Covid UK: Giant queues at walk-in NHS Covid vaccination clinic in Walthamstow, London
Did someone say SPARE jabs? Giant queues form outside NHS vaccine clinic after word gets out there are EXTRA doses available – for anyone regardless of age
- More than 2,000 people rushed to Walthamstow Library in north-east London
- The council opened a walk-in jab clinic between 11am and 6.30pm today
- First doses were offered to 50+, 18+ with health condition, carers, a health and social care workers or blue light staff
- Walk-ins urged to bring NHS number and evidence of the category they are in
- Massive queues were seen snaking along the grass outside the library today
Huge queues formed outside an NHS vaccination clinic after word got out about extra doses – with Londoners of all ages queuing up for the sought-after jab.
More than 2,000 people rushed to Walthamstow Library in north-east London after the council opened a walk-in jab clinic between 11am and 6.30pm today.
The council said first doses were being offered to those aged 50 and over, anyone over the age of 18 with a health condition, carers, health and social care workers and blue light staff – such as firefighters and police officers.
Walk-ins were urged to bring their NHS number and evidence of the category they are in with them.
But council staff told MailOnline that all ages were getting the vaccine regardless of their health status.
Under the Government’s vaccine rollout plan, stage two – for those aged 18 to 49 – is not set to begin until April 15, with the youngest age group getting their jabs in the summer.
Massive queues were seen snaking along the grass outside the library today as Britons waited for the sought-after jab – with the demand massively outdoing the supply.
By 4.20pm, the NHS Waltham Forest Clinical Commissioning Group – who managed the walk-in clinic – said appointments were back to pre-booked only.
Huge queues formed outside an NHS vaccination clinic in London (pictured) after word got out about extra doses for the over 50s
More than 2,000 people (some pictured) rushed to Walthamstow Library in north-east London after the council opened a walk-in jab clinic between 11am and 6.30pm today
But council staff told MailOnline that all ages were getting the vaccine regardless of their health status
Walk-ins (some pictured) were urged to bring their NHS number and evidence of the category they are in with them
The group yesterday sent out a Tweet telling those booked in for a vaccine on Wednesday that they can bring anyone over 18 living with them to get the jab at the same time – if they have their NHS number – due to ‘extra Covid-19 vaccines’. But at 8am this morning, the group announced that anyone who falls into the required categories can walk in for their first dose of the jab
By 4.20pm, the NHS Waltham Forest Clinical Commissioning Group – who managed the walk-in clinic – said appointments were back to pre-booked only
The group yesterday sent out a tweet telling those booked in for a vaccine on Wednesday that they can bring anyone over 18 living with them to get the jab at the same time – if they have their NHS number – due to ‘extra Covid-19 vaccines’.
But at 8am this morning, the group announced that anyone who falls into the required categories can walk in for their first dose of the jab.
The tweet read: ‘Extra Covid-19 Vax at Walthamstow Library.
‘If you are 50+; 18+ with a health condition; a carer; a health & social care or blue light worker you can walk into the library on 31 March 2021, 11am- 6.30pm for a first vaccine.
Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy urged people to take advantage of the walk-in centre (pictured), sharing the times and qualifying categories in a Tweet on her account too
‘Bring NHS number and evidence of the category you are in.’
Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy urged people to take advantage of the walk-in centre, sharing the times and qualifying categories in a tweet on her account too.
But shortly after 4pm, the CCG said the walk-in service had stopped accepting new patients, adding: ‘So proud of the local response to our call to get vaccinated – over 2,000 so far.
‘We do now have a large queue we need to manage safely.
‘Unless you have an appointment please do not go for a vaccine. We will let you know when have another walk-in event.’
Some Londoners shared their excitement at the prospect of a walk-in jab centre on Twitter today.
But others were shocked that young people were able to jump the queue, ahead of older Britons.
Nick Reilly wrote: ‘Walthamstow’s queue for leftover vaccines is looking a lot like the Wednesday morning of Glastonbury. Jab me up, baby!’
Others were shocked that young people were able to jump the queue, ahead of their older counterparts
Someone else added: ‘Well done Walthamstow residents of all ages for getting your jab.’
Charlotte Earney wrote: ‘Waited for three hours in a long queue outside Walthamstow library and I’ll probably have to make up the time at work but it was f****** worth it.’
Colleen Cheetham-Gerrard added: ‘Long story short: I got my first Covid jab today, due to a supply snafu at a drop-in clinic in Walthamstow.
‘I did query a bit “am I skipping the queue?” but the doses would have gone off otherwise.
Some people called for more London boroughs to offer walk-in vaccines – while others urged the eligible categories to be widened to include other key workers, such as teachers
‘I imagined I’d get my Covid jab wearing something fabulous in the summer, so i was a bit surprised to be wearing scratty jeans and trying to triage an afternoon of calls and emails during a three hour wait, so I’m a bit delayed in having a proper emotional response!
‘It was a happy, patient line with a ice cream van possibly breaking sales records for a Wednesday in March.
‘(Those in the normal eligibility categories got to skip the queue, obviously!)’
But one Twitter user wrote: ‘Just heard from 2 healthy people in their 20s who have been vaccinated in Walthamstow today. What sort of prioritisation is that?’
Some people called for more London boroughs to offer walk-in vaccines – while others urged the eligible categories to be widened to include other key workers, such as teachers.
