Lots of talk of having to go to Ingliston for the booster. When I booked mine I had a choice of a dozen places all closer, though I had to hunt a bit through the calendar for those with availability.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Do we need a coronavirus thread?
(5710 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Based in Midlothian, I had hoped to go to my local jag site, which is a 1 mile walk away along a cycle track. And for my booster, I finally made it! First two jags were at Haddington then Ingliston. I wonder if, when and where the 4th will be.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I got my Ingliston flu/booster letter last week so went to the rearrange it for something more local, but there were no dates until Christmas week at the more convenient health centres. I could to go back to it every so often as single appointments do pop up out of the blue as people actually bother to cancel their appointments, but TBH I can't be bothered. And as my appointment at Ingliston is late afternoon on a dark, cold and wet weekend I'll just drive it. War on the motorist, eh?
I'll just have to assuage my guilt by thinking that I am leaving the walkable locations for folk who don't have cars.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I cycled for both my appointments to Ingliston and found it better than I had feared. Once past the bypass it was Gogar Station Rd, Gogar Bank, SASA and Roddinglaw Rd then the shared path along A8 and at the first roundabout I joined the road (at that little side road, I find it easier than trying to cross the slip roads). Back the same way (on the same side of A8). Really not as bad as some here say.
Both times I locked the bike to the metal fencing at the entrance.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@Laidback. Thanks (re info on test requirements for flying) I was worried in case the airport had additional requirements I hadn’t read about.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The UK Health Security Agency has said there are now 13 confirmed Omicron cases in England, 9 in Scotland
This more transmittable varient seems to thrive here. Interestingly India has not many cases reported yet. One maybe.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Would take all reports on omicron's severity with a mound of salt at the moment. Proper patient specific analyses will take a while. Everything else is just anecdata from statistically inept front line doctors.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Another fantastic article from Marina. She always paints it just like it is.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/30/anti-mask-blitz-war-public-good
Posted 2 years ago # -
Says the booster booster.
If the idea is to SAVE CHRISTMAS, perhaps this should have been sorted a few months ago(?)
“
All adults to be offered third Covid jab by end of January, says Boris Johnson
PM tells Downing Street press conference temporary vaccine centres will be ‘popping up like Christmas trees’
“
He does have a way with words, not always in the right order.
Do Christmas trees pop-up anywhere?
Posted 2 years ago # -
@nobrakes
Marina is fantastic. Every single article she writes is bang on the money and razor sharp
Posted 2 years ago # -
Though some people still aren't comfortable about her alleged relationship with Piers Morgan, details of which are scarce but which might or might not have had something to do with the failure of his first marriage.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Some people are also uncomfortable with her role in demonising Corbyn over his alleged "anti-semitism" (or his support for the struggle of Palestinians and criticism of Israeli policies, depending on your perspective)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Just in case you were wondering…
“
There are now seven “variants of interest” or “variants of concern” and they each have a Greek letter, according to a W.H.O. tracking page.
Some other variants with Greek letters do not reach those classification levels, and the W.H.O. also skipped two letters just before Omicron — “Nu” and “Xi” — leading to speculation about whether “Xi” was avoided in deference to the Chinese president, Xi Jinping.
“‘Nu’ is too easily confounded with ‘new,’” Tarik Jasarevic, a W.H.O. spokesman, said on Saturday. “And ‘Xi’ was not used because it is a common last name.”
“
Posted 2 years ago # -
President Omicron isn’t going to be happy
Posted 2 years ago # -
Quick update. Ocean Terminal has changed policy again, which is just as well as it is impossible to book an appointment there online or via help line. Now accepting drop-in booster + flu vaccination for folk over 50 years only.
So third time lucky for me.....now fully boosted and got a flu shot also.
Phew!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Oh, and there is cycle parking at Ocean Terminal.
So anyone in their prime who needs a more local option, it's worth a punt. Be prepared to queue for a few minutes, and "enjoy" the various tram related diversions en route.....though it is close to NEPN so not too bad getting there by bike overall.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@crowriver I'd been recommended Ocean Terminal by a friend as it would be way more convenient than Ingliston. However, I couldn't find it in the online booking options, so assumed it was closed. Why is it hush hush?
Not that it matters, as I'm under 50 so would just get turned away.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@PS, yeah Ocean Terminal's not on the booking system at all. It's a drop-in clinic, doing 1st/2nd doses, and boosters/flu shots. Facility is quite small. It seems they were completely swamped last week with the numbers turning up. So they insisted on appointments only for boosters earlier this week, except of course you couldn't book an appointment. They're now doing over 50s only for boosters/flu, and 1st/2nd doses for anyone. Seems a reasonable compromise.
You're correct though that if you're under 50 and looking for a booster, it's Ingliston, Pyramids in Bathgate, or wait until next year!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Have they actually started taking under 40's for drop-ins then? I've been checking the NHS site and I can only find various "more info coming soon" statements nothing concrete.
Posted 2 years ago # -
You're correct though that if you're under 50 and looking for a booster, it's Ingliston, Pyramids in Bathgate, or wait until next year!
Next year for me - but that's on account of the 24 week gap rather than venue availability. I wasn't eligible for anything sooner.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@Arellcat I thought they also reduced the time limit to 3 months along with opening up to under 40's? Otherwise even attempting to fulfil the promise to booster everyone 18+ by the end of January would be impossible.
Posted 2 years ago # -
They were not taking any drop-in patients for boosters at all on Monday and Tuesday. I know, because I tried and was turned away. Think they are trying to prioritise older cohorts now. When I was there yesterday quite a few people in queue looked to be in their late sixties or older.
As for government promises to give everyone over 18 a booster by the end of next month - possibly doable, but only if most folk prepared to trek out to Ingliston and/or more capacity located closer to bigger populations.
Ocean Terminal clinic is really small, just three vaccinators and two reception staff yesterday. They'll only be able to see so many people in one day, hence presumably the priority given to 1st/2nd doses and over-50s. Rationing by urgency of need, basically.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@Yodhrin, Arelicat, it would appear that the two big centres take drop-ins of any age.
From NHS Lothian site:
---
Pyramids Business Park, Easter Inch Steadings, Bathgate EH48 2EH
You can get directions for driving here, and Lothian Buses's travel advice is here. Everyone over 12 can attend this drop-in clinic as well as utilising booked appointments.Lowland Hall, Royal Highland Vaccination Centre, Ingliston
You can use Lothian Buses to attend the mass vaccination centre at Lowland Hall; see this document for more information. Everyone over 12 can attend this drop-in clinic as well as utilising booked appointments.---
Posted 2 years ago # -
I was definitely not for going back to Bathgate for a jag. That place was a pain to get to from Midlothian. However, much as I would've enjoyed the bike ride to Ingliston, there was nothing on the booking page that suggested I could book sooner than 24 weeks. For want of one month I can trundle down the road instead.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Omicron was identified 10 days ago.
In 10 days the government, JCVI and health specialists have reviewed and updated guidance on boosters to local health boards, requiring updating of processes and protocols. These then need to cascade down to vaccination centres. The fact that these changes have been implemented so quickly is incredible.
That booking websites haven’t been updated perfectly immediately or that individual vaccination centres have had some issues in the first day or two of the new guidance is unfortunate, but a huge number of people are working all hours of the day and night to make this happen.
To describe one of the most complex and intensive vaccination programmes ever, in the middle of a global pandemic, as “shambolic” (as Douglas Ross/Alex Cole Hamilton have done) just doesn’t reflect the reality of the situation we are in. It’s pretty dispicable of them: either they don’t understand the complexities (which shows they are incompetent) or they do but choose to ignore them for headlines (which is possibly worse).
Yes, individual inconveniences are intensely annoying but people will still get their vaccine/booster.
Give it a couple of days for these issues to be ironed out, just as they were when second jags were introduced.
Posted 2 years ago #
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