Been invited by GP to have 2nd jab 4 weeks after first

[allgoodthings84]

Is this safe? I can’t remember as the advice has changed more than once.

I had my first on 22nd May and I’ve just been invited to book my second for 19th June. It’s at my local GP surgery. Originally the first booking text said second would be 11 weeks later

Someone I know has just had his second AZ three weeks after his first, which I thought was odd (I had to wait 12 weeks for mine and I'm CV).

Just had my second after 5.5weeks on Thursday. Gp led clinic. I asked when I got there said they are happy to give Pfizer as long as it has been 3 weeks and they are just keen to get to get everyone on their list done ASAP.

I’m in a London borough and I’ve had an invite to book my second, the day after it had been 3 weeks. Loads of other people that had it around the same time as me have had the same (all mid-late twenties)
I’m waiting for an appointment after work and there aren’t any for next week (week 4) so it will probably be the following week at this rate.

Originally it was 3 weeks. I think it was changed to 12 weeks partly to make it so they could at least partially vaccinated more people more quickly.

Dh had his second jab 6 weeks after the first. Mine was 11 weeks.

I think the initial advice from the scientists when vaccines first came out was a gap of either three or four weeks. It was lengthened to around 12 weeks to make the supplies go further and allow more people the chance to get the first dose in much sooner.

At least, that is what I seem to remember anyway.

I'd say it is safe, and would go for it.

Completely safe. The only reason they made it close to 12 weeks originally was because they did not have enough doses. If they can do the second dose after 3-4 weeks, then it's in line with the clinical trials.

Three weeks is fine and were the guidelines in dec and jan. It's probably because that's when they have jabs available as they prob wont use two separate makes on the same day. ( we don't anyway)

It's fine but you'd probably bend up with slightly less protection than if you had a longer gap. I'd decide based on covid rates in your area and how much contact you have, particularly with unvaccinated people.

Thanks everyone. I’ll go if it’s safe. I have worked right through the pandemic and not at home and my daughter is at primary school so I guess a good idea to get done. I don’t think we are that high in cases in our district but it’s creeping up and nearly 40/100,000 now.

It’s at my GP so we don’t get offered different dates to choose from just got a text saying to book on the one date.

Our GP does Pfizer and AZ and does both on same day sometimes, one in the morning and other in the afternoon. It was 2nd dose AZ but I’m guessing it’s all Pfizer pretty much now as our GP is ahead. Already doing under 25s this Friday coming so up with the central booking.

Your second dose should normally be the same vaccine as the first dose. If you go in and they are offering something different, you should make sure that the vaccinator knows it's something different.

I strongly suspect it's safe to mix vaccines, but there is no clinical trial data out yet of which I'm aware to demonstrate safety or efficacy of changing the vaccine provider between 1st and 2nd dose.

I personally would not move AZ to earlier than 8 weeks.

Clinical trials appear to show that the optimal interval between the 2 doses is closer to 12 weeks. I can understand why we are asked to forgo some of the vaccine efficacy and move the second dose slightly earlier (e.g. 8 weeks) but going earlier than that, in my opinion, is a trade off not worth making.

If it is Pfizer, the initial recommendation is 3 weeks between the two doses. Moderna is 4 weeks.

I would definitely wait if it's AZ, it's been shown that you get better protection with a longer gap.

Sorry I meant my GP is doing both AZ and Pfizer but for different people. Not mixing vaccines.

I just realised I didn’t say what my vaccine was. Messed this one up ha ha! I had Pfizer.

I am also being asked to have my second Pfizer early (just shy of 5 weeks). Given that the efficiency of 1 vaccination against the Delta varient is only about 30%, I was very relieved to get that text!

Me too, tonight - four weeks exactly. The original guidance for Pfizer was 3 weeks, people still say that’s the best gap. Totally fine.