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Had my invite, but how can I find out in advance which jab I'll be getting?

268 replies

PerspicaciousGreen · 22/02/2021 13:14

I got one of the new shielding letters last week moving me into group six for vaccines, and had my invite today. I've been offered a choice of two centres: one place a short walk away, one absolutely miles and miles away. Plenty of appointments next week, but no information other than an appointment time to select and an address.

I will only accept certain vaccines due to religious reasons, so I would like to find out what vaccine they are distributing at each centre before I book an appointment. The close one is an ex youth centre and I googled their phone number but no one answered - presumably because the office is closed.

I don't want to waste an appointment by booking and then having to find out it's the wrong one when I get there. I suppose I could walk past it and drop in, but that seems like madness covid-wise.

WWYD?

OP posts:
murbblurb · 22/02/2021 13:41

Two choices - take or leave.

NearlyAlwaysInsane · 22/02/2021 13:42

The issue as I understand it is that some of the vaccines (not Pfizer) were developed using cell lines from an aborted baby girl.

The Catholic Church has said to take the vaccines but it has not said that it agrees with the methods of development - just that it is a necessity at this time.

I think it is a matter of conscience, and people should be allowed to choose whether to have vaccines or not, and if there is a way of knowing what vaccine it is, then it's totally fine to choose between vaccines. I am not a doctor but I have a choice.

nordica · 22/02/2021 13:42

I thought all religious leaders have said the vaccines are fine to take, and have been vaccinated themselves too?

VinterKvinna · 22/02/2021 13:43

Religious reasons? How about wanting to live reasons??

ineedaholidaynow · 22/02/2021 13:44

What about not having your vaccine and pray you don't get ill or not infect anyone

x2boys · 22/02/2021 13:44

I had the Pfizer injection on Saturday ,we didn't get a choice they just said we are offering the Pfizer today ,they said they get what they are given ,incidentally my friend had the AZ vaccine on the same day at the same clinic ,but she has had severe allergic reactions to medications in the past and apparently the AZ vaccine has less allergens ,so they had her notes ,so they must have a small stock of both

Kitkat151 · 22/02/2021 13:46

Even if the centre has both ( which many hubs do) you don’t get to choose unless for medical reasons shown on your medical record.....you get to the front of the queue and are directed to the next available vaccinator and whatever they have is what you are given.

islockdownoveryet · 22/02/2021 13:48

I’m sorry I find it difficult to lack sympathy for ‘problems’ such as this .
You’ve been offered the vaccine - great
Choice of 2 centres 1 short walk away - great it’s a no brainier .
I will only accept certain vaccines due to religious - what reason ? a reason it may save your life or not. Most don’t know till you get there I didn’t and I’m not sure what difference it will make . Take what your given and be grateful so many others are still waiting .
Religious reasons take a back burner here I think when it’s health .

Sunshine1235 · 22/02/2021 13:49

OP I had a friend in the same situation, there is no way to know until you actual get there. Once she got there my friend found out it was the wrong one (sorry I’ve forgotten which is which) and explained the situation to the nurse, the nurse called the person in charge, she explained the situation again and they were completely fine with it. They said to rebook and try again but reiterated that there was no way of knowing so they might have to come in a few times until they got lucky. Ignore the posters above who are not interested in religious freedoms - in my friends case they were very understanding and respectful of her wishes. I hope you have the same experience

Kitkat151 · 22/02/2021 13:49

@NearlyAlwaysInsane

The issue as I understand it is that some of the vaccines (not Pfizer) were developed using cell lines from an aborted baby girl.

The Catholic Church has said to take the vaccines but it has not said that it agrees with the methods of development - just that it is a necessity at this time.

I think it is a matter of conscience, and people should be allowed to choose whether to have vaccines or not, and if there is a way of knowing what vaccine it is, then it's totally fine to choose between vaccines. I am not a doctor but I have a choice.

People should be able to choose whether or not to have the vaccine but not which vaccine they can have.....maybe later down the line.....when everyone is done.....or when it’s available privately....but not now....if you want it fine then you accept any.....if not you don’t get it.....end of
DishingOutDone · 22/02/2021 13:50

Why don't your call your GP surgery and ask the receptionist if they have any advice on what to do? My friend was worried about which vaccine she'd get so she did as I've suggested her and her GP rang her back to discuss it. Sorted out in a few minutes.

Inastatus · 22/02/2021 13:51

In answer to your ‘WWYD’ - I’d be very grateful to be offered either vaccine and take whatever I was given. I can’t believe that you are classed as shielding and yet are still prepared to turn down the ‘wrong’ vaccine!

trevthecat · 22/02/2021 13:53

@sunshine what a waste of an appointment though. And could waste so many more. Someone else, that is desperate for an appointment, could of had your friends. If you want the vaccine you should take what's available on the day. Like a pp said, further down the line, when everyone who wants it is done, then fine, have the choice but not right now

StopGo · 22/02/2021 13:54

I'm curious, what religions object to certain Covid vaccines and why.

I have anaphylactic allergies I had to book an appointment and turn up. They happened to be offering the AZ version but if not they would have had to rebook me.

NearlyAlwaysInsane · 22/02/2021 13:54

People should be able to choose whether or not to have the vaccine but not which vaccine they can have.....maybe later down the line.....when everyone is done.....or when it’s available privately....but not now....if you want it fine then you accept any.....if not you don’t get it.....end of

I have to disagree with this, this is not what the system is as other posters have noted you can call ahead and see if you can get the one you want already in lots of places. We don't live in a dictatorship, even though lots of people on these forums clearly wish they did!

Thoughtcontagion · 22/02/2021 13:54

I had a link too book mine, when I got to the centre was a GP hub they had both I was offered Pfizer one, discussed it as I have allergies, was then offered AZ if I wanted was told my choice, advised me to have Pfizer one for various reasons so I took that one as my allergies made no difference, was grateful to be offered it as I am unpaid carer, live with an elderly person who is CEV and work in a school

StarlightandSunlight · 22/02/2021 13:56

@StopGo presumably it's due to the fetal cell line used in the development of certain vaccines like the Oxford one. I'm still seeing people, incorrectly, same about the vaccine containing aborted fetus cells in the actual jab too

YesItsMeIDontCare · 22/02/2021 13:57

My invitation to book told me which vaccine I'd be having. I thought it was helpful 'cause it's given me the opportunity to check out potential side effects.

I didn't realise this wasn't normal.

MRex · 22/02/2021 13:57

@ineedaholidaynow

Haven't they confirmed there is no pig related substance in the vaccines. There are quite a few myths going round like they contain pork etc peddled by some unscrupulous religious leaders.
No religious leader has done this that I'm aware of, unless you count Iran stating no vaccine should come from the UK nor USA, but they still plan on taking other vaccines.

Online trolls peddling conspiracy theories have particularly targeted some groups e.g. British Pakistanis. The people doing that obviously don't have that community's interests in mind. Local religious leaders from the British Pakistani community do have that community's interests in mind and are therefore very pro vaccine:www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/22/uk-imams-mobilise-to-counter-covid-19-vaccine-disinformation. None of the currently approved vaccines (Oxford AZ, Pfizer, Moderns) contain animal derivatives, and stamps of approval have come from the British Islamic Medical Association, the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America and the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia.

PerspicaciousGreen · 22/02/2021 14:07

Wow, I didn't realise a simple practical question was going to turn into a referendum on my entire life. Thanks to those who have let me know that the centres don't know what they're going to get until the vaccines arrive. I guess I'll just have to book an appointment and hope I get lucky and go home again if not. Shame if I had to waste an appointment someone else could have had, but there you go.

I'm perfectly aware of Catholic teaching on the matter. It's actually not "Hey, man, we're saving lives here, it's all cool." The media almost never reports anything to do with the Pope accurately, fyi, and Catholicism really isn't about just doing everything the Pope does. I really don't want this thread to turn into a pile on of people who don't have the same beliefs about the sanctity of life that I do calling me an idiot.

In brief, the Catholic Church teaches that vaccines are a matter for your individual conscience, and you are to weigh up the bad (e.g. the vaccine's relationship however close or far with abortion) with the good (e.g. the good to society). Quote from link below:

"there is a grave responsibility to use alternative vaccines and to make a conscientious objection with regard to those which have moral problems" - there is an alternative vaccine (Pfizer/Moderna vs AstraZeneca/Oxford), and I would like to exercise my right to have that one, and I'm quite happy to accept some cost to myself to do so.

I am very low risk (apart from one time having very mild GD which has put my in group 6 almost on a technicality), don't work, not planning to go to any football matches or warehouse acid raves in the near future. I totally agree that "like everyone else you are expected to have whatever is there on the day" ... or not have it. I really don't know what you imagine I would do other than just say "Oh well" and go home? Until they send the army round to strap me down and forcibly inject me (JOKE!) I've always got the choice to not have it. I don't expect anyone to a seamless equivalent service to all regardless of religious position wrt available medications , I just (wrongly) assumed that different centres would be allocated different kinds of vaccine and I'd be able to find out in advance. I'm quite happy to personally deal with the consequences of not having it or having to wait.

For those actually interested, I think this link that @RoseAndRose posted above is great: www.immunize.org/talking-about-vaccines/vaticandocument.htm This video is also good, although a little out of date: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeScAapnPGE&ab_channel=BreakingInTheHabit

Anyone who thinks they know more than I do about my own personal beliefs can, I guess, answer their own further questions, as they know so much and official Catholic teaching (in all its nuances) is widely available.

OP posts:
DavidsSchitt · 22/02/2021 14:07

"I would say larger centres are more likely to use Pfizer than small ones"

Not in my area. It's the opposite here.

Why would it seem like "madness" to pass by the one within walking distance and ask them which they are giving out at the moment?

pommedeterre · 22/02/2021 14:11

I was so happy to get mine! I got AZ but wouldn't have cared. I find this so... odd, entitled, selfish. Could go on.

I hope vaccine passports are introduced. We owe it to each other as cogs in society to take these vaccines. If you don't take it you sit outside society imho. End of.

Derbee · 22/02/2021 14:14

This reply has been deleted

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Hadjab · 22/02/2021 14:15

@PerspicaciousGreen

I got one of the new shielding letters last week moving me into group six for vaccines, and had my invite today. I've been offered a choice of two centres: one place a short walk away, one absolutely miles and miles away. Plenty of appointments next week, but no information other than an appointment time to select and an address.

I will only accept certain vaccines due to religious reasons, so I would like to find out what vaccine they are distributing at each centre before I book an appointment. The close one is an ex youth centre and I googled their phone number but no one answered - presumably because the office is closed.

I don't want to waste an appointment by booking and then having to find out it's the wrong one when I get there. I suppose I could walk past it and drop in, but that seems like madness covid-wise.

WWYD?

I don’t know if it’s the same in your area, but the main vaccination centres here are offering Pfizer, with chemists offering AZ - you can pick as long as. You register through your surgery.
needanewhoover · 22/02/2021 14:17

@PerspicaciousGreen my parents were told prior to the appointment. So just call and ask?

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