Covid Vaccinations

Hi everyone.
I’m just looking for some advice. I am 60 years old, live here in Quesada, am a Spanish resident and have still not had my first Jab. The health centre have explained that I am due to have the Astra Zeneca vaccine but it is in short supply. They cannot even give me an idea as to when I will get my jabs.

My problem is that I want to visit the U.K. to see my children and grandchildren whom I haven’t seen since Christmas 2019. I understand the requirements for testing and quarantining. However, I do not want to risk going to the U.K. without first being fully vaccinated.

So my question is... is there any other way that I can get vaccinated without having to wait for the health centre to contact me?

Thank you

I am having the same problem, and have found no other option. There have been reports of people just turning up in torrevieja and getting the jab but not confirmed. There a few posts on here with a lot of comments.

NO - you just have to wait.

Sorry, Sam, if you seem to have skipped through the net, as most of us have had at least one. Do read all the previous posts on this topic, and I would suggest you do keep popping into your health centre (badgering them), and emphasise you're happy to have whatever they have available (there is, indeed, a shortage of AZ - many of us have had the 2nd one cancelled). You could also try the Ocio Centre in Torrevieja, but think that might be rather a long shot.

Does seem a bit galling when they're offering it to non-residents (seemingly)! Hope it happens soon for you.

Just back from the health centre. They assured me there will be a solution soon. Valencia has to give the okay for our age group to get other vaccine than Astrazeneca. So far they ony allow that vaccine for us which is stupid as they have not enough. As soon as centro de salud get the okay for Pfizer etc. they will call everyone on the long list (at least they say so). So let's hope for the best

I wonder if you went to the UK would there be any hope you could get a J&J vaccine there as that is only 1 shot or stay for a month and get Pfizer or Moderna. Here in Ireland they are now going to allow the 50s up who haven't had a vaccine for one reason or another to go to their Chemist and make an appointment directly. Is anything like that happening in the UK?

It looks to me like Spain ordered a lot of the AZ initially and are now experiencing problems with the lack of supply. I feel for all those over 60 as it just doesn't make sense not to give an alternative vaccine. Over 60s are in the vulnerable age group so it adds insult to injury that 40 year olds and 30 years old would be fully vaccinated before them. Time for Spain to have a radical rethink of their vaccination programme.

Bee

Thank you to everyone who posted a reply to my message. I guess I just have to be patient along with the others in my age group.

I did go to the centre in Torrevieja three weeks ago only to be told that my health centre would be contacting me the following week. But there was no such contact.

I’ve been to the health centre three times now. The first time was to check that they had the correct contact details, which they did. Every time I go they just tell me to be patient. And to be fair, given that there is a shortage of the AZ vaccine, they cannot tell me anything any different.

So here I am being a patient patient.

Once again, thanks everyone.

Bee wrote:I wonder if you went to the UK would there be any hope you could get a J&J vaccine there as that is only 1 shot or stay for a month and get Pfizer or Moderna. Here in Ireland they are now going to allow the 50s up who haven't had a vaccine for one reason or another to go to their Chemist and make an appointment directly. Is anything like that happening in the UK?

It looks to me like Spain ordered a lot of the AZ initially and are now experiencing problems with the lack of supply. I feel for all those over 60 as it just doesn't make sense not to give an alternative vaccine. Over 60s are in the vulnerable age group so it adds insult to injury that 40 year olds and 30 years old would be fully vaccinated before them. Time for Spain to have a radical rethink of their vaccination programme.

Bee

The vaccination strategy has been radically "rethunked" about a dozen times. The plans are good but something always crops up to put the mockers on it.
At the beginning, Pfizer didn't supply the number of vaccines due to restructuring their factories. Then the worries about serious side effects with AZ cropped up and it was stopped for certain age groups who had already had one.

Then, of course, AZ failing to live up to its promised vaccine supply in a big way. Some weeks only 10% of the amount has been delivered and, in other weeks, none at all. Now Janssen is not living up to its promises either.

Some figures: As of yesterday, the whole of Spain has received 36 million (ish) of all vaccines and have given some 34 million of them which only leaves 2 million left to share between the 17 autonomous communities.
Valencia Region have received 3,682,000 vaccines in total and have administered 3,430,000 which only leaves about 250,000 doses to give to those with just one vaccine or those for the second dose.
Nowhere near enough considering the amount of people to get through.
I don't know how many they have received today from Madrid but they are planning on giving over 300,000 doses this week. Only 10,000 will be the AZ vaccine and 14,000 from Janssen if they arrive.

Unless a Covid R Us vaccine shop opens in the area, there aren't enough vaccines available to keep up with the plan. Thankfully, almost a quarter of a million will be provided by Pfizer who now seem to have got their act together.

Spain itself has contracted for almost 70 million doses in the first six months of this year and only 36 million have been delivered. AZ promises were for well over 30 million doses in that time and have only received just over 7 million of them.

All plans are great on paper until first contact with the enemy.

They will have to do many more "rethunks". We have had 28 changes so far according to our health CEO and not finished yet. Keeping people informed and up-to-date on what is going on is the key. It doesn't seem to be happening in Comm Valenciana which is a pity. People are worried enough without Sanidad keeping them in the dark.

Bee

Bee wrote:They will have to do many more "rethunks". We have had 28 changes so far according to our health CEO and not finished yet. Keeping people informed and up-to-date on what is going on is the key. It doesn't seem to be happening in Comm Valenciana which is a pity. People are worried enough without Sanidad keeping them in the dark.

Bee

Not really. It's been in all the papers on what is happening and on the TV, both regional and national.

But, yes, the Spanish are just as confused as everyone else and are complaining about cancelled vaccinations without explanation by the health authorities.