GP has no appointments for babies first vaccine

[Poniesandgin]

Sorry posting here for traffic.

Baby is 8 weeks old. I have tried multiple times to book in for the first vaccinations but was told no and that I had to wait until she was 8 weeks to make the appointment.

Now she is 8 weeks they don’t have any appointments until she is 10 weeks meaning the vaccine is 2 weeks late.

So does this mean my baby is more at risk by waiting? Surely if the NHS guideline is 8 weeks then that’s when it should be done

As far as I know, there are no major issues with waiting a couple of weeks but it will mean her subsequent vaccinations will also need to be two weeks later (eg. 12 weeks vaccinations will now be at 14 weeks) But I would be annoyed they don’t have any space. Our surgery book them automatically as long as baby is registered at the surgery. My DS did have two of his a week late though as we were on holiday. All fine.

I wouldn’t mind but I am worried about the declining immunity from 8 weeks, surely when the guidelines were published they were so for a reason!
I can understand having to wait due to illness etc which cannot be avoided but surely vaccinating babies with no immunity should be a priority especially at the moment.

There’s not much I can do other than worry I suppose

I don’t think a couple of weeks will make that much difference for routine childhood immunisations. A bit frustrating, but I think your baby will be fine.

Seems a strange way of booking appointments, we book ours in advance so they're done on time. But there you go. Baby should be having an 8 week check with a GP too. Is that sorted?
Waiting an extra couple of weeks isn't ideal but no huge issue. Our clinics are rammed, staff have left, I haven't an appointment at all now for a month.
Practice nurse.

It shouldn't cause any problems but you could look into having them done privately if you'd prefer them to be done now

Luckily I’ve never really needed a doctor for myself but waiting to see babies seems a bit rubbish. God knows what they are not picking up on by not seeing routine appointments.

No I haven’t been offered a check for the baby at 8 weeks and I wasn’t offered a 6 week postnatal check either.

So basically since birth I’ve seen a midwife once, 2 days after birth and then a health visitor at 10 days…now nothing until 10 weeks!

I do feel a bit more reassured from this thread to thankyou to you all. Still annoying though!

I think waiting 2 weeks will be fine but I completely understand your frustration. Yes again babies are being pushed right to the bottom of the pile. I have no problem with pregnant women attending appointments and scans on their own- i had to and I understood why. I don't even mind fathers only being allowed in the delivery room during active labour. And I understand why maternity wards wouldn't want any outside visitors in them. But I can't understand why when so much is still allowed to go ahead health visitors are cancelling visits and drop ins, babies can't get gp appointments and vaccines, midwives are reducing home visits to new mothers and support groups are still shut down. My 18 month old has never seen a health visited bar her 6 week check. She's my 2nd so I'm far more relaxed and confident this time but I found the weekly weigh ins so helpful with my first and my recovery was helped too.
Anyway rant over, hope she gets seen soon 😊

@Ididanamechange it’s getting worse isn’t it!
I can’t imagine how many mothers must be struggling and not able to access the correct care.

For me this is also DC2 so I’m also more relaxed although I do feel the vaccinations are so important, what happens if my baby does become ill with a preventative disease in the next 2 weeks while I wait?

@Poniesandgin

Luckily I’ve never really needed a doctor for myself but waiting to see babies seems a bit rubbish. God knows what they are not picking up on by not seeing routine appointments.

No I haven’t been offered a check for the baby at 8 weeks and I wasn’t offered a 6 week postnatal check either.

So basically since birth I’ve seen a midwife once, 2 days after birth and then a health visitor at 10 days…now nothing until 10 weeks!

I do feel a bit more reassured from this thread to thankyou to you all. Still annoying though!

That is such a terrible service!!! My baby is 15 weeks and I saw my midwife post natally at home twice a week for 2 weeks, then Health Visitor at 2 weeks, and 6 weeks. Awaiting an appointment now for 3/4 month check. I saw GP at 7 weeks for us both, and vaccines booked by infant immunisation team at 8 and 12 weeks and next week at 16 weeks.

I would be getting in touch with your Health Visitor asap. They should be making sure you're meeting milestones and getting vaccinations on time. I certainly wouldn't be happy having immunisations delayed. Are you in the UK? No wonder awful things are happening to kids when no one is seeing families. Absolutely shocking.

It's completely fine and not unusual. My youngest's were delayed by about 3 weeks and this was years before COVID. Doesn't make any difference. Unfortunately, at the moment, appointments for routine vaccinations are hard to come by (both of my dc have had their flu spray appointments cancelled) because nurses are needed for the booster drive and are being redeployed.

You need to have your 6 week check as a mother (most practices are combining this with 8 week baby jab appointments). I’d call your GP practice and ask for that appointment. Even if you feel you don’t need it, it’s a very important appointment to check you are ok and recovering well. Sometimes things are picked up that you may have been unaware of

I am in the north of the UK.

I did want to see a GP for the 6 week check as I’m sure I have diastasis recti and wanted fo discuss this but there’s no appointments for one.

Again the baby hasn’t had her 6-8 week check either, I’m pretty medically savvy and don’t think there’s anything wrong but I’m not a doctor.

I will contact my health visitor, not that I’ve seen her either!!

As soon as I was ready to leave the hospital they kept reminding me to book my 6 week check with the GP, you don't just get an appointment, you should have rang them and booked it when you had the baby

@Poniesandgin

I am in the north of the UK.

I did want to see a GP for the 6 week check as I’m sure I have diastasis recti and wanted fo discuss this but there’s no appointments for one.

Again the baby hasn’t had her 6-8 week check either, I’m pretty medically savvy and don’t think there’s anything wrong but I’m not a doctor.

I will contact my health visitor, not that I’ve seen her either!!

Are you in the North West, in a town beginning with M? My sister has recently had a baby and her GP surgery has been exactly the same. Surely this can't be that common?

I did my babies vaccinations later by choice and my gp said it was absolutely fine

@OhNoWhatYouGonnaDo no im north east but i bet it’s becoming more common!

When I left hospital I was told I would be booked in for the baby check by my doctor, and im sure with DC1 they sent me a letter with the appointment unless it’s changed

Ask the surgery if there are any problems with having the vaccines 2 weeks later, in case there is any of them you might prefer to arrange privately.

There is one vaccine (rotavirus) that my baby was refused because, at I think it was 3 months, the nurse said my baby was too old for the vaccine to be effective. (My baby wasn't able to have it earlier because the NHS had only just introduced it).

All of DD2s vaccinations were delayed first due to an admin error then due to her being ill (completely unrelated illness!). Its more the earliest they can be done, not the latest.

YANBU to annoyed at them though.

I'd not be worried about the vaccination delay too much, but I'd be cross about the 6 week post natal check. I'd ring again and ask to speak to the practice manager.

Back in the good old days HV’s vaccinated babies.

Thanks all.

The nice guidelines state that vaccination should be given to babies at 8 weeks and that they should be checked by a GP for heart defects by 8 weeks also.

I just don’t think it’s right they can refuse to do it until 2 weeks after this date. I can understand that some parents have chosen to do it later and I’m all for personal choice but I think for those wanting to stick to the guidelines then it should be made a priority!

Does it have to be a gp, not a nurse or nurse practitioner? Have you tried your hv to see where community clinics may be taking place.

@Poniesandgin

Thanks all.

The nice guidelines state that vaccination should be given to babies at 8 weeks and that they should be checked by a GP for heart defects by 8 weeks also.

I just don’t think it’s right they can refuse to do it until 2 weeks after this date. I can understand that some parents have chosen to do it later and I’m all for personal choice but I think for those wanting to stick to the guidelines then it should be made a priority!

Practice Nurse here. Your baby's vaccs should not be delayed. 8 weeks is chosen for a reason. Ring the surgery and insist on being seen

My baby had his at 9 wks and 3 days. He's completely fine. Although it did annoy me.

I can see why you are annoyed but it happens a lot. I think the thing is that the diseases vaccinated against aren't really circulating much due "herd immunity" (to use a much hated phrase). We vaccinate babies to maintain this rather than strictly on schedule for individual protection - the protection is already there through almost everyone else being vaccinated.