Rebook Pfizer second jab earlier than 11 weeks

[farlie1]

Has anyone been able to move their second appointment forward (under 50)? I'm away for work for 6 weeks in August and the earliest appointment I can get is a few days after I leave. I want to bring this forward a few days to a 10.5 week gap but the system is only showing 11 weeks, if I waited until I get back it will be 17 weeks. I tried calling 119 but they are no help as they said to just keep trying as new appointments appear all the time, however the issue isn't the availability it's the minimum 11 week gap in the system. I appreciate that under 50s aren't supposed to bring theirs forward, I'm just worried I'll have to start the first jab again if I wait until after I get back. Anyone in a similar situation managed to get an earlier appointment?

You won’t have to start it again. You will be given it at any time after the first. More appointments will become available. 119 don’t have magic access to slots. You are just going to have to keep trying.

I don’t think the NHS should be rearranging appointments for all the people going away for work in August.

Can you book it for near where will be staying? (assuming if in UK?) I have a similar problem that I'm away bang on 11 weeks after my first vaccination and ideally I would like my second one before I go. I'm hoping that either the booking system will change and let me book it earlier than 11 weeks or that the gp (my first was done in a gp hub) will call me sooner than 11 weeks. But if that doesn't happen, I can have it at 12 weeks when I'm back (no centres near where I'm going on the national booking site).

Do you have anywhere close by that are doing walk ins? I got my first by just rocking up one evening and taking a leftover dose. People were doing the same there for their second doses aswell with shorter than 11 weeks since their first. I believe as long as it was at least 6 weeks post first vaccine they were doing it.

I am in an area that have been allowing walk ins for a few months now in some centres now though. Not sure if that is the case near you.

@lemonTT one would assume the NHS would prefer ppl vaxed at 8/9/10/11 weeks then see lots of missed appointments in Aug. It would certainly be a lot cheaper than seeing ppl missing boosters and potentially ending up sick. Which is what will happen if ppl can't make their appointments cos of holidays or travel.

It's a tad unfortunate that many under 50s will have their second jabs in the school holidays. They need to allow ppl to get second jabs early.

[quote Booksandtea84]@lemonTT one would assume the NHS would prefer ppl vaxed at 8/9/10/11 weeks then see lots of missed appointments in Aug. It would certainly be a lot cheaper than seeing ppl missing boosters and potentially ending up sick. Which is what will happen if ppl can't make their appointments cos of holidays or travel.

It's a tad unfortunate that many under 50s will have their second jabs in the school holidays. They need to allow ppl to get second jabs early.[/quote]
They are allowing people to have them early. Just not under 50’s at the moment.

The NHS doesn’t have endless supplies of vaccine and workforce to do everything. And it’s our NHS. We need to help them undertake a huge ask by being available for our appointments.

I believe that if you are 40+ you can book your second vaccination at 8 weeks (despite the official policy applying to just groups 1-9). GP hubs also tended to call before 11 weeks anyway (certainly in my local area) before the official change of policy.

I had mine earlier than planned. At just over 8 weeks. I went to a walk-in centre that had put out a plea for more people to vaccinate as it was quiet. They did stipulate that you had to have had first dose before a certain date which must have been 8 weeks. Nothing about age another friend went along too who want over 50s.
Obviously has to be a clinic doing same brand of jab too!
I work with staff doing the vaccine roll out and I think they'd prefer you to be jabbed early rather than late. Everyone's keen to get everyone protected ASAP

I’m over 40 and when I went to book my second dose I was offered 9 weeks +. So it’s not just over-50s and the CV who are able to bring doses forward. I booked my second jab for 10weeks.

And when ANYONE books their first jab now the webpage says you should book your second jab between 8-12 weeks.

40+ can book earlier than 11 weeks, but at the moment under-40s can't book sooner than 11 weeks.