Swiftqueue: how did the booking site allow Covid vaccination ‘queue-jumping’ by non-priority groups?

Swiftqueue booking site allowed Covid vaccine ‘queue-jumping’

While coronavirus vaccinations have faced setbacks in some areas of the country due to delayed deliveries, the booking system using letters has proved largely successful in managing a mass rollout.

However, a loophole in the use of booking site Swiftqueue has resulted in ineligible NHS patients being able to book appointments to receive the vaccine, without asking for an NHS number, which should only be offered to over 70s and frontline healthcare workers.

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As the Government works to roll out the most comprehensive and large-scale vaccination programme ever undertaken, setbacks risk further extensions to lockdown.

Pharmacists and healthcare workers have been rolling out the vaccine to eligible patients (Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Pharmacists and healthcare workers have been rolling out the vaccine to eligible patients (Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Pharmacists and healthcare workers have been rolling out the vaccine to eligible patients (Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

What is Swiftqueue?

The Swiftqueue website is a booking platform which clinics and GP practices can use to enable patients to book and cancel appointments.

It is designed to enable greater communication and efficiency for patients.

The site has been used by NHS patients to view and book available coronavirus booking slots at some GP surgeries and Covid vaccination centres.

How have people managed to skip the queue?

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The link to the booking site was initially shared with those who are eligible, but was then shared more widely on WhatsApp and social media.

The online platform did not create a questionnaire to determine who was booking vaccination appointments - resulting in anyone being able to book.

One message does appear prior to booking, which asks patients to confirm information about pregnancy and allergies.

The message states:

“Before proceeding please confirm:

- That you have never had a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food resulting in anaphylaxis or hospital admission.

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- You are not pregnant, planning to get pregnant in the next 2 months.

- You are not breastfeeding

- You have not had other vaccinations in the last 7 days.”

However, only those aged 70 and over and frontline health and social care workers are currently eligible for the vaccine and should only book an appointment once they have received a letter asking them to do so by an NHS practice.

This is in line with the priority list created by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) - an independent expert advisory committee.

Who has skipped the queue?

People in two council areas have been booking vaccinations they were not entitled to.

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Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council have had incidents reported. They addressed this in a joint letter which states they have “significant amounts of vaccine”.

Some nursery and school teachers have been using the site, according to The Telegraph.

Despite being classed as key workers, teaching and early years staff are not yet entitled to receive a vaccination.

The statement, released jointly by both councils following concerns of ineligible teaching staff being vaccinated, stated: “Our top priority is to ensure the vaccine is offered to those who are most vulnerable.

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“In line with JCVI national priorities, this includes residents of care homes, the over-80s and those providing frontline health and social care.

“By offering to these groups, we are following the national guidelines and Cambridgeshire County Council, Peterborough City Council and the local NHS are working hard to ensure these groups receive their jabs and not a drop of vaccine is wasted.

“As part of this work, other groups on the national priority list levels three and four are beginning to be invited to come forward for vaccinations.

“Today (Wednesday), we have clarified to schools and early years settings across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that at this stage, the eligibility for the vaccine will only include staff who provide personal care and support.”

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It has also been claimed that queue skipping has taken place in London and Nottinghamshire.

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.”

What could the repercussions of this be?

Although all over 50s and extremely vulnerable individuals should have received the vaccine by mid-May, the vaccination of people who are not yet being considered eligible could cause delays to the completion of the process.

If doses of vaccine are used for the wrong groups, the amount supplied for each cohort of vaccinations will not reach everyone in that group. Therefore, this could lead to postponed start dates for the next vaccination priority group.

As such, this could lead to lockdown lasting longer, as the Government deem the vaccine as the essential tool to create mass immunity to the virus among the most vulnerable.