Cancel vax appointment to let higher priority to go ahead?

[Suranjeep]

I’m 38 so became eligible to book a vaccine this week, which I duly did. First appointment next wed.

Now with the announcement that groups 1-9 will now be shortened I feel, assuming it isn’t cancelled by the NHS, I should cancel it myself and let the more vulnerable to first. After all I’m still young(ish) and have no health issues and am not overweight etc

Does anyone else feel this way?

Just get it done. If you don't want it, pass it up. There's no prizes for being a martyr.

Like someone has said most second doses are AZ now. You will have Pfizer or Moderna. You couldn't guarantee someone else would book your appointment time anyway. Take the appointment and help stop transmission

I don’t understand why they’re bringing second jabs forward to 8 weeks for over 50s when there have been studies proving that a longer gap actually makes the vaccine more effective?

As others have said though OP, I would go to your appointment for all the reasons already mentioned.

Don't cancel, I'm over 60 and won't be bringing my jab forward and I sure a lot of others won't either, my appointment falls between 2 holidays so I could only get it a week early anyway. You have to cancel your appointment to get a new one so it would be foolish to do that and end up with a worse appointment time or further away hub.

It's group 6 and 7 on second vaccine this weekend here so the most vulnerable have already had theirs and it's mostly AZ.

Have the jab. The majority of those having their second dose brought forward will have been done through GP hubs who will be bringing forward their second jab clinics, a random extra appt will make no difference. The spread of the Indian variant is currently in younger age groups, so slowing down the rollout there isn’t a good option either.

You are massively overthinking this and virtue signalling tbh. I went for my vaccine yesterday - I am the same age as you - I was one of hundreds and hundreds of people there, I was a drop in the ocean.

As a pp said, your slot will likely just be picked up by another 30 something anyway. People our age are being given Pfizer and moderna and most second doses are AZ at the moment. The most vulnerable should have had their second doses already.

As long as you want it, just go and get your jab.

I think the best thing anyone can do is go for their jab as soon as they are called. The vaccination programme has been planned by a lot of very well qualified people, so just let them get on with the job as time is of the essence. You’ll probably be getting a different vaccine anyway because of your age.

Just have your jab

No, if they need to cancel they will but they’ll still have the supply of the first one they need to give out so you might just be wasting it by cancelling it

You are massively overthinking this and virtue signalling tbh.

This. Just go get the vaccine. You don't get to control how or when other people have theirs.

You sound really kind @Suranjeep - but I think you should go for your vaccination and not wait.

Here group 7 are getting 2nd. I had mine over a week ago group 6. This is before the announcement.

Don’t cancel. I’m in a vulnerable group and it’s ten weeks since my first vaccine. I haven’t heard about the second one yet. But the more people that get even a full rat vaccine the better.

I think we probably have a two-route vaccine system now, AZ and not AZ. Since they don’t want to use AZ under 40, then it’s unlikely your vaccine will be used for someone else in a different category.

The other thing is that you having a single dose is helpful in preventing virus spread, just as others having their second is also helpful.

I’m 35 so not been called yet, but wouldn’t cancel in your shoes.

@Bluebird76

The limit on vaccine rollout is not appointments - they could do them at triple the rate if need be - it's vaccine supplies. Second doses are overwhelmingly going to be Astrazeneca ones, which as an under 40yo you won't be getting. So non-vulnerable groups can be vaccinated without any effect on the speed at which vulnerable groups receive theirs. Definitely don't hold back, it's now really a question of as many jabs in as many arms as fast as possible!

This. Your first dose won’t hinder the second doses as it will be a different jab. Just get your jab so hopefully everyone can be jabbed as quickly as possible.

Getting as many people as possible vaccinated quickly benefits us all.

Whitty was also clear yesterday that age is the biggest risk factor and someone in their late 30s is more at risk of serious covid than someone who is 20 for example, so getting you protected is important.

2nd doses will already have been allocated and they wouldn't bring them forward if they didn't know they can do it without disruption to the rollout.

Getting vaccinated is the most useful thing you can do, every arm gets closer to herd immunity.

The majority will be AZ for second doses; about 15m remaining second doses are AZ versus 1m Pfizer spread through the last 3 months. Moderna has nobody ready for second doses yet. So it's different vaccines that don't conflict.

@MrsFezziwig

I am of the opinion that people faffing about with their appointments is a massive waste of NHS time. And unless you’re going to persuade about half a million of your mates to do the same, your gesture (although well meant) will have no effect whatsoever on the vaccination programme. Just go to the appointment.

This is correct. For U40 it’s a waste of vaccine and staff time.

They want to speed up 2nd doses. At this stage the vast majority of 2nd dose activity is AZ. We have a lot of AZ capability. That is teams and sites who are able to use AZ. The supply is available.

First dose activity is now predominantly Pfizer. There is a planned increase in capacity to use Pfizer in vaccination centres and pharmacies. It’s been planned for sometime now. If you have a Pfizer appointment the team will be trained and assigned to this work next week. They have the vaccine ordered and set to arrive. In most cases it is defrosted and has a shelf life of less than 5 days.

When it arrives it needs to be used. It cannot be used for 2 nd doses. It cannot be cancelled.

GP hubs might be working at capacity but other "book online" centres aren't.
I had my second dose last week at a decent sized centre (next to the largest supermarket in my nearby large town) and the place was empty.
I was literally the only person there, apart from all the Staff.

No, have your vaccine - most of us have appointments booked and aren't bringing them forward, dp is group 8 and has his second in 3 weeks anyway.

The more people with a single dose the better

(Ps, no cases in our area so no point!)

No, have your jab so the chance of you passing infection to others is reduced.

I have been monitoring availability for my second jab (I am at 9 weeks and had my first with a GP consortium who doesn't book second until they know what supplies are likely to arrive). Until today my options have all been miles away, but I see they now have lots of availability at the nearby mass vaccination centre.

Most of us over 50's will be getting AZ, which they aren't giving to younger people.

Oh god do not cancel. It would not make a difference at all.