Which vaccine?

[FangsForTheMemory]

I’m due to have my first jab next week and wondering, do they decide which vaccine to give depending on your medical history, or do you just get whatever they’ve got? I honestly don’t care which I have, but I’m curious.

Whatever they have. I think different centres are using different ones. The only issue I think is that if you have severe allergies one is less likely to cause a reaction, can't remember which.

You get whatever they have in on the day, AFAIK. Also some centres won't have the set up for the Pfizer vaccine.

Yup, no choice. It’s whatever the vaccine centre have. In my town, only one larger vaccine centre are set up for Pfizer on a large scale. They were the first place to start vaccinating anyone. GPS, the stadium & pharmacies all get AZ the vast majority of the time. My GP also said on Facebook this weekend that Pfizer doses they are getting through are predominantly going to those needing second jabs now as that was the first vaccine available & it’s been 12 weeks!

I'm having mine on Thursday and already know it will be the Oxford. No browsing of possible other ones.

Pfizer is in limited supply so is mainly used for the second jabs and for those who can’t have AstraZeneca e.g 16-18 y.o. So you would probably get AZ unless you can’t have it for medical reasons.

There isn't a choice but they do tell you beforehand what they are proposing to give you at the time (a couple of minutes before, if that).

I imagine if for some reason you didn't want the one on offer that day you could decline and keep rebooking in the hope that one day you'll be offered one that is acceptable to you.

Could take dozens of attempts and you'd be blocking some poor sod who is happy to get whatever is offered.

Rather than be such a drain on resources I suggest you contact your GP or better yet ring 119 and talk through your concerns.

Just actually made a thread:

First of all let me start off by saying the only evidence I have is from a conversation with a Doctor yesterday when I had my AZ vaccine.

At the weekend I was lucky enough to be placed on a waiting list for cancelled appointments. Myself and around 15 colleagues had an appointment yesterday (all teachers). We asked why so many slots had become available. Doctor replied people have cancelled due to AZ fears but then said ‘if they’re waiting for the Pfizer they’ll have a long wait as there’s none in the UK at the moment’.

For me it was an easy to decision to make to have the AZ, I’m surrounded by hundred of people daily in unventilated small spaces. Just yesterday a whole year group was sent home after being back 4 days.

I guess why I’m posting if if you are considering delaying the vaccine in the hopes to opt for Pfizer, it maybe a while and weigh up whether you can keep trying to keep yourself safe before having the vaccine if your choice

Only my DH in our family got the Pfizer vaccine, the rest of us got AZ. We all have our second appointment booked, but he doesn’t yet.

DP did have a choice but only before we booked..

It’ll be the AZ as that’s what the vast majority of the supply is in the U.K.

@BMW6 I said in my original post that I didn't care which I got. You have assumed I had a preference and then implied I am 'a drain on resources', which I'm not. Why don't you just read my OP in the first place?

They use whatever is in stock on that day. The Pfizer jab isn't given to people with severe allergies- there's been a few cases of severe anaphylactic shock including death with the Pfizer vaccine.

Friend got first dose of Pfizer today. So there must be some around.

@BMW6

There isn't a choice but they do tell you beforehand what they are proposing to give you at the time (a couple of minutes before, if that).

I imagine if for some reason you didn't want the one on offer that day you could decline and keep rebooking in the hope that one day you'll be offered one that is acceptable to you.

Could take dozens of attempts and you'd be blocking some poor sod who is happy to get whatever is offered.

Rather than be such a drain on resources I suggest you contact your GP or better yet ring 119 and talk through your concerns.

You could take a break from being so grumpy & attacking. I know it's a novel thought, but try reading what the OP Actually said, not whatever you've imagined she said.