Vaccine - how do I know I will be offered a choice?

[may626]

I’m late 30s and was sent a link yesterday to book my vaccine. There were loads of slots available and I’m all booked in for tomorrow, but how do I know which vaccine I will get? Will they just offer me a choice when I’m there?

I had mine at the GP. I knew what I was getting when they rang me to book me in for both jabs.
There really isn’t time for picking and choosing/discussion once you’re there it was like a conveyor belt. Imagine if everyone started questioning what they were getting. It’s in and out.

@Figgygal

No choice for me the clinic had AZ only If you want a choice might be worth calling the booking line Most places only have AZ due to the Pfizer storage temperature issue Moderna is coming through too though

This is not true.

Pfizer is being supplied as a first dose from this week. A few sites are not yet set up for it but they are not offered to under 40’s on the booking system.

People over 40 will probably not be offered choice if there is AZ first dose on site.

The Pfizer first dose supply is strong and reliable. AZ is the low supply at the moment.

Due to your age it is extremely unlikely you will be offered AZ. There is a big of wiggle room to offer it in certain circumstances if no other vaccine is available, but in practice this is rare. The guidance is being taken seriously.

You will be offered either Pfizer or Moderna. You don't get to choose between them.

AZ is off the table, it's not an option you can choose even if you wanted it.

[quote may626]@PurpleDaisies I found this on the BBC website:

“However, some under 40s will still be offered the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as it is easier to both transport and store, making it more practical than the alternatives.”[/quote]
There are some people who cannot travel to a centre. It’s not possible to use Pfizer for housebound or some other outreach work. That’s what AZ is so useful for. It can be moved around even after a dose has been drawn.

There are some communities who won’t accept a Pfizer branded medication.

I found this very helpful in understanding the relative risk of covid vs the jab. [[https://wintoncentre.maths.cam.ac.uk/news/latest-data-mhra-blood-clots-associated-astra-zeneca-covid-19-vaccine/ scroll down a bit for the charts that visualise relative risk for different levels of covid in the community}}

Most centres only have one vaccine, you booking process should have offered appointments at the right centre for your age group

Purplewithred

The wider point here is that the OP will not be offered the AZ jab due to her age. The risks v benefit question has already been answered for her by the regulators, and she will only see booking options for Pfizer and Moderna.

@Purplewithred

I found this very helpful in understanding the relative risk of covid vs the jab. [[https://wintoncentre.maths.cam.ac.uk/news/latest-data-mhra-blood-clots-associated-astra-zeneca-covid-19-vaccine/ scroll down a bit for the charts that visualise relative risk for different levels of covid in the community}}

Yes, but the new advice is that people under 40 should not be given AZ when they could have another vaccine.

You won't be offered a choice as such but due to your age AZ won't be allocated to you. You'll either get Pfizer or moderna and won't find out until the day, you won't be able to choose between the 2

You're about as likely to get hit by lightning as get a clot from the AZ jab (according to the BBC via Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication). I only found out which I'd had afterwards. There's a little sticker on the card.

You're about as likely to get hit by lightning as get a clot from the AZ jab

But in younger age categories, the risk of dying from covid is lower than the risk of a clot. It doesn’t matter what you compare it with.

You're about as likely to get hit by lightning as get a clot from the AZ jab.

That is simply not true, particularly for women in their 30s. If it has been reported, it will be based on outdated information.

The chance of dying from a lightening strike in the UK is 1 in 19 million. The chance of someone in their 30s getting a clot from AZ is about 1 in 80,000, and with a mortality rate of 20% that's a 1 in 400,000 chance of dying. So death from a clot is 47 times more likely than death from lightening.

Not that it really matters to OP's question anyway, seeing as she won't be offered AZ due to her age.

I'm 30 and have got mine booked for this afternoon. I got a link from my GP yesterday. Really hoping it's not AZ, but if it is then I think I'll accept it anyway... Feeling a bit nervous but also thankful that my turn has come. My area seem to be doing quite well.

You are very unlikely to be offered a choice, but the front page of the NHS booking website says

"When you book you'll only be offered appointments for vaccines that are recommended for you based on your age, any underlying health conditions, and whether you're pregnant."

My GP hub in sw london as of today is only doing pfizer for first doses. Az second doses only.

The system is supposed to have been updated to only show sites which would be offering Pfizer or Moderna. Certainly when I was booking for DH (38) there looked to be fewer locations than when BIL (40) booked his.

I don’t believe you get to choose between Pfizer or Moderna though.

I'm late thirties and eligible. My DH (over 40) has booked a local jab but every location is showing as no appointments available when I log in. I've been told this is because they only have the AstraZeneca one and so it won't let me book due to my age and no alternative being available. It would be helpful if the government clarified this though!
If appointments are coming up then I would think that means they've got an alternative available.

I received a text a few days ago offering me a place - this is what it said:

You have been invited to book your COVID-19 vaccinations.
All appointments this week are Pfizer only.
Please click the link to book your first vaccination, or to tell us you've already booked elsewhere:

@Blossomandbee

I'm late thirties and eligible. My DH (over 40) has booked a local jab but every location is showing as no appointments available when I log in. I've been told this is because they only have the AstraZeneca one and so it won't let me book due to my age and no alternative being available. It would be helpful if the government clarified this though! If appointments are coming up then I would think that means they've got an alternative available.

Keep trying they will appear. There are a few factors at play here

1. The UK ramped up capacity in March on the basis of a huge supply of AZ which never came through. It is now switching capacity over to Pfizer but it will take a couple more weeks to get that in place everywhere. But sites will be added over the coming week and slots will open up.
2. A cohort just opened and demand is high. It will drop. You need to get the sweet spot just before they drop again in c 5-6 days time.
3. GP hubs who can do Pfizer are busy with second doses. This week is a high volume 2nd dose week for them. They will start inviting soon but won’t be doing the numbers they did in phase 1 (due to their 2nd dose commitments).

@Eekaboo

You're about as likely to get hit by lightning as get a clot from the AZ jab (according to the BBC via Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication). I only found out which I'd had afterwards. There's a little sticker on the card.

Given this happened to a young boy in the past couple of days I find using this scenario for comparison is in very bad taste at the moment

My GP surgery texted me to say that Pfizer is available at the local vaccine centre and I could only book for a Tuesday or Thursday this week and next week, presumably due to supplies. Dp had his this week, he's 40. He was given Pfizer at the same site, but he was offered a much broader range of appointments and days when booking.

My dp had his Jab this week and and asked the nurse what would happen when I booked mine (pregnant so advised against the oxford) She said just tell them at the appointment as they always have more than 1 type in stock.

Why are people still arguing about AZ. The under 40’s have been told they have DO have a choice & should be offered an alternative. Thus, they are entitled to receive a different vaccine. I’ll be really annoyed if I turn up & it’s AZ. I’m 30, so on the original cut off. The risk is very low yes, but the science points to our risk being higher from the vaccine than covid. 🤷🏼‍♀️

@NotBot

Why are people still arguing about AZ. The under 40’s have been told they have DO have a choice & should be offered an alternative. Thus, they are entitled to receive a different vaccine. I’ll be really annoyed if I turn up & it’s AZ. I’m 30, so on the original cut off. The risk is very low yes, but the science points to our risk being higher from the vaccine than covid. 🤷🏼‍♀️

The under 40s will be offered an alternative to AZ - see the front page of the booking website. It doesn't mean they'll be offered a choice, but it does mean they won't be offered AZ.

"It would be helpful if the government clarified this though!"

It spells it out in black and white on the front page when you book online.

You don’t get a “choice”. You will be given an alternative to AZ as you are under 40.

Some will have Pfizer, some Moderna. Depends what’s ins rock. No choice between these. You get what your given, but it won’t be AZ.