BRITS are reportedly jumping coronavirus vaccination queues by using NHS appointment links which have been shared on WhatsApp and social media.
People who are not eligible for the vaccine have been able to sign up for slots meant for NHS staff through links they have found online.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
An investigation carried out by the Evening Standard found some have been able to jump the queue – getting a jab before the elderly and vulnerable.
The links are part of the online booking system operated by Swiftqueue which is being used by some NHS Trusts to schedule jabs for its staff.
However, it appears people who are not on the priority list or NHS staff members have been able to arrange appointments in East London and northern areas.
Anyone above the age of 18 – regardless of eligibility – was able to book a vaccine after a link intended for staff working for the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) was shared online.
VACCINE LOOPHOLE
The ELFT is apparently aware of the issue and is now asking people who arrive for a jab to provide ID.
During the newspaper’s investigation, a reporter was able to book an appointment at 9.50am today along with a follow-up jab on April 5 at the Westfield vaccination centre in Stratford, East London.
Their investigator spent just five minutes providing their name, postcode, NHS number and basic health information – and the appointments were confirmed “almost immediately”.
The newspaper quickly cancelled the appointments to ensure no one was being deprived of their entitled vaccination.
People were quick to boast online that they were able to get a jab without proving they worked for the NHS.
One person wrote online: “Guilty as charged! No one asked for NHS identity. We were not turned away.”
I urge people not to follow suit and use these links or try to blag their way into vaccine centres or try to find loopholes."
Some were left perplexed about how people were able to take advantage of the loophole.
One said: “My mother-in-law 84 had hers cancelled locally. Now has to travel 50 miles, she has dementia and we are shielding.
“My mother, 83, diabetic has not heard about hers yet. But people in her area are using Swiftqueue to book regardless of age.”
Another person said: “Perhaps someone could explain this to me. Millions of elderly are patiently waiting for the vaccine.
"Why is it that hundreds are immorally jumping the process by logging into Swiftqueue Nottinghamshire portal, without letters or referrals?”
Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, described the loophole as “extremely worrying” and urged people to not “try to blag their way into vaccine centres”.
She told the Standard: “These stories of people finding loopholes in the technology to book a vaccine and so bypassing the process to prioritise those who are most vulnerable or turning up on spec at vaccine centres to see if they can jump in are extremely worrying especially as many now boasting on social media it works.
'BLAG THEIR WAY'
“I urge people not to follow suit and use these links or try to blag their way into vaccine centres or try to find loopholes and so undermine the hard work being done by so many to get the vaccine out to those who are most at risk at harm.”
Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield, was made aware of the loophole when he received a text saying a URL link was being sent around which gave those who are not entitled a chance to get a jab.
He added: “I went onto this link and booked on myself and it gave me an appointment as a 50-year-old – it didn’t ask me if I was a key worker.
“It allowed me to book on without my NHS number and it just gave me an appointment to go down tomorrow at 10.10am.
“Obviously having done that I cancelled it – I wouldn’t actually want to take someone’s appointment.
“I’m gratified to hear action is being taken and I’ll watch it very carefully because people really shouldn’t be jumping the queue.”
A spokesman for the East London NHS Foundation Trust said: “People attending appointments at the Westfield Vaccination Centre will be asked for proof that they have personally been invited for a vaccination and belong to one of these priority cohorts, to ensure that no one who is currently ineligible for the vaccine receives it as a result of making a false online declaration."
The Sun Online has contacted Swiftqueue for comment.
Source: Read Full Article