2nd dose- practicalities around booking and getting done within 12 week window

[WombatChocolate]

Hi.

I know lots of people:booking on the national booking site book both doses and locations at once....all good.

My question is about those who largely booked via GP services and could only book the first dose. We are told to wait to be contacted around 11-12 weeks for 2nd appointment. My question is about how that will work to ensure enough felexibility to make sure all get their 2nd jab within the timeframe window.

So, for example, some will be offered their 2nd jab for the following week and probably not book immediately or some will miss their appointment. They need to be followed up to not go outside the 12 week window presumably and does this have knock-on impacts to all those who need it a week later?

I’m just wondering if it’s all too tight...what if for example, later on someone goes on a UK based holiday and the only gets 3-4 days notice to book to a local hub....they might not manage to fit it in and it will have knock-on effects. Presumably, there is less flexibility about exactly when people will be done with the 2nd as it has to be related to first date and determined by that?

I know the government has it all under control and the logistical job of getting this stuff out to the right places and co-ordinating the system is absolutely amazing. However on a more individual basis, info hasn’t always been up to date or available via national systems and sites and MN has become a huge source of more up to date info gleaned from lots of people’s local and national booking experiences.

I know we are a bit far off from most people needing their 2nd jab (and realise most are still waiting for 1st and mind find discussion if 2nd a bit annoying) but I just wondered if anyone has any more info about how this will all work.

Is there a specific window if time the 2nd is to be delivered? Do centres and hubs have a precise window? Does it matter if you have it aw eek after 12 weeks...some undoubtably will.

12 weeks was made up by the UK government and has proven to be ok. 10, 11, 13 or 14 weeks will be just as ok I am sure. It isn't a precise science I don't think.

it's not a strict window - I'm in the same situation and I'm really relaxed about when I get the second dose - I've done my research, the first dose gives the most protection, second dose is belt and braces.

Thanks Serenade.

Given they’ve mentioned 12 weeks a lot, I think there will be anxiety if people aren’t booked a while before that 12 week point, and given all the publicity, people who end up having to wait a longer will also be worried.

I understand the mass centres can predict more reliably which vaccine they will have far ahead and the national booking system would have only offered locations which would have the same jab 12 weeks later, but for GP hubs which is more variable and also where sometimes there have been members of older groups or vulnerable groups who haven’t always been able to make their booked appointment, it just loos a bit for open-ended and potentially worrying,

Will they actually set a point before which it just be given? If it’s 12 or 13 or 14, it’s likely some people,e will go beyond those pints, even if it’s down to being a bit chaotic, never mind any difficulties in the system.

I’m not worried but thinking ahead to those who might be or logistical issues really.

My surgery are currently booking those who had their first dose between the 27th December and 9th jan so I think they'll be giving plenty of time for them to be booked in.

Wreck, that’s interesting and useful.
I wonder how many of them will actually book and get jabbed within the recommended window.
But as others say, this is essentially a booster, so perhaps the time limit isn’t so important. It would be good for there to be clarification on that as more and more people will have had first and lots haven’t got the 2nd booked.

I’d imagine they will want to give at least a recommended window rather than it being totally open ended.

Out local paper released data on how many over 70's had had their first jab and almost every area had a 100% uptake. I think it'll be quite high.

I've got my second one in a week and it'll be 8.5 weeks after my first. I'm nhs though.

Also the surgeries here are ringing people to book them in and then a week later saying 'if you haven't heard please call us' it's all very organised.

Yes I wonder about this too.

At my surgery, they had about 10 days of Pfizer in mid-end January, then a couple of days a week with AZ for awhile, then at the end of Feb there were another two days of Pfizer, and now they're back to AZ again.

I wonder if when they get their Pfizer amount for all the January people, if they are going to invite some of the Feb people as well to fill up any extra slots, or to make sure everyone gets done then, depending how much supply they get. I'd be slightly worried that when they have to get some for the end of Feb people ,that's only 2 days worth of vaccine, whether they will get enough and what will happen if people can't make that specific week or something. Maybe they will continue using it as first doses if they think that they will be able to continue getting it ,but I thought there was some talk of saving more of it for second doses now to be sure.

i hope they start booking at 9 or 10 weeks, just make sure that people can get booked in before 12.

Wrt to the vaccine doses they receive it's a push pull model. So for the first doses they were being pushed out as quick as they could be but once they start doing the second doses they'll be pulled in by the surgeries (so requested depending on how many they need?). Or at least this is how I understand it, I could be wrong.

The GP surgeries here have only had Pfizer and the hub has AZ.

12 weeks was not made up by the govmt. It was the Oxford scientists that decided the 12 week gap for their vaccine was optimal. In fact a longer gap may prompt a better immune response but they decided 12 weeks for whatever reason their clever brains worked out. It was also scientists who suggested the govmt stretch the Pfizer vaccine. Please don’t give Boris so much credit 😂

Dunno but we are on holiday in June which will be when my second one will be due, I can't imagine I will be the only one.

Ok not the government who came up with it but more of a educated guess by scientists hoping to vaccinate more people rather than aiming for the gap to be the best gap for individual maximum immunity. It hadn’t been tested. It has been tested now and it works but 3 weeks also worked ( if not quite as well) and in fact one dose does a pretty good job too so no need to worry about it being exactly 12 weeks.

It’s in the green book. The vaccine should be given as soon as possible after the 12 weeks. A new course of vaccine will not be started.

The vaccine is supplied according to the known numbers of people needing a 2nd dose. Those who had Pfizer are most likely to be called forward to align with supply and because they used 5 doses rather than 6 doses per vial.

No real imperative to do this for AZ. Anyone who pops off on holiday is likely to just miss their appointment but will be called or have to book later.

Our GP is automatically booking everyone to come back on the same day and time exactly 11 weeks after their first jab, so they must have som idea of what supplies they will have then.

My aunt's neighbour got her April date this week; she was jabbed in early January 1-2 weeks before DA, so it looks like they are giving a fair bit of notice to allow for appointment changes. I expect other GPs will be similar.

@MRex

My aunt's neighbour got her April date this week; she was jabbed in early January 1-2 weeks before DA, so it looks like they are giving a fair bit of notice to allow for appointment changes. I expect other GPs will be similar.

There will only be so much tolerance of 2nd appointment changes. Firstly because the supply is specific to the first dose and only meant for second doses. Vaccine centres won’t have much by way of second doses. In the case of Pfizer a GP or hospital hub might not have a supply to sort you out. This is quite common, difficult and expensive to fix. It’s not going to be encouraged.

There are valid reasons why people need to get the appointment moved. But making their social life more convenient won’t be one that’s pandered to. Especially if they booked to go on holiday.

Great question. I have had my first dose organised by a Gp hib, with no date for the second dose. Thankfully, a long time until it is needed so by then I expect they will have their system sorted.

But if I get my second dose on a time I cannot change, hope my school will allow me time off to go - as middle of a day, with travel, will mean a nightmare to cover me and same for other staff with jobs like that.
I would not swap for a holiday as not booking any, but schools/hospital clinics etc need staff there.

My DD had her appointment via the GP and was told to book ber second using the link that's on here. She managed to book at a local chemist, rather than go all the way to a hub/centre.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

There are valid reasons why people need to get the appointment moved. But making their social life more convenient won’t be one that’s pandered to. Especially if they booked to go on holiday.

They want us to get the vaccine so I'm sure they will be able to fit it in, I'm not that desperate for the vaccine

I had my first dose 2 weeks ago, booked via a GP booking text / different website and could only book first dose - national site wouldn't let me on at that stage but I checked it this week and national site let me in and I could book second dose - I think it's 11 weeks after first one. So for anyone who's had first via GP well worth trying the National site now

RedRiverShore I think this will be a scenario lots of us are facing ie. summer holidays abroad booked, having our first jab by then but few weeks off getting our 2nd before we’d need to go.
Hoping-
Countries that do want vaccine passports still give option of negative tests to enter
Some may allow travel on just 1 jab
By then the gap between vaccines may have shortened in the UK

My husband had his Pfizer jab 3 weeks ago, no 2nd appointment given and booking site says to contact GP. We get Facebook updates from GP so won’t bother ringing yet, as they are only starting 2nd jabs this week.

I had my first dose (Oxford AZ) on Thursday and the vaccine information sheet says the second dose should be given 4-12 weeks after the first. The gentleman who administered the vaccine said I'm likely to be called for 2nd dose well within the 12 weeks as they are doing exceptionally well with the programme. I'm not worried.