Vaccinations and testing

[screwy]

You know me, an all round good egg, share and share alike.

[OCEANIAFAN]

Anyone used Randox for their cruises from Southampton?
Have read that some people, mainly Americans, that you cannot use this type of test as it is not monitored
If you have used this service for a cruise already did you find any problems.

Thanks

[Jan Rosser]

Anyone used Randox for their cruises from Southampton?
Have read that some people, mainly Americans, that you cannot use this type of test as it is not monitored
If you have used this service for a cruise already did you find any problems.

Thanks

My granddaughter is on Iona at the moment and used the Randox test - she said it was straightforward to use and accepted by P&O.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'm hoping I might be able to get a fourth jab at a local walk in centre this weekend with my vulnerable hat on.

[Stephen]

I have brought four Randox kits (just to be on the safe side) for our cruise next month. Considering this company are on the P&O recommended list I’m not expecting any issues.

https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-with-c ... -you-board

https://covid.randox.com/

All seems pretty straight forward use wise to me.

[Manoverboard]

When we had our 4th jab the Mrs Lady said it was a walk-in service, no need for invites etc.

[oldbluefox]

I have brought four Randox kits (just to be on the safe side) for our cruise next month. Considering this company are on the P&O recommended list I’m not expecting any issues.

I got my Randox tests last week so I prepared the app ready for when we need it. I also had a little bit of a dummy run and had not gone far when I was asked to enter the order number. I searched my emails, spam box, deleted items , inbox and found I did not have an invoice from them. I had a PayPal invoice but nothing with an invoice number on it. I rang Ireland, spoke to a pleasant young lady who said she would send me an invoice. She said "This happens sometimes".
Thank goodness I did that trial run and did not leave it until the morning of departure otherwise we would have been in a right pickle. Even getting through to Randox meant navigating their multiplicity of options and a five minute wait before the call was answered.
I am now hoping there will be no more little surprises when it comes to testing and submitting the results.

[Stephen]

Yes, same here Foxy.

I only found out from a friend that you need to keep the order form confirmation for the order number. Luckily I still had mine.

[OCEANIAFAN]

I have brought four Randox kits (just to be on the safe side) for our cruise next month. Considering this company are on the P&O recommended list I’m not expecting any issues.

https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-with-c ... -you-board

https://covid.randox.com/

All seems pretty straight forward use wise to me.

Many thanks for the info

[screwy]

Now i know that all of us on here are really smart and switched on.! Well goes without saying that you could count me out!
When we arrived at City Terminal we were asked to show our proof of Vaccination, well we got our phones out and opened the NHS App, I know what your thinking...Stupid boy.! Correct. The Bloody app would not open on my phone, we hadnt saved it to a wallet.! a Wallet.? Does this face look like someone who knows what a wallet is on a phone.!!
To cut a long story short, we were 10 minutes from being refused boarding when a young man took my phone and somehow linked it to his ( hot spot ) Que !! anyhow it worked and on we got with seconds to spare.

To anyone else , dont be a d**k like me, be prepared, wallets, written copies etc.

The thing is, apparrently its not just me so why cant the port authoroty have a couple of Hot spots that Dimbos like me can access. would it be too difficult.?

As the saying goes...p*ss poor planning leads to p*ss poor perforfance.

And yes, i now have it saved to a wallet and have sent for updated paper versions...no flies on this Kid. just the marks where theyve been.

[Whynd1]

I'm not particularly tech minded, I didn't know you could save documents to your wallet on your phone I thought that was for cards etc.

You live and learn.

[david63]

Have read that some people, mainly Americans, that you cannot use this type of test as it is not monitored

Some cruise lines require an observed test - P&O do not.

I'm hoping I might be able to get a fourth jab at a local walk in centre this weekend with my vulnerable hat on.

Out of the blue I was "invited" to have the Spring booster last week. Talking to the "jabber" at the walk in centre they will only jab those who have been invited - but other centres may differ.

As for using the tech for proof of everything I decided that it was going to be far easier to have paper copies of everything - so I had a set of papers for me and another set for Mrs63. The guys doing the checking seemed quite pleased that everything was together and we were through in a couple of minutes.

[Mervyn and Trish]

According to the website I ought to have been invited by now but it's only 10 mins from home if they tell me to bug*er off !

[Stephen]

#210

I know where your coming from screwy. You can guarantee if it’s going to go wrong at the crucial moment it will, which is why, if possible, I print everything off.

[towny44]

Still bug free, or we seem to be. Mask wearing is being observed by about 50%.

[barney]

#210

I know where your coming from screwy. You can guarantee if it’s going to go wrong at the crucial moment it will, which is why, if possible, I print everything off.

Same here.
Printed copies of everything all in one folder.

[Stephen]

Still bug free, or we seem to be. Mask wearing is being observed by about 50%.

Good to hear John. Better safe, or as safe as you can be, than sorry.

[CaroleF]

In my area there seems to be two different ways and places for getting the booster jab. I had an invitation both from NHS and from my local surgery to have the booster. I went for the one through my surgery which meant it was at a local Community Hub about 10 minutes from home. If I'd accepted the NHS invitation it would have been at a centre somewhere in Portsmouth or Southampton. Our local Community Hub was only giving jabs to those specifically invited at a stated time. The larger walk in centres didn't require an appointment. I don't know if it's the same in all areas.

Carole

[oldbluefox]

We were invited to have our booster jabs so I made enquiries at our local surgery. They had nothing planned at that time but they suggested we went to a couple of walk-in centres close by.
When we got to the first one it was clearly closed and not likely to open so we went to the second which was not walk-in anyway but they had a couple of no-shows so we got our boosters.
The information we had been given was clearly very hit and miss. We are fortunate in being mobile and having a car but what about those who are not as fortunate who would have been led on an expensive and time consuming wild goose chase.
I must say I was not impressed with the information we had been given.

[david63]

They had nothing planned at that time but they suggested we went to a couple of walk-in centres close by.

Did you check online before you went? One of the walk in centres near us only opens on a Friday at the moment - no doubt will open more come the next round of boosters.

[oldbluefox]

No, we were told they were walk-ins so we didn't need appointments.

[david63]

No, we were told they were walk-ins so we didn't need appointments.

You don't but they give the details of when they are open, and more importantly, which vaccines they currently have available.

[oldbluefox]

We were given no details at all, simply told they were currently doing walk-ins.
I think it was left to us to discover we needed an appointment in which case why could we not have made an appointment with our own practice?
In the past we have had vaccinations on a walk-in basis over in Cockermouth provided by the town pharmacy in a neighbouring pub and you literally walked off the street, registered your details, had your jab and walked out again. It was all very quick and very efficient.

[Gill W]

For what it’s worth.

We came back from Ventura on Saturday,same as Sue Kersh, woke up Monday morning,banging headache,sore throat,rasping cough.Just tested positive.

Sorry to hear that. Hope you aren't feeling too ill and that you make a good recovery.

[screwy]

Cheers Gill. I’ll be be glad when the throat gets better,I won’t mind the coughing as much then. All being well it won’t last too long,ice cream and lollies help.

[screwy]

I read today that P&O have cancelled the Pre embarkation tests for 5 Iona cruises starting the 25th june.!

[Stephen]

Sounds like IONA is being used as the test ship.

[david63]

I read today that P&O have cancelled the Pre embarkation tests for 5 Iona cruises starting the 25th june.!

Apparently it is a trial because she is only doing seven night cruises to Norway where Covid is not a major problem.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes it's for only about 5 cruises at the moment. With cases rises at present it'll be interesting to see how it goes.

Our visit to the walk in vax centre was a success yesterday. No queue so straight in. A quick questionnaire and I was approved for a jab on the basis of my cancer treatment. Trish is a few weeks short of the age qualification, which she'll actually reach when we're on Iona, so a consultation with the nurse in charge was required and she was happy to give the nod. So both done and out under 10 mins.

No side effects worse than a tender arm so far. Iit was Moderna this time so we've now had 2 x AZ, 1 x Pfizer and 1 x Moderna. Maybe we'll have Sputnik next for a full house.

[david63]

so we've now had 2 x AZ, 1 x Pfizer and 1 x Moderna

It's called the "Covid cocktail" - available at all good bars

[Mervyn and Trish]

Is it included in the drinks package?

Interestingly the nurse reminded us of the evidence that the cocktail gives better protection than sticking with one vaccine because of the different ways they work.

But I will remember to ask for ice and a slice of lemon next time.

[Stephen]

So what’s the criteria for getting the second booster, being old and decrepit like Merv or have certain underlying health conditions?

[Jan Rosser]

So what’s the criteria for getting the second booster, being old and decrepit like Merv or have certain underlying health conditions?

Well I wouldn’t say Merv is old and decrepit- I’m sure he’s younger than me (75 in September). I might see if it’s possible to get my booster before I go away in August - seem to be restricting it to over 75’s or vulnerable here in Wales though.

[screwy]

Apparently it’s due to be rolled out in September for us spring chickens along with the flu jab.

[Stephen]

So what’s the criteria for getting the second booster, being old and decrepit like Merv or have certain underlying health conditions?

Well I wouldn’t say Merv is old and decrepit- I’m sure he’s younger than me (75 in September). I might see if it’s possible to get my booster before I go away in August - seem to be restricting it to over 75’s or vulnerable here in Wales though.

Someone's after a mention on his Saturday morning show

[Gill W]

So what’s the criteria for getting the second booster, being old and decrepit like Merv or have certain underlying health conditions?

Currently boosters are available for the over 75's and over 12's with weakened immune systems

In the autumn, the current guidance is that there will be a booster programme for care home residents, front line health workers, over 65's, and 16 - 64 in a clinical risk group. Nothing is planned for the majority of working age people and children

At the age of 62, I find this slightly disturbing. I can buy a flu jab if I want it, but currently there is no way I can get a Covid booster.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jcvi ... -programme

[david63]

Currently boosters are available for the over 75's and over 12's with weakened immune systems

That is not strictly correct as anyone who has had the first two jabs is entitled to a booster six months after the second jab.

The over 75s etc. only relates to the Spring booster, but also includes those invited by the NHS.

[Mervyn and Trish]

So what’s the criteria for getting the second booster, being old and decrepit like Merv or have certain underlying health conditions?

Well I wouldn’t say Merv is old and decrepit- I’m sure he’s younger than me (75 in September). I might see if it’s possible to get my booster before I go away in August - seem to be restricting it to over 75’s or vulnerable here in Wales though.

You're very kind, and half right. I'm not yet over 75, being a toy boy, but I am decrepit and classed as vulnerable following cancer treatment. So that's how I got my jab. Trish will be 75 in August, part way through our cruise, but she was allowed the jab too. I think there is a degree of discretion if you smile nicely.

[david63]

I think there is a degree of discretion

I suspect that as there are so few having jabs at the moment (it will pick up again in the autumn) anybody that turns up will probably get one as they will have the vaccine available and it only has a short life once out of storage - might as well make use of it rather than bin it!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Could well be true. Zero queue when we arrived and when we left.

[Stephen]

I might give our surgery a call this week and see what the status quo is.

I'll read off my medical conditions to them to see if I get a sympathy vote and qualify. They'll probably say, 'I wouldn't bother if I were you'

[david63]

I might give our surgery a call this week and see what the status quo is

Are they playing at your surgery?

If they are anything like mine they will not want to know.

[Stephen]

Sounds about right David.

[kaymar]

I might give our surgery a call this week and see what the status quo is

Are they playing at your surgery?

If they are anything like mine they will not want to know.

Whatever You Want?

[Stephen]

I might give our surgery a call this week and see what the status quo is

Are they playing at your surgery?

If they are anything like mine they will not want to know.

Whatever You Want?

[Manoverboard]

If you can't stand the heat ....

[Stephen]

If you can't stand the heat ....

Turn the heating off

[Ranchi]

I read today that P&O have cancelled the Pre embarkation tests for 5 Iona cruises starting the 25th june.!

Apparently it is a trial because she is only doing seven night cruises to Norway where Covid is not a major problem.

I think it’s less to do with levels in Norway and more to do with the duration of the cruise. Most passengers who become inflected on board will probably have disembarked before they have symptoms that would necessitate testing & isolation & therefore would not be a problem to manage on board.
We just returned from Ventura (the cruise that was to have been Suekersh’s second week) and have both now tested +ve. We arrived at Mayflower at the allotted time and were herded into a waiting area as boarding had been delayed due to a deep clean. Signs urged the maintenance of social distancing (not possible) and the wearing of masks (largely ignored.)
Theatre shows had to be booked as seating was limited. Passengers who had booked on My Cruise app were checked in by ents staff prior to the show starting. It was interesting to sit near the approaches to the theatre. I could imagine David Attenborough’s whispered tones ‘it’s now 8:33 and we see the migration forward of the herds of unbooked passengers moving in to watch the first house show.’ Not a whole lot of good putting a cap on show attendance and then failing to monitor it.
As Sue commented in her reports, coughing passengers became more noticeable towards the end of the week. We could see the isolation cabins (stbd side) from our cabin & only saw one person on a balcony there. If the cruise had gone on another week I guess more would have been occupied.
Deck games were limited only to competitions for most of the cruise (sanitise before & after) although equipment was available for social games from Thursday onwards (this was down to gastro outbreak from the previous week, apparently.)
Children’s club activities were curtailed somewhat, I understand.
The ship’s company wore masks throughout.
Despite picking up the bug & the weather only being fair, we had an enjoyable cruise. Oporto was a new port to us and was well with a visit. We have now failed three times in Guernsey…do we qualify for some kind of award?

[david63]

We have now failed three times in Guernsey…do we qualify for some kind of award?

Yes, you are entitled to one of Stephen's compo forms

[Stephen]

It's in the post as we speak.