Second AZ dose 4 weeks after first one?

[InkyWinky]

I've received a text from GP surgery to book second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine . This is four weeks after I had my first one.

The choice of dates were only to the next week. Not for 11-12 weeks as the government had decreed.

I rang the receptionist to discuss whether it was a mistake but I'm non the wiser.

Has anyone else been invited for their second dose much earlier than 12 weeks (apart from those in the initial roll out who got it 3 weeks later)?

Should I wait and book for 11-12 weeks later if the efficacy is known to be better with a longer gap?

Wise mumsnetters, please tell me what to do!! 😊

I think that since the virus is still circulating you're better off taking the second jab now that it's being offered and getting the increased immunity sooner. There's also the whole fuss with the EU about the AZ vaccine, who knows what that will look like in two months.

The study found vaccine efficacy reached 82.4% after a second dose in those with a dosing interval of 12 weeks or more (95% confidence interval 62.7% to 91.7%). If the two doses were given less than six weeks apart the efficacy was only 54.9% (CI 32.7% to 69.7%).

Copied from Bmj.

@MissConductUS and @Dementedswan

That's my dilemma. Get it now when I can but the efficacy will be lower, or hang on and risk possible shortages in May. I know the plan is to priortise second doses in the event of shortages, but you never know.........!!

A case of a bird in the hand rather than a bird in the bush. 🤔

I went on my GP’s website for another reason and found I could book my second jab 25 days after the first, so I booked it (AZ).
I’m in my sixties, with a heart condition, and I teach. Though I had read that the 12 week interval is more effective, I can’t describe how much happier I feel to be fully vaccinated, given that I’m in a room with non socially distanced adults for up to six hours a day, and am not allowed to require them to be masked.

Meant to say, have it.

We're probably all going to need a booster by the end of the year anyway because of the variants.

I don't know what i would do. They are anticipating lowered supplies in April and have also said second doses will be going ahead. I'm due my second end of May.

I would be very wary of reducing the interval. The vaccine is known to perform better after 12 weeks than 4.
Also immunity doesn't disappear overnight at 12 weeks, it's not actually known how long it lasts.

It's also been shown to hold its efficacy without waning for 90 days.

On further research I would hold off until 12 weeks.

I do think they will bring Pfizer second doses forward .

Thanks everybody. I would like to get it at 12 weeks, but the pull of being fully vaccinated earlier like @borntobequiet is very strong!

This kind of thing really pisses me off. No one should be having it 4 weeks apart. It's not recommended.

@Oblomov21
Where is your source to say it’s not recommended? The PGD states that the second dose can be given 28 days after the first as this is what was tested in the trials.

@Dementedswan

The study found vaccine efficacy reached 82.4% after a second dose in those with a dosing interval of 12 weeks or more (95% confidence interval 62.7% to 91.7%). If the two doses were given less than six weeks apart the efficacy was only 54.9% (CI 32.7% to 69.7%).

Copied from Bmj.

This ^

But that is one study. It doesn’t say from the result of the study that they are ‘not recommending’ the 4 week interval.

The recent large phase 3 AZ trial in the US reported 76% efficacy after a 4 week booster (100% against severe disease) yesterday. I wouldn’t worry about having the booster after 4 weeks but would personally prefer it after the recommended 12 weeks.

I believe the reason for the 12 week gap was to ensure that there were enough supplies to ensure the majority of people got their first dose. If I was offered it at 4 weeks (as was offered during the trials) then I would be taking it.

I believe the reason for the 12 week gap was to ensure that there were enough supplies to ensure the majority of people got their first dose.

And it was initially a controversial decision and came in for a lot of criticism as it wasn’t what was done in the trials, though I think the AZ trial regime for spacing of doses was more flexible than others (I could well be wrong).

Initially, the dosing regime was, if I recall correctly, 4-6 weeks but they then increased it (partly due to the vaccine strategy in the UK). Other countries have since pushed it back to 9 weeks between doses so I would check again, might also depend if you're male or over 50/55.

I wonder if they are trying to get as many second doses done as possible for those vaccinated jan - mid march. Phase two roll out should be fairly quick and the release of the moderna will cover those, there's talk about drive through vaccinations too.

Just my thoughts, especially as they are planning to roll out oxford booster in September.

I'd leave it a while longer to be honest, it's likely to give you better immunity then. I stretched my gap from the originally offered 11 weeks to 12, because I think the data supports that slightly longer period. Also it would be much fairer to those in their 40s still waiting for any protection (like asthmatic DH) to leave your booster appointment until the correct time. The same as my extra week will mean one person in their 20s or 30s (depending on how it's going) gets protected one week sooner.

@MRex I agree. 12 weeks from my first jab will be first week of June. The az shows good efficacy and is boosted after 12 weeks, a shorter gap can lessen efficacy I think?

Dh had Pfizer, if he's offered second before 12 weeks I'd encourage him to take it as the long gap hasn't been trialled with Pfizer.

@Oblomov21

This kind of thing really pisses me off. No one should be having it 4 weeks apart. It's not recommended.

I checked my GP's website, and it states they are inviting people at 4 weeks for the second AstraZenica dose. The site also states the Pfizer second dose will be at 11 weeks!

Most people will trust the GP and have the second AZ dose at 4 weeks.

I do feel sorry for those under 50 that have been told to wait for their jab, when different GPs are doing things differently, as I have read about in other threads.

Well, they seem to have that arse about face, someone needs to ask them what they're doing!

I would have pushed it back if I'd been invited for the second one at 4 weeks. I have now had 7 weeks. I think if I get invited before 12 weeks I'll push back until 12 weeks. I've been exceptionally careful since Jan 2020, I wasn't CEV, but I was when they recently added some people (I thought it was glaringly obvious that having more underlying issues would make you more vulnerable, but it took them a while to catch up!).

I know it's a risk I won't be offered it at 12 weeks, but I'd rather wait longer than have it sooner than ideal (plus they may have updated data by then about leaving it 13/15 weeks).

We will still be getting some doses of AZ which I assume they'll set some, at least, aside for second doses with Pfizer & now moderna becoming available

I'm hoping I'm not invited until 12 weeks tbh

@InkyWinky - I think you should report that page to your local CCG, that isn't correct.

@AmelieTaylor

I thought If they were giving second doses at 4 weeks it should be the Pfizer one. That's why I spoke to the receptionist , thinking they didn't realise which vaccine type I had received.

@MRex

That's a good idea.