Is it possible to request Pfizer vaccine?

[yellowfeathereddress]

I would like the pfizer over moderna is it possible to request this before I get an appointment?
Already really stressed about it all as I know someone who was very ill from the AZ vaccine.
Thanks

Your best bet is to find a walk in clinic that announces they’re giving Pfizer on a certain day. Loads are popping up in multiple cities.

@PomegranateQueen

To be fair, plenty of people did exactly that when az was first getting bad press.

If you don't want a certain vaccine, don't have it

This, I would rather people wasted a slot every so often to get thier vaccine of choice, then people not booking at all. I would have refused AZ if they still offered it to under 40s.

In Scotland if an over 40 refuses AZ that's it. Tough. Nothing. I'm raging about it.

In Scotland if an over 40 refuses AZ that's it. Tough. Nothing. I'm raging about it

Thats disgusting.

In Scotland if an over 40 refuses AZ that's it. Tough. Nothing. I'm raging about it. Hmm, I would like to see a written policy stating this. I think that there is a lot of flexibility because they want toget people to be vaccinated, so I am remaining openminded about this unless I see some evidence of it as an official policy.

Not saying there wouldn't be some individuals who are like this, but when I asked questions I got only helpfulness as it is a national priority to get people vaccinated.

@colouringcrayons

In Scotland if an over 40 refuses AZ that's it. Tough. Nothing. I'm raging about it. Hmm, I would like to see a written policy stating this. I think that there is a lot of flexibility because they want toget people to be vaccinated, so I am remaining openminded about this unless I see some evidence of it as an official policy.

Not saying there wouldn't be some individuals who are like this, but when I asked questions I got only helpfulness as it is a national priority to get people vaccinated.

I've now tried three times and the GP confirmed nothing can be done unless the rules change.

They were not unpleasant but I didn't get what I asked for. Lothians.

I had moderna, DH had Pfizer.

They are very similar vaccinations, we had very similar side effects. Sore arm and tired after first jab, fever and flu like symptoms for two days after second.

Dc had Pfizer and very few symptoms.

But the moderna vaccine is well on the to being approved for dc. Their trials are going well but started later than Pfizer.

Do you have a local fb page you can join to ask which people have had at which venues? It's well known in my area that one larger centre is moderna and the other phizer. For the record I had moderna , no issues but a sore arm.

What makes you think there isn't a policy, crayons? I was very much told it was the policy. They had Biontech in the centre but wouldn't give it to me. I've wasted about nine hours now driving, queuing and discussing this. I'm scunnered!

I had AZ in Scotland (I'm 47). Only side effect was a sore arm for a few days. Out of all the people I know only my mum has had pfizer; the rest had AZ

You are far more likely to be offered Pfizer over Moderna.

Moderna is a tiny fraction of the UK vaccine stockpile. My husband showed me a chart recently and it’s forecast to be less than 5% of vaccines forecast given once we’re all jabbed.

Only the big mass vaccination centres are supplied with Moderna - there’s only 3 sites in total in London for example.

I actually sought out the Moderna as it has had good recorded outcomes with pregnant women. No side effects at all, just a slightly sore arm.

Looks like I will just book it and see then. Not sure when to book it for. If I'm sick I have no one to help me with school runs. Suppose I'll have to take a risk and see what happens. I am so nervous for it. Feel like I haven't got time to be ill!
I've mainly stayed in and live rurally so am more scared of the vaccine than getting but I do have dc so I suppose I could get it from school.

I’m getting the moderna and was a bit worried as I don’t know anyone who has had it, I think the unknown was making me nervous, was tempted to change my appointment and look for Pfizer but at this point I would just rather be vaccinated than keep waiting.

Where do you live OP? Some places in Salford are offering walk ins for 1st jabs so you could check that way without wasting an appointment

@dementedpixie

You have mentioned 3 vaccines there. AZ is not the same as Moderna. Is Moderna not more like Pfizer?

You don't usually get to choose tbh unless you are under 40 and then AZ is not normally 1st choice

You still don’t get a choice under 40. You just don’t get AZ. You’ll get whatever alternative is there on the day.

OP, you’re much more likely to get Pfizer than Moderna as there’s more of it around.

Had Moderna today in Lothians, scotland. Am 37 weeks pregnant. I have severe health anxiety so I chose not to ask what i was being given until it was already done, as I didn’t want to give myself any reason to be more fearful.

Had a bit of a sore arm tonight. Would say my arm was sorer with the whooping cough vaccine earlier in pregnancy.

I don’t know why I’m contributing, it’s just that perhaps your fear is purely because of there being few people talking about having had Moderna. I wanted it to be Pfizer because SO many people have had that with no effects and that would have helped my anxiety.

Anyway, if it helps you at all, I had it today. So did my partner. We are both absolutely fine so far. Not a single effect yet other than sore arms.

But agree you are more likely to get Pfizer.

Look on social media. Some vaccine centres are publishing what they are giving on social media, some word is just spreading.

A friend of mine didn't want the AZ for obvious reasons and she was over 40 so az was the option available to her. One of our friends, under 40, told her to book at same place she was going in a few weeks. They both had the pfizer.

Worth a shot if you know anyone who is under 40.

I reluctantly booked today. Despite living very close to a major vaccination centre I was allocated slots at several pharmacies and centres in other towns near me. I've booked in for one in a village pharmacy here in the South and called them to check what the vaccine was and she told me Moderna. I had checked their website and the google info says they're giving AZ. I just hope it's still Moderna in a few weeks when I get my slot. They made me boom the second slot as well and I'm having to travel all the way to Brighton for it! So assuming that it will be Moderna there as well as a PP has mentioned

Officially sites do not need to offer an AZ alternative for over 40’s. Some areas are accepting that over 40’s people who only want Pfizer should get it rather than nothing. But it’s not going to be official and is supply dependent.

A few places can’t do Pfizer / moderna yet. They only take over 40 bookings.

The Moderna supply is increasingly going to pharmacies.

Can you ask friends and see what they got and where they went? Social media sometimes tells you too. I went to a pharmacy today and got Moderna, it’s the only one they are offering. A local place is only doing over 40’s as they only have AZ and everyone else I know has gone to a conference centre where it’s Pfizer and AZ.

The lady doing mine said Pfizer was really similar to Moderna and that moderna had done really well in tests and was a really good jab so try not to worry too much if that’s what you get.

I’m 37 and I had the moderna at the weekend had no side effects except for a slightly sore arm that I only noticed when I lifted something a little heavy. I did use it as a excuse to have a Sunday afternoon nap tho

My dh and dd (16 with a underlying heart condition) both had the Pfizer and both had sore arm and flu like symptoms after but otherwise ok.

From what I can gather the two are very similar but if your not happy to have the moderna then you absolutely have the right to refuse.

Have a read up on Moderna too as the technology is almost identical to Pfizer but if you still feel apprehensive you can absolutely decline if you arrive and that’s all that is on offer. As others have said stocks of Moderna are low so it’s likely you’ll be offered Pfizer. I hope you can get sorted.

I have now booked my jabs. But now I'm really worried. I have severe periods every month and after researching it would appear these vaccines can cause this as a side effect? Has anyone had this? I can't handle anymore than what I already have. My GP are useless they are so hard to get an app. and when I do they don't really help.

I used to have a lovely GP but I've moved and only been to this one twice but that's mainly because I can't ever get an app.
It's all making me so anxious and down. And I'm also worried because if I get sick I don't get paid at work and can't afford to lose my job that are extremely uncaring about any kind of sickness. Just so much worry not even sure I'm going to muster the courage to go at this rate. I know to many I'll sound like a coward and I probably am but all these worries are driving me crazy, couldn't sleep after I booked it dh trying to help me and saying sure it will be fine etc but I'm catastrophising absolutely everything.
He did agree we can't afford to lose the income if I'm sick though.

@yellowfeathereddress well done for booking. Hopefully you’ll be able to get the Pfizer vaccination. In contrast to the AZ no one I know who has had Pfizer has felt ill after their vaccination so fingers crossed you’ll be ok. My husband is in his 30s and just had a sore arm after his Pfizer. I’m in my 30s and had AZ which has caused me a world of worry but my usually heavy period was just the same as it always was and even if it did impact on your cycle other than being inconvenient it shouldn’t have any other negative effect on you. I sympathise as I know it’s nerve wracking, I was extremely anxious before I had my first but take a deep breath, you’ve got this.