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Original poster

Can anyone help re this - 2nd vaccine related.

51 replies

TastefulLiving · 05/04/2021 06:53

I'd be hugely grateful if anyone could help.

I am 48. i was called out of the blue for my first covid jab. I have chronic asthma and there were Pfizer jabs 'leftover' at the vaccine centre and they were going down a list of people like me and calling them ad hoc. I was THRILLED!

Thing is, no-one said anything about how I book / arrange / get my 2nd jab (due start of May). I have tried to book online but it seems you can only book for the 2nd jab if you are over the age of 50 (unless I got it wrong). My GO surgery were not involved with my first jab and when I rang told me it was nothing to do with them.

Does anyone know if you just get called again, or if i have to chase it, or what i am supposed to do? I only got a leaflet after the first about potential side effects and nothing else.

Sorry, I am completely clueless!

OP posts:
Original poster
TastefulLiving · 05/04/2021 06:54

*GP surgery

OP posts:
muddledmidget · 05/04/2021 07:00

Im in a similar position and booked mine online. I ignored the blurb on the front page of the website as I knew I was eligible for my vaccination (healthcare staff) and when I'd entered in my details it knew I needed a second dose and when that was due. It wouldn't let me book it until sessions had been uploaded for 11 weeks after my first though (just got a message about no sessions being available rather than I wasn't eligible). My husband called 119 to book his as the system couldn't find him (social care staff who got a leftover jab really early on)

KatherineJaneway · 05/04/2021 07:01

Can you pop into the centre in which you got the jab? They might be able to help.

ThreeorFour · 05/04/2021 07:07

If it wasn't through your GP or national booking, was it a vaccine centre standby list? You usually get both appointments booked at the same time unless you vaccine via GP. I'm not sure how it works if you were called by a centre from a standby list. I'd have thought they still should've given you a second date. Can you call or pop in to ask?

Avidreader12 · 05/04/2021 07:09

Assuming you have not had the first jab long I would wait until government allows over 45s to book online nhs covid booking once that happens you will be able to book 2nd appointment. You have 12 weeks between both so no need to panic yet I think GP records haven’t caught up with everyone yet who went to vaccine centre.

camsue · 05/04/2021 07:11

Find your the local Covid booking telephone number. We found them far more helpful than the national team or website in a similar situation.

rubydoobydoo · 05/04/2021 07:13

I was in a similar position and had to chase it- we have a booking line for the area and just ignored all the options that rule me out of being eligible until I could speak to a person!
Try googling "(your area) vaccine booking line". Ours couldn't do it until a week before it was due.

Original poster
TastefulLiving · 05/04/2021 07:20

Thanks all. I appreciate it. I will give all of these a try until success. I was reluctant to pop in to where I got it, as it was a huge centre being handled by some lovely young army recruits and with probably hundreds there at the one time! (Total glorious production line with everyone beside themselves with happiness at being jabbed! It was nice).

I will definitely look up to see if there is a local number and will go from there.

Many thanks.

OP posts:
LonginesPrime · 05/04/2021 07:37

I have tried to book online but it seems you can only book for the 2nd jab if you are over the age of 50 (unless I got it wrong)

No, you can book on the NHS website if you're under 50 too.

I could make an appt for myself and DD on there after having the first dose (although I ended up chasing GP instead as they invited us to the local centre for the first one and the online system is sending us further afield, plus someone at our vaccine centre said you're supposed to try and get into the same place you had the first one anyway).

I'd follow up with whoever invited you last time, but use the NHS booking system as a last resort as they are adding appointments all the time as they get more stock in.

DinosaurDiana · 05/04/2021 07:38

If you go on ‘manage my appointments’ you should be able to book. I could.

Erinaz · 05/04/2021 07:45

Because you had your 1st vaccine after 24 hours the system updates and you can then book the 2nd one. Just go on the nhs book covid vac site and go to booking put your name and date of birth and the system will recognise you and let you book its confusing as it tells you a list of who is eligible but just ignore this an book it 🙂

user1471530109 · 05/04/2021 07:55

Does it list the appointments by vaccine type? I had my first Pfizer vaccine over 6 weeks ago and a bit worried about the second not yet being booked.
It was through the GP. But I was group 6 then got bumped up to group 4. So now I feel like I'm not under the GP remit....it's all very confusing with so many ways to book.

DinosaurDiana · 05/04/2021 07:56

The computer knows which vaccine you had.

TheRealMrsMorningstar · 05/04/2021 07:58

I was in a similar situation. Eventually the system will recognize you and you should be able to book. It took a few weeks for my details to show up.

VashtaNerada · 05/04/2021 08:12

I just booked my second jab online despite not meeting the criteria for online booking, and being told at the appointment to wait for a call from my GP. The online system actually said I’d missed my appointment for my 2nd jab (not true!) and gave me an appointment at a centre much closer to my house than the original appointment.

starfish4 · 05/04/2021 08:27

My Mum did get a letter for her first vaccine. The second one was a phone call, so you might get that. Warning my Mum didn't get much notice, it was a choice of appointments the next afternoon. She asked what would happen if she couldn't get a lift, and was told she'd have to wait until they got in touch again.

ihearttc · 05/04/2021 08:33

I had my first one last Thursday (I’m 44 and a TA), all school staff got called at our local hub.

The last there said to give it about 24 hours and the system will have updated so you can go online and book your second one which I did yesterday.

Even though it says over 50’s have you actually tried booking online? If your vaccine has been registered then you should be able to.

user1471530109 · 05/04/2021 08:34

I understand that the system knows which jab I've had Hmm. I'm more wondering how can they know they'll have Pfizer in x number if weeks time on y day? It's obviously more organised than I give them credit Wink.

I'm trying to book it but it keeps taking me back to the first page after I get so far. No error messages.

ihearttc · 05/04/2021 08:43

I’ve no idea how it does it but it knew mine was due towards the middle/end of June so only showed me those dates.

Foxhasbigsocks · 05/04/2021 08:45

@user1471530109 my not very informed understanding is that they saved enough Pfizer for second doses for those who had Pfizer which is why the 40+s haven’t been called yet. So the computer should direct you to where there are sufficient stocks

user1471530109 · 05/04/2021 08:47

Really? It won't even let me on! Mines due next month.

Has anyone tried to book in for a second Pfizer in the past few days? I'm now worried it's something to do with the shortage. Everyone I put in my NHS number and DOB it goes back to the start page.

Foxhasbigsocks · 05/04/2021 08:48

Try just booking with your name?

Foxhasbigsocks · 05/04/2021 08:48

If that doesn’t work call gp?

user1471530109 · 05/04/2021 08:54

I've tried different ways including just clicking on manage appointments in case it's been booked in already.

I will call GP this week but expect i will be told to wait. I might try 119 tomorrow actually. But they weren't very helpful when I tried to book the first time.

weegiepower · 05/04/2021 09:04

I'm in a similar position, randomly called up for Pfizer at end of feb. Got a message from the Doctors the other day saying:

Dear Mrs, we're in the process of planning all our 2nd dose Covid vaccination clinics and will invite you at 11-12 weeks after your 1st dose. We ask that if you had your 1st dose with us you do not arrange an appointment elsewhere for your 2nd. We order vaccine supplies and arrange staffing for these clinics based on the number of 1st doses we gave, so patients switching sites for 2nd doses makes this very difficult to manage. Thank you for your help in this. **Surgery

Everyone else I know who had AZ it was arranged at the same time but everyone I know who had Pfizer it's the same case for. Perhaps it's a similar situation? Like I said I had first dose end of feb and only received this message a few days ago.

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