2nd vaccine, when do you get notified?

[Staffy1]

Anyone who has had their first vaccine booked by the GP, rather than through the online booking system, when did your GP tell you what on what date the second vaccine will be? My GP told me I would be given the second date when I got the first vaccine, but when I went for it, they said the GP would let me know when it was. It should be a matter of a simple phone call to the GP to find out, but their automatic email response says they will not be answering anything about individual covid vaccines so don't ask and bugger off (more or less).

Our GP practice has a facebook page. They have said we would get a text to book second dose. They only started second doses last week, so there isn’t any point in chasing yet in our case. I’ve tried using the nhs booking site, but it says we have to wait to be contacted.

I looked at the nhs booking site and I think it’s intended for people who haven’t had either vaccination rather than people who just need to book the second dose. Was surprised to see that the nearest vaccination centre on the ‘book yourself in’ site was 16 miles away, with others up to 35 miles away, whereas there was a choice of two sites, both within walking distance, for the first jab, booked through the link texted by the GP.

I’m just going to wait to hear from my GP and keep my fingers crossed that the GPs continue using the local centres.

Yesterday I tried to book a second dose online for my elderly neighbours. It told me that they were not eligible to use the website.

They then phoned the GP surgery (which had originally phoned them with the date of their first vaccination) and were told they would have to be wait to be called.

The reason for their anxiety is that their 12 weeks expires in the second week of April and they ideally want their second dose the week before that because I am available to drive them then but will be away the following week (assuming it's still allowed).

@Figmentofmyimagination: it's worth keeping an eye on the website. Slots come and go quite quickly in my experience. When I first tried to book my vaccination, the nearest available place was 20 miles away. Later that day appointments 13 miles away became available and in the evening I managed to book for 7 miles away.

Unfortunately the centre 100m from my house seems to be reserved for those contacted by the GP.

My parents were rung 10 days before.

I had my first done at a GP Hub four weeks ago.

Yesterday I received a text with a link to book the second dose. The dates I can choose from are for this and next week.

However, I had the AstraZenica vaccine and it is better to wait and get the second dose around the 12 week period as it works better that way.

So, do I book the second dose now, or wait to get better protection with a longer gap between doses or risk there being supply problems in May?

Thanks everyone.
@InkyWinky, does it really work better with the longer gap? I would have thought any time after 3 weeks would be fine, as that was the original plan for the Pfizer. Unless AstraZenica is a lot different to Pfizer for some reason, it's probably fine. I always thought they just said 12 weeks is better because they were doing it that way regardless, to get the first jab to more people quicker.

Our surgery are texting is to book after 12 weeks so we have it done about 13 weeks after.

@Staffy1

Thanks everyone. *@InkyWinky*, does it really work better with the longer gap? I would have thought any time after 3 weeks would be fine, as that was the original plan for the Pfizer. Unless AstraZenica is a lot different to Pfizer for some reason, it's probably fine. I always thought they just said 12 weeks is better because they were doing it that way regardless, to get the first jab to more people quicker.

The government got lucky with its plan to wait 12 weeks between doses so that more people could be vaccinated.

Scientists found that the gap was actually advantageous for the AZ vaccine. See links below.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=www.cnbc.com/2021/02/03/delaying-second-astrazeneca-vaccine-dose-does-work-study-shows.html&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwil98fYqbrvAhULYsAKHZMeAJgQFjARegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw3p0eswI2BI2gfJKUhNGpEt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?q=www.cnbc.com/2021/02/03/delaying-second-astrazeneca-vaccine-dose-does-work-study-shows.html&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwil98fYqbrvAhULYsAKHZMeAJgQFjARegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw3p0eswI2BI2gfJKUhNGpEt

www.gponline.com/one-dose-oxford-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-cut-transmission-67/article/1706307

www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/the-oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-what-you-need-to-know

I was eager to get both doses as soon as possible, but if the efficacy is better with a longer gap of 12 weeks between doses, that's better surely? However, I'm now worrying about the risk of a vaccine shortage in early May. I'm hoping if there is one that they will prioritise giving second doses at the right time. Fingers crossed.

Does anyone know if they send a letter for second doses? DM has no short term memory to speak of and the minute she puts the phone down, she will have forgotten that she's been called. She cannot use a mobile phone, so its a worry. She wont allow family members to help as she wants to manage her business herself.
She claims she had a letter for the first jab although I never saw it.

We were told as we were leaving the vaccination clinic that our GP would be in contact to book our second jabs in 8-12 weeks (this was six weeks ago).

My 2nd was booked at the same time my 1st was booked

I got an appointment for my second vaccination when I booked the first. 10 weeks apart.

I got a text message 10 weeks later followed the link and booked for a couple of days time. It was a clinic just for second doses

@mn81987

My 2nd was booked at the same time my 1st was booked

As said on other threads about the vaxcine, if you went online and booked to be vaccinated in one of the large hubs, you had to book the first and second dose at the same time.

If you received an invite from your GP you could only book the first dose. The GP would send out another invite to book the second dose nearer the time it was due.

Therefore, there are two processes in place dependant on whether you use your local GP/GP Hub, or the bigger mass vaccination sites or hospitals.

It was my GP that booked vaccines at the same time!

*both

I had my first at the GP but have been able to book my second one online, the system recognised it was my second one and showed the appropriate dates. I did it that way as I wanted a date I was not working the following day as I wasn't too well after my first one.

Had my first jab today at my GP surgery and they have already booked me in for 11 weeks' time. This was not booked via the national booking site though I was telephoned by the lovely receptionist and invited in.
I bloody love my GP surgery, all the staff are lovely and I do feel for others on here with their horror stories of bolshy receptionists and crap staff in general.

For my dad, the GP surgery phoned both times one week before the appointment. They were 11 weeks apart.

I assume when you go for the second jab they know which one you had first time so you get the same again?

I just booked my second online. The website seems to be allowing that now. I had my first because I was on a reserve list.

locally we've been told to expect to be contacted at 10-11 weeks after the first jab

@Afishcalledwonderful

I assume when you go for the second jab they know which one you had first time so you get the same again?

Yes, of course. It's on the card you get, but it's on the system too.

The people I know who had their first shot in December were each contacted at the 9-10 week point (so there was time to get their booking sorted before the 12 weeks was fully up)

I just posted another topic on second vaccines but for anyone that was gp led. I logged onto the booking site today for my dad who was gp notified last time and I went to manage my bookings instead of trying to book a new one ( even thou he had no bookings) popped all his details in and it came up with a message that he needs to book his second dose and allowed me to book it from there. Annoyingly for him it's 20 miles away but it is now booked