45-49s jabs news, 40-44s watching and waiting thread

[MRex]

Follow-on to the happy thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4210673-Can-the-40-49-age-group-now-book-their-vaccine.

(I'm jabbed, but just here to read happy news of jabs and try to book DH when it's his time.)

Anyone still waiting for their email and text confirmation: I booked on Monday during the morning mayhem, and have just received my confirmation from NHS booking.

Sorry if this makes me sound stupid but I noticed on the previous thread that some people were recommending clearing cookies before retrying the booking website - is there a particular reason for this? Do we think that it will automatically say that you aren't eligible even if the NHS change the parameters their end in between your tries? Thank you in advance.

@SilverGlitterBaubles

Also are all vaccines given 12 weeks apart regardless?

The recommendation for AZ is between 4 and 12 weeks apart. The NHS are going for within 12 weeks. I think I have seen it said that it can be up to around 16 weeks (I think I saw that 10 - 16 weeks was coming up as the optimum period) and I think they are probably going for within 12 weeks to ensure that if people cancel appointments theres time to chase up / reschedule etc.

The recommendation for Pfizer is 21 days but the NHS is going for between 3 and 12 weeks instead. Pfizer didn't do any research into delayed second jabs so its something of a live experiment thats based on the fact that AZ seemed to actually be better with a slightly longer gap.

I know that a friend of mine who had Pfizer through a GP has been told that her second jab is likely to be somewhat sooner than 12 weeks simply due to the schedule of when the GP is getting deliveries.

So no it doesn't have to be exactly 12 weeks but I don't think you can actively book two doses further apart than that either (unless you've already had one) because the computer won't allow it.

I know someone who got a spare dose and they were told the clinically was fully booked for second jabs for the full 12 weeks but if they checked back the following day when the system was updated and the recond of them having had their first was added then new slots should appear for that clinoc but they could book an alternative venue if they wished.

So I think its slightly nuanced and dependent on how you got your first jab as to when you can get your second.

Anyone who can't book their jab because it won't give them a second slot, should just keep checking as they are being updated and added on a daily basis.

@Marjoriesdoor

Sorry if this makes me sound stupid but I noticed on the previous thread that some people were recommending clearing cookies before retrying the booking website - is there a particular reason for this? Do we think that it will automatically say that you aren't eligible even if the NHS change the parameters their end in between your tries? Thank you in advance.

As far as I'm aware it gives you something to do while you wait, and it doesn't hurt to have a clean-up from time to time.

I booked mine on Monday to go to one of the mass vaccination centres but I've cancelled it as I had a text from my GP this morning and can go somewhere more local which will be a bit less stressful for me (and DH as he has to take me!).

When i was trying to book on mon evening i was clearing cookies every so often. But when did finally manage to book, i hadnt cleared cookies beforehand, so not sure that it was needed.

As far as I'm aware it gives you something to do while you wait, and it doesn't hurt to have a clean-up from time to time.

True, but I have lots of settings saved in cookies and I think it would be a right palaver to start again with that so would rather not do that if I don't have to...

Although frankly I would cover myself in hundreds and thousands and do a silly dance while writing my NHS number if someone said it would increase my chances of getting an appointment!

And we just have to say it, not mean it @Marjoriesdoor. Interesting. Is there a video option? It sounds pretty funny to watch.

If the NHS introduce that as an eligibility requirement then absolutely, yes! Let me just dig out my tap shoes.

Just got a text inviting me to book my vaccination in Birmingham - I'm 44 and was not expecting they'd get to me so quickly.
I'm so happy I actually did do a little dance (no hundreds and thousands though 😁) The kids think I have gone mad, but I don't care!

The website is definitely a bit glitchy, when I tried to book us it said we'd missed our first appointments...we haven't as not been eligible until now, not been invited. No idea what's that's about.

Thanks @MRex. I just think it reminds us how awful this virus can be even if relatively young and fit. Even tho I had a sweaty night after my AZ it’s nothing compared to Covid. Good luck everyone with getting your jabs.

@Blessex

Waking morning after AZ. My anxiety has gone down massively knowing my body is now learning how to fight this virus. A friend texted me from Spain who has Covid. He said if he had a gun last week he would have shot himself he felt so ill. Another 50 year old friend is in ICU in Italy. Happy my body is learning how to fight a deactivated version.

I’m so sorry for your friends but with my jab in less than an hour and having just got off the phone from my dad whose given me every horror story going (im terrified of nausea & sickness) this is exactly what I needed to hear as I was on the verge of not turning up.

Please don’t judge I have needle and emetophobia.

It said I’d missed my appointment too! Don’t think so!!!!

@MRex

My GP has just put up a note yesterday that they will soon be inviting adults 18+; this is new as they went through a hub before. They can't have that many in their 40s, so hopefully that means they will call DH.

With what's happening in London with the government having let in the South African strain, I really hope they do this in London. At the very least distribution needs to urgently be tweaked to ensure that all 40+ (preferably 30+) in London have access asap to vaccines.

I did it!

Moderna. Tunstall Stoke. On Trent.

@Comefromaway ah well well done you!

Am so happy my perspective helped. There are some horror stories out there at the moment also with relatively young fit people. Incidentally did your dad have the jab?

Watching.

I have made a note of when the vaccines were made available to different cohorts in England. So far I can make out:

8th Feb - over 70's
14th Feb - 65 to 69 & clin. vulnerable
28th Feb - over 60's
8th Mar - 56 to 59
17th Mar - over 50's
13th Apr - over 45's

Interesting that it was a little over a week's wait between most age groups, apart from where clinically vulnerable were invited alongside 65's - 69's. After the 50's we've obviously moved onto a longer wait, April being 'second dose' month.

In my area (Cheshire) we are very much sticking to when the age groups are offered nationally, although I've noticed many available/same day appointments with one PCT hub.

I think it's either AZ or Pfizer here, I haven't seen anywhere administering Moderna yet, maybe that will come later.

It all seems a bit of guesswork!

@Comefromaway

I did it!

Moderna. Tunstall Stoke. On Trent.

Well done!!! I can't imagine how difficult getting the jab is for people with health anxiety, needle phobia and similar conditions. You are all very brave.

I had mine yesterday (Cheshire- AZ)) and I assure you that the side effects I have today are nowhere near as bad as the actual Covid I had last year.

@Comefromaway

I did it!

Moderna. Tunstall Stoke. On Trent.

Well done! You deserve two stickers for coping so well!

West of England here, ages 49 (just a few weeks off 50!) and 47.

Been trying to book online since midnight on Tuesday, and getting nowhere - appointments are all for May dates, but no second appointments available unless travelling to Reading or further.

This morning I gave up and called 119. Absolutely lovely person on the other end managed to get pretty much consecutive appointments for me and DH on the same days despite the difficulties - the first site about 40 minutes away, the second an hour and 20 or so. Both big vaccination centres. Not till 5 May but at least we have both bookings and only need to travel once to each.

NB the lovely person manning 119 was almost in tears at having “someone kind” on the phone. It appears they are being roundly abused by lots of folks even though they are only working with the same system as the public and doing their very best. Please be nice if you have to call them.

Oh, and my GP surgery is very tiny and bless something changes, won’t be offering further clinics after they finish their over 50s and clinically vulnerable - they can’t sustain it, the whole thing has them all on their knees, trying to manage regular healthcare for their primarily elderly constituency as well as finding time to turn the practice over to vaccination clinics. So if you’re in a similar situation then you might not want to wait for a GP call that doesn’t come.

[quote Blessex]@Comefromaway ah well well done you!

Am so happy my perspective helped. There are some horror stories out there at the moment also with relatively young fit people. Incidentally did your dad have the jab?[/quote]
He had his first dose a while back. He’s debating his second.

Mrex, they gave me two stickers.