does not have a computer and cannot manage texts. So in these times of crisis for the old and vulnerable, they are being discriminated against because they have no access to advances in technology. Shocking.
Melanie White
Reading, Berkshire
