Where is Pfizer vaccine available ?

[R2221]

Hello all,
My elderly uncle will soon be returning home abroad. They only have Pfizer vaccines there. He'd like to get his first dose in the UK before travelling.
Does anyone know where he can specifically get a Pfizer vaccine?

Has he been called to get a vaccine yet? There is no harm in asking which vaccine his local hub is distributing - when they call him to get the vaccine - and explain why he’d need the Pfizer, but I don’t think you can choose. Depends where he’s based too.

Why can’t he fly home and have both of his doses there, does he already qualify for the vaccine back home?

Why should he get a vaccination in the U.K. if he doesn’t live here?

I don't think you get to choose; unless you have a contraindication to one type or the other.

My FIL and MIL live together and my FIL had Oxford, MIL had Pfizer. DH is group 6 and the info from his GP is that he'll get whichever vaccine is available when he's called, and they can't take requests for a specific type.

Has he checked that he'll be registered to get his second at home if he has his first here? I've heard of that being an issue in some places in Europe, where they're organising things differently to us, although I don't have any direct 1:1 experience, just friends parents.

If his "home" is abroad then he shouldn't be getting the vaccine here.

Why should he get it here? Is he even registered with a GP

You get it when you're eligible as per the priority groups list. There's no option to request it or pay for it. So I'm afraid I don't think he'll be able to get it here if he lives abroad.

Most vaccination hubs are giving the Oxford vaccine. It's mainly due to a fear of supply issues with the Pfizer vaccine. It's only if the GP has identified a reason not to have the Oxford one, that Pfizer is being given, or that the vaccines would go to waste because they've been stored at the dosing level.

"Why should he get it here"

Because it is cheaper for the NHS to vaccinate everyone vulnerable than have them in hospital, UK permanent resident or not. You pay a fee as a non resident to cover your use of the NHS.

OP, this is something that you'd have to ask a GP about.

For those of you who are aggrieved at him having his vaccine here, the more people who are immunised the better, wherever they are from ffs

Wow, what a very "little englander" set of responses! Is it "our" vaccine for "our" people then?

Op I don't think anywhere is stating for certain, it is what you get on the day. However I understand research into combining/crossing brands is looking good so may not be an issue? If he is really concerned to have both the same might it be worth him holding out until he returns or going a bit earlier perhaps?

@Bufferingkisses

Wow, what a very "little englander" set of responses! Is it "our" vaccine for "our" people then?

Op I don't think anywhere is stating for certain, it is what you get on the day. However I understand research into combining/crossing brands is looking good so may not be an issue? If he is really concerned to have both the same might it be worth him holding out until he returns or going a bit earlier perhaps?

Not at all. I want as many people as possible everywhere to be vaccinated. But the OP asked how her uncle could get this particular vaccine here and the answer is, unless there's key information missing, that he won't be able to as the system is not set up to give it to him and there are no work arounds. Fortunately it's available in his home country. Some poor souls don't even have the prospect of that.

Depends where you live

In my hospital we are doing the Pfizer one.

On another thread it seemed to suggest that now that people are getting onto their second doses, the booking system does allow a person to select which vaccine they need.

Obviously this is only hearsay and plenty of people on that thread didn't believe it. But it makes sense to me now people are booking their second dose appointments to enable people to select which vaccine they need based on which one they had before.

If your uncle registers with a GP and he is in one of the eligible groups (sounds like he is based on age) then they will need to record the fact he has had one dose already and enable him to book for his second dose.

@TheSultanofPingu and @Bufferingkisses - hardly unreasonable to want yourself and your (UK tax paying) family to have the vaccine before non-residents who by definition have not paid into the system

@R2221: why is he not having this vaccine in home country under their prioritisation?

@Rosehip10

If his "home" is abroad then he shouldn't be getting the vaccine here.

Fortunately the government disagrees with you and everyone else who thinks that the vaccines belong to "us". It has been made clear that everyone in the UK, whether here legally or not, whether resident here or not, is entitled to the vaccine. These vaccines are the result of a global research and development effort, and they do not beong to any nation. But I bet you were screaming loudly when the EU suggested that they wanted to keep their vaccines, manufactured in their countries, which were destined for the UK?

One might have hoped that a global pandemic of this magnitude might have made us just a little more tolerant and open handed. Glad to see that it's plus ca change ....

@Moondust001 - nope, just want my own family vaccinated with the funds I’ve paid into the system, much like most other people I imagine...

There’s open handed, and there’s giving an invite to free loaders 🤔

[quote 10kaDay]**@TheSultanofPingu* and @Bufferingkisses* - hardly unreasonable to want yourself and your (UK tax paying) family to have the vaccine before non-residents who by definition have not paid into the system

@R2221: why is he not having this vaccine in home country under their prioritisation?[/quote]
It's a bloody vaccine!
A vaccine for a virus that is running rampant around the world. The more people who have the vaccine the better, whichever country they live in.

@Ponoka7

Most vaccination hubs are giving the Oxford vaccine. It's mainly due to a fear of supply issues with the Pfizer vaccine. It's only if the GP has identified a reason not to have the Oxford one, that Pfizer is being given, or that the vaccines would go to waste because they've been stored at the dosing level.

This is complete and utter nonsense. Why do people come on here just to make stuff up. There is no concern with the Pfizer supply and they are fully expecting to get all doses ordered on the timescale expected apart from a couple of weeks at the end of January due to upgrading of facilities. Both vaccines are currently being used and you are sometimes given the choice.

@TheSultanofPingu: why should NHS services be free for non UK residents?

Other countries do not offer this (US, now the EU).

If he’s eligible for it on the NHS when his priority group is called I’m sure he’ll be able to call the booking line to discuss this and get it sorted but if he’s not eligible to be vaccinated by the NHS then it’s not possible to get the vaccination privately at present.

It will depend on where he registers with a gp*. Choice isn't guaranteed. It is more likely in some places, specific venues than others.

Unless there is specific advice for ex pats returning, in which case he needs to follow that, and choice still won't be guaranteed.

10KaDay can I please make it clear that I was quoting someone and do not share that feeling.

Oh ignore me I misunderstood.

It was you I was quoting and I disagree with you

My part of the SE is doing Pfizer.