My housebound dad had to wait so long for third jab - there must be thousands of others the same
SON SPEAKS OF FRUSTRATION IN TRYING TO GET OAP HIS BOOSTER
A 92-YEAR-OLD housebound man has waited months to get his booster jab – and is one of more than 3,000 people in Leicestershire in the same situation.
His son, who asked that both his and his father’s name be withheld, had his second jab in March. But noone has contacted them to discuss a booster, even though his dad is eligible.
His son was then told his dad, who has dementia and diabetes, would get a booster “in due course” by his GP, but was still waiting at the end of November.
At this stage the son contacted the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland CCG, which oversees vaccinations, and his MP to complain as he felt the problem was more widespread than just his own father.
An appointment was finally made for his dad to have his booster jab yesterday, from a community pharmacist.
His son said he is concerned about others who might be in the same position.
“If this is happening to my housebound dad, then it must be happening to others,” he said.
“I don’t want him to become another Covid fatality statistic while he leads a happy life still.
“I am terrified of going out to the shops or into town, only to return and kill him with Covid.”
A spokesman for the CCG told the Mercury that there are 8,072 housebound patients across Leicester and the wider county – and 3,167 left to vaccinate with a booster. The spokesman added the CCG is doing everything it can go get housebound patients vaccinated.
“There are no issues with the rollout of vaccinations for our housebound patients,” he said. “We have implemented a hybrid model of delivery utilising GP surgeries and community pharmacists supported in some areas by St John Ambulance.”
All housebound patients are expected to be vaccinated by the end of the month, alongside the rest of the adult population under the government’s latest emergency plan.
A spokesman said: “We are very sorry for the delay that (the patient) experienced but we are really pleased to hear that he has now received his Covid-19 booster vaccine.”