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Cyclist refused entry for COVID jab – because facility was drive-through only

John Cooper said letter inviting him to have vaccine at Carmarthen Showground made no mention of restrictions

A Carmarthenshire man has revealed he was refused admission to the site where he was due to have his coronavirus vaccination – because he arrived by bike, and was told it was a drive-through facility only open to motorists.

John Cooper said that there was nothing in the appointment letter to suggest that people not arriving at the facility at Carmarthen Showground would be turned away if they were not in motor vehicles, reports Wales Online.

The 61 year old had ridden his bike from his home in Ammanford to Swansea railway station, a distance of at least 16 miles, before taking a train to Carmarthen and completing his journey to his appointment by bike.

When he arrived, however, he was told by security staff that he could not be admitted, because it was a drive-through facility.

But there was no mention of any such restriction in the letter offering him an appointment, with Mr Cooper saying: “Why didn't it say in my letter of invitation that this was a drive-thru facility? Of course then I would have phoned the number given and rearranged the appointment.

“They do say in this letter you can phone up if you have particular needs or if the time isn't convenient for you, but no mention at all of the drive-thru.”

It was suggested that Mr Cooper phone for a taxi, which would enable him to enter the site.

He said: “I was a bit cross and one of the bouncers suggested I should go back out of the entry to the showground and call a taxi and then I could drive back through in a taxi.

“I was just in bewilderment. What is safe about me booking a taxi and then sitting for half an hour with a taxi driver? There was no bending of the rules letting you cycle through, but there was that daft suggestion of booking a taxi, so I made my way back to Swansea.

“Then when I got back home of course I had to call that number on the letter to rearrange my appointment,” said Mr Cooper, who subsequently had his first jab before Easter in a walk-through facility in Llanelli.

A spokesman from Hywel Dda University Health Board told Wales Online: “We are very sorry to read about Mr Cooper's experience at our Carmarthenshire Showground site.

“We have seven mass vaccination sites across Hywel Dda, and for operational efficiency and to provide as many options as possible to access the vaccine, our the showground site is managed as a drive through.

“All other sites can be accessed on foot. All letters for the Covid-19 vaccine programme in Hywel Dda UHB are generated centrally.

“We are looking urgently into ensuring that we do everything we can to make these clearer in terms of local services going forward,” the spokesman added.

“We do offer transport for anyone requiring this to access our mass vaccination site, and you can access transport to get to and from a mass vaccination sites through our Covid enquiries line on 0300 303 8322.”

Mr Cooper learnt that he had not been the only person turned away from the Carmarthenshire site because of not arriving in a car.

He said: "The bouncers said to me they'd had to turn away various people for walking in, presumably they were walking in from the local area.

“The real problem was simply that there was no mention of this on the letter, because of that you'd think there might be a courtesy car or something for people coming down without cars.

“I think it could also be an issue for people who can't afford cars, who go all the way down there not knowing they need one to be vaccinated,” he added.

If you have not yet had your first vaccination and are planning on walking or cycling  to your appointment, it may be worth checking that no similar restrictions apply on access.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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34 comments

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qwerty360 | 2 years ago
3 likes

The only access that should be assumable is pedestrian (which is also most universal, using legal definitions (e.g. wheelchair is pedestrian)

Vehicle access isn't necessary (though might be desirable) as you could park nearby and walk to pedestrian access... All drivers can become pedestrians (allowing for legal definition including mobility aids)

 

I have a big problem with council services that don't have pedestrian access (e.g. officially my local recycling centre. I can vaguely accept forbidding bicycles (therefore requiring they dismount and use pedestrian access), but forbidding pedestrians on safety grounds is insane - Everyone parks up then walks around, so how can it be more dangerous to arrive on foot and walk around!?!)

 

I can accept there may be reasons why you want a drive through centre (each car is a socially distanced bubble that someone can rest in for locations where you don't have suitable structures, but want to get extra facilities) but you need to CLEARLY document this. It needs to be big bold font because you aren't providing universal access...

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andystow replied to qwerty360 | 2 years ago
1 like

Plus if you have room for people to queue in cars, essentially 15-25 feet apart, you have room for three times as many to queue standing six feet apart.

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markieteeee | 2 years ago
1 like

When I had my jab, someone ahead of me came out and immediately put on a cycle helmet. They advised him to sit down for x minutes (didn't hear how many) as some people have a reaction and it was best to make sure before you put yourself on the road.  I was going to do this anyway as in the past I'd had a vasovagal episode after a flu jab, passing out about 15 minutes later.   Do they advise each motorist to sit in the car for half an hour to make sure?  I realise that this reaction is rare but passing out while driving could have serious consequences. I presume they give clear safety first instructions but the thought of forcing people to drive to a vaccination doesn't sit easily.

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hawkinspeter replied to markieteeee | 2 years ago
2 likes

markieteeee wrote:

When I had my jab, someone ahead of me came out and immediately put on a cycle helmet. They advised him to sit down for x minutes (didn't hear how many) as some people have a reaction and it was best to make sure before you put yourself on the road.  I was going to do this anyway as in the past I'd had a vasovagal episode after a flu jab, passing out about 15 minutes later.   Do they advise each motorist to sit in the car for half an hour to make sure?  I realise that this reaction is rare but passing out while driving could have serious consequences. I presume they give clear safety first instructions but the thought of forcing people to drive to a vaccination doesn't sit easily.

When I got my jab, they asked whether I'd driven as that'd mean that I should wait 15 minutes (there was a waiting room for the purpose), but as I'd walked they let me go. As I understand it, any injection has the risks of an adverse reaction so it's not related to this particular jab.

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markieteeee replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
1 like

This is as I hoped HP,  so reassuring to know. So presumbly there is a post-vaccination waiting area for cars. 

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Steve K replied to markieteeee | 2 years ago
1 like

Where I had my jab, there was an after jab waiting area for people to sit for 15 minutes if they had driven. I'd cycled, and they advised me to do the same (I did).

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brooksby replied to markieteeee | 2 years ago
1 like

When I had mine, you had to wait in these perspex cubicles ahead of being taken out to be jabbed.

Afterwards, the woman was going to lead me back there to wait for fifteen minutes; I asked if that was necessary, said I felt fine, and she said to just go on then.

(I was on foot; had walked down before going into the office).

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markieteeee replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
0 likes

All of us commenting were advised to wait. But none of us drove. Does anyone know anyone who got vaccinated at a drive-through only place? I'm curious how it works now.

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Hirsute replied to markieteeee | 2 years ago
0 likes

All the places offered to me within about 20 miles were hospitals, large GPs or reconfigured sports complexes.

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Joeinpoole | 2 years ago
0 likes

It is clearly an absurd situation but considering that the cheapest return train fare between Swansea and Carmarthen is £11 and the journey takes about 50 mins each way (plus over 30 miles cycling) I think Mr Cooper might have been wiser to take the option of a local taxi to get his jab. It would probably have cost less than a fiver in my area.

I can hardly believe that Mr Cooper returned home un-jabbed after what was probably at least a 5-hour return trip and £11 out of pocket. Was the 'appointment' on 1st April by any chance?

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Joeinpoole | 2 years ago
0 likes

On looking at where all the places are, I'm surprised he didn't just cycle directly to Carmarthen anyway rather then to Swansea first. 21 miles instead of 16 of which two of the extra is the distance he would have had to cycle from the train station to the showground anyway. And if it was because he wasn't sure on the side effects, he could have still taken the train back. Anyway ifs, buts and maybes, still shitty not to alert it was drive through only. 

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Eynsham replied to Joeinpoole | 2 years ago
0 likes

If you look at a map, you will see that there aren't a lot of big towns closer to Mr Cooper than Swansea.  And a taxi from Ammanford to Carmarthen and back would have been a lot more than £11.

I expect there possibly is a bus to Carmarthen from Ammanford, but he would still have been in the same position as taking his bike.

Still, it is his own fault for living in the countryside and not driving.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Eynsham | 2 years ago
0 likes

Eynsham wrote:

If you look at a map, you will see that there aren't a lot of big towns closer to Mr Cooper than Swansea.  And a taxi from Ammanford to Carmarthen and back would have been a lot more than £11.

I think the OP was talking about taking up the suggestion of paying for a taxi to come to the showgrounds that the "bouncer" mentioned to Mr Cooper, not getting one from Ammanford. 

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VIPcyclist | 2 years ago
3 likes

I wonder if any motorbikers have been turned away?

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Hirsute | 2 years ago
4 likes

Comments in the Wales online are a little worrying.

Some normal cycle bashing

"On yer bike son. Good these people are nuisances anyway clogging up our roads and dressed as if they’re the next Geraint Thomas. "

but

"Its like these footballers playing football in football kits Who do they think they are Ronaldo"

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bj9k replied to Hirsute | 2 years ago
4 likes

What about all the football supporters turning up at a match in the team kit? They're not even playing.

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zero_trooper | 2 years ago
5 likes

I went to get tested at a pop-up facility at a local sports club. The NHS website clearly said drive-in or pedestrian access. By 'local' I mean 1/4 mile away, so I walked. No surprise that I was the only pedestrian as the weather wasn't great. However, I was made to stand in a parking bay, like I had arrived in my imaginary car, for 5 mins until I was allowed into the clubhouse for the test procedure. All the car users were tested in situ.

Slightly off topic, but I also volunteer at a council run COVID testing centre. We can claim 'mileage'. Car users can claim twice as much per mile as their eco-friendly, health boosting, non-polluting, bike using colleagues…

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ooldbaker replied to zero_trooper | 2 years ago
3 likes

zero_trooper wrote:

Slightly off topic, but I also volunteer at a council run COVID testing centre. We can claim 'mileage'. Car users can claim twice as much per mile as their eco-friendly, health boosting, non-polluting, bike using colleagues…

The "approved amount" allowed to be paid by an employer before a benefit is deemed to be arrived at by HMRC is 45p for cars 20p for bikes. It looks as if the NHS has taken rates from there. In reality it is very difficult for one branch of government to pay an amount other than the one, another branch has deemed "fair". Personally I think that rate, if that is what you were paid, is pretty fair and perhaps more generous to cyclists than drivers.

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zero_trooper replied to ooldbaker | 2 years ago
0 likes

Thank you for that explanation. You're quite correct re the figures, just that I presume that it's the County Council that has taken HMRC's lead and not the NHS.

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MarkiMark | 2 years ago
5 likes

Wouldn't the most obvious solution have been to just let him queue with the cars, get his jab, leave. Not sure what the issue was for the site. Bonkers. If he was in a toy pedal car would that have been OK? Is a Reliant Robin enough of a car or would it be turned away for being one wheel short of a Focus? 

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Titanus | 2 years ago
4 likes

This is one of the biggest things that grips my shit. Fuck health and fuck safety, just give him the jab. Telling him to leave and come back in a taxi is unbelievably stupid. It's that politically correct shit doing it's thing again. Unless anybody has a better idea then the best way to fight against this is by way of violence and bloodshed. When health and safety gets to the point it incites anger and violence (I.E becomes dangerous) it will go away. It may take a while but the only other alternative would be to acquiesce to it which defintitley wont make it go away. Or solve any other problems.

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andystow replied to Titanus | 2 years ago
7 likes

But if you let one person do it, then everyone will expect to be able to show up on a bicycle and get a jab. Chaos! Madness! Think of the children!

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mdavidford | 2 years ago
7 likes

Quote:

there was nothing in the appointment letter to suggest that people not arriving at the facility at Carmarthen Showground would be turned away

I'd be surprised if anyone not arriving was turned away...

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
1 like

Surprised you didn't pick up on the fact that at any other vaccination place, they are volunteers providing guidance and ensuring a smooth flow but at this place they are "bouncers". 

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mdavidford replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
7 likes

Well, yes, I did have a little smirk to myself at the idea of Vaccine Bouncers, and wondered if there was a 'VIP entrance' where they let all their mates in to jump the queue.

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andystow replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
3 likes

...and attractive women.

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Captain Badger replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
3 likes

mdavidford wrote:

Well, yes, I did have a little smirk to myself at the idea of Vaccine Bouncers, and wondered if there was a 'VIP entrance' where they let all their mates in to jump the queue.

Slip 'em a fiver and they'll let you in. Just make sure that you are obeying the dress code - no trainers!

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brooksby | 2 years ago
10 likes

Quote:

“We have seven mass vaccination sites across Hywel Dda, and for operational efficiency and to provide as many options as possible to access the vaccine, our the showground site is managed as a drive through.

I think they're missing the point.

The point is not that they decided to manage the site as drive-through; the point is that they didn't feel the need to mention it to anyone (presumptions of non-active - inactive? - travel...).

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
1 like

Yep, they mention the letters are centrally generated but surely it is not hard to add the words "Drive through only" to any linked to the only site like that if they aren't allowing any other provision. 

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nikkispoke replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
1 like

I think the point should be to ensure you have a facility that all can reach it is not difficult to arrange a safe passage for pedestrians or cyclists. I assume when they say a drive through that it was not a requirement to hold your arm out of the window whilst some one administered the injection ? Otherwise the driver has to exit their vehicle and walk into a building it is just lazy and wrong thinking by Hywel Dda University Health Board. 

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