SOME over 80-year-olds in Basingstoke are concerned that they have not yet had the Covid-19 vaccine, after it was announced that the life-saving jab is being given to those aged over 70.

Starting this week, people aged over 70 and those listed as clinically extremely vulnerable will be invited to receive the coronavirus vaccination in some areas.

However, many of those in the first priority group have been in touch with the Gazette to say they are still waiting to be invited to have the vaccine, sparking concerns there is a postcode lottery.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller previously addressed concerns about those in the first priority group who had not yet received the vaccine, saying: “The group being vaccinated at the moment is the over 80s. We have a population that is older than other parts of the country so more people fall into this group.”

Janet Floyd from Buckland Avenue, on the Berg Estate, thought her 83-year-old husband would be “top of the list” to have the vaccine, because he suffers with a serious heart condition which causes him to have breathing difficulties.

Janet, 81, was invited to have the vaccine this week, and is confused why her husband has not heard anything.

The mother-of-two and grandmother-of-five said: “He has a very bad heart which affects his breathing, he can’t walk without having to stop to get his breath. We were told by someone at the hospital that the heart has four stages and he’s gone through three stages, so we have had to sign papers to say if anything goes wrong that’s it for him. That’s why I’m worried.”

Janet, who has two great-grandchildren, contacted Gillies Heath Centre in Brighton Hill to ask why her husband had not yet been invited to have the vaccine, but said she hung up after listening to the answerphone message which advises patients not to enquire about the Covid vaccine.

“We are both at the same surgery so it’s confusing that I have been asked and he hasn’t,” she said, adding: “It means we will need two trips to have the vaccine. The surgery tells you not to contact them with questions about the vaccine, but I thought who can I contact? He’s so vulnerable and I thought he would be top of the list, so I’m concerned he’s been missed.”

The national vaccine programme is set to expand this week, with 10 more mass vaccination centres due to open.

More than four million people in the UK have already had the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, which includes those aged over 80, care home residents, and NHS staff.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight partnership for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) said it is “aware of frustrations people are feeling as they are unsure of when they might be invited for their jab”.

Dr Tim Cooper, GP and vaccination lead for North Hampshire, said: “We understand that many people are very keen to be vaccinated as soon as is possible, and in time a vaccine will be available for everyone.

“However, at this point we are working our way through the priority groups, as identified by the government scientific advisors.

“Regrettably, we have to ask people to be patient – we are not holding reserve stocks of the vaccine and so cannot simply add in extra appointments – but everyone will be invited in due course. It will take time to protect everybody, but we will be in touch with everyone as soon as we possibly can.”

He added: “We absolutely understand that any wait is frustrating but calling or messaging the practice will not get you an appointment more quickly and will take our staff away from their other work.”

People will be invited to have the vaccine in one of three ways:

GP services are working together to vaccinate as many people as possible, and you may be contacted by a different surgery to the one you usually go to.

You might be contacted to have the vaccination as an inpatient or outpatient through your local hospital services.

If you live within 30 to 45 minutes of a vaccination centre, you may receive a letter asking you to book an appointment online or call 119 if you are unable to access the NHS website.

West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group is asking people to make sure their GP practice has up-to-date contact details, especially a mobile phone number if you have one.

This will make it quicker and easier to make contact. However, you do not need to call with this information and can update online through the practice website.