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.

I'm happy to come whenever I'm called for the second dose. But there were only two days of Pfizer in Feb for first doses, so if there are only two days for second doses, anywhere from 8 weeks to 12 weeks, and the GP only finds out a few days in advance when they're getting it, I can see how some people might not be able to come. Hopefully they'll let us know in slightly more time. Or that they'll still be getting Pfizer for first doses even then, and there won't be any shortages.

Interesting that some people have been able to book second doses through the national site. I couldn't when I tried a couple of days ago, but might be different now. I'm group 6 though and not sure if my notes were ever coded in such a way that the national site would recognise that, as I had mine before all of that started and it was only through the GPs at that point. The national site just says to wait for the GP to contact me, which is fine and what I was expecting.

People generally booked their 2nd dose at the same time as booking first, when they booked first through national site. That is how it has worked.

It is people who were booked via GP services that need a 2nd booked.

I can see it will all work out.

Regarding work, this is a medical appointment and so people will be able to take time off to go....most will try to book it around work, but it might not always be possible and that’s no problem. This will be more of an issue for those of working age, although we know the elderly don’t like the very early morning or evening slots...although it is getting lighter, they still won’t want those..but I guess more if those will be avaialbake for first doses.

It’s a big jigsaw isn’t it. Some pieces slot in easily at the start and there will some pieces that look like they will fit somewhere and don’t actually find their spot until right at the end of the puzzle, or the odd piece that never fits because it belongs to a different puzzle.....ooh, Inquite like like analogy..maybe taking it a bit far!!

So for anyone who's had first via GP well worth trying the National site now

Didn't work for me yesterday, I'm going to keep trying.

Rule, no I don’t think it works..it’s not just you.

People are either being done via national booking system at mass centres which are administered by one system, or they are done by the GP local hubs. Your 2nd dose will be within the same system as first.

If people never attend their 2nd it will eventually reach GPs to pursue even if they were originally in national system,.

The hub I work at only find out the week before what vaccines they are getting for the next week.
They are very aware that they have to start the second vaccines soon, but they can’t book people in until they know which vaccine they are getting.

I had my first this morning at a GP surgery. They handed me a piece of paper for the same day and time in 12 weeks. The doctor said it will save them a zillion phone calls. Simple but effective.

@TheDogsMother

I had my first this morning at a GP surgery. They handed me a piece of paper for the same day and time in 12 weeks. The doctor said it will save them a zillion phone calls. Simple but effective.

But that’s assuming that they have the correct vaccines available.

Dinosaur, I guess that booking both is one way, even if they don’t know the exact type of vaccine. It will work better if they nearly always get the same one. Plus, at least some will be right and then they only have to ring those that aren’t, rather than everyone.

I agree that it’s a big old job to contact everyone for the 2nd vaccine. Some of it can probably be avoided and perhaps we will see more if a move to more GPs booking both appointments together as time goes on.

Or actually all they will need to do is send the text linking to slots that have the right vaccine on their local system. It doesn’t always have to be a phone call.

That is how my GP is going to do it - they say you will be sent a link with only appointments for the right vaccine. They go on to say that if you ignore the link/can't book on the link, and ring them instead, you will have to be very certain which vaccine you want and check that you are booking for the right day - it is up to you to make sure of this. (I'm sure in practice, they will check too, especially for elderly or people who might not be able to use the online system, rather than those who are trying to change their times to fit round holidays etc!, but they are trying to make it very very clear that they don't want people phoning unless they really have to).

Ok, so the way it’s working with GP-led sites is as follows:

Second doses should be given between 77 and 84 days apart, and GP surgeries are given their 2nd dose deliveries 11 weeks after their first. These 2nd doses have been ring-fenced, so no need to try to go to another place to get your 2nd dose (which messes up all the supplies!), just wait for your GP to be in touch. At the moment, GPs have been given three weeks worth of second dose schedules for March, and will shortly get advanced notice of the next chunk of second dose deliveries. They can’t currently book people in for their second dose at the same time as their first as they don’t know the exact delivery dates for the second dose. This really matters for Pfizer because the shelf life, once it gets to the GP is really short (3.5 days usually).

GPs will get the same brand for second dose as the first doses they got 11 weeks previously.

Please don’t try to book a second dose through the national booking service website or 119 - firstly you can’t guarantee that when you show up they will have the same brand as you had for your first dose, and secondly, it just really messes with the supplies!

Second dose bookings can only be done through national booking website or 119 if it was the Oxford vaccine according to 119, your GP record does need to be updated by GP to reflect your first vaccination though.
If you can’t make your second appointment on the date that’s generated for you then they’re advising to book in once that date has passed but it’s impossible to have it moved forward or back on their system.

Thanks so much for the explanation @Wigeon

I wondered why some people had been given a second appointment when they went for their 1st jab and I hadn't but its because mine was through invitation by my GP.

After waiting a week for a GP call that didn't materialise for local jab, DH and I booked the Hub which is about 20 miles away, we did manage to get appointments together and 2nd one a week before our holiday (only UK but hopefully time for any side effect to disappear) so that's all good

I hd mine yesterday, they had spares and I was offered one as I was in the GP volunteering. I've not been told when will I hear about the 2nd one, my in laws had theirs beginning of February there and they've not heard neither, ii guess we'll soon start to hear how this works