Should I book my second Pfizer jab early or wait?

[wondering7777]

I'm in my 30s, had my first Pfizer jab around a month ago and have just been invited to book my second.

I went onto the site and it says "your second vaccine should be approximately 12 weeks after your first", but the dates it's offering are for the next couple of days.

I'm unsure what to do as isn't it meant to be more effective to wait for 12 weeks?

I thought you had to book both at the same time?

If you are invited please book.
As per manufacture dosage should be 3 weeks. Evidence for long gap may vary based on data available at that time and it’s a ongoing process.
And committee/ nhs inviting ppl for appointments a should be trusted as they have better information than 99.9999% of mumsnet community.

@InnaBun

I thought you had to book both at the same time?

I think the OP booked her first via the GP hub, not the national booking site. For the GP hubs you just book your first appointment and wait for a text to book the second appointment, unlike with the national booking site where you must book both appointments at the same time.

OP - exactly the same thing happened to me this morning and I've booked my second vaccination at just shy of 5 weeks from the first. Given that the first vaccination is only about 30% effective against the Delta variant, it seems prudent and expedient to book the second vaccination ASAP when it is offered.

I thought you had to book both at the same time?

So did I, but I wasn’t given that option when I booked the first one!

Ah I see, I'd take it OP, the UK gov just lengthened the time to try and get as many people to have their first dose as possible

@BlackLambAndGreyFalcon yes, it was through a GP hub. Thanks for the advice - I will go ahead and book!

Incidentally, does anyone know how effective two doses of vaccine are against the Delta variant?

[quote wondering7777]@BlackLambAndGreyFalcon yes, it was through a GP hub. Thanks for the advice - I will go ahead and book!

Incidentally, does anyone know how effective two doses of vaccine are against the Delta variant?[/quote]
Two doses provide 88% protection:

www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210610/delta-variant-and-covid-19-vaccines-what-to-know

OP can I ask are you in one of the vulnerable groups?
I'm desperate to get my 2nd but can only get it after 11 weeks of my first.

@ursuslemonade

OP can I ask are you in one of the vulnerable groups? I'm desperate to get my 2nd but can only get it after 11 weeks of my first.

I'm not the OP, but this happened to me too and I'm not in any of the vulnerable groups (I'm under 40).

If you booked via the GP hub, I'd expect a text message to come shortly as there seems to be a push to get second vaccines done sooner, even if it's not official policy.

If you booked via the national booking website then it will currently only show appointments for 11 weeks gap for the under-40s. Hopefully this GP push might mean that the official policy might change and therefore those who booked via the national website can rearrange their appointments (over-40s can do so now on the national website, but only for an 8-week gap, despite the policy officially only applying to those in groups 1-9).

Thank you for your reply, booked it through the website, let's see how helpful the gp receptionist will be. I'm under 40 but right next door to area high in cases.

I've got a similar query except booked both my appointments through the National Booking website - second currently booked for 11 weeks after the first one. Received a text today asking me to book in my second one with dates offered this week but am unsure whether to go ahead- the link seems legitimate etc...but wasn't expecting the GP to contact me as I've already booked via National Booking. Under 40 and had Pfizer- but concerned that if I book this week I'll be told off/not allowed to have it as it's just 4 weeks after my first.

Hi @ursuslemonade, no I'm not in a vulnerable group. I was surprised to get the text so soon!

Two doses provide 88% protection

Great!

I haven't been able to do so myself yet but I am really keen to since that Lancet paper that said stretching out the interval between first and second Pfizer doses longer than three weeks caused immunity to fall away sooner than if you have it with a three week gap.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01290-3/fulltext

There’s some evidence that a longer gap is better for AZ. I’m not aware of anything saying that for Pfizer.

In your shoes, I’d book.

Hmm just asked the gp receptionist but she told me that it's not possible to bring it forward and the GP can't help me. I said I find that hard to believe. Might try a different receptionist...

@vaxmeup

I've got a similar query except booked both my appointments through the National Booking website - second currently booked for 11 weeks after the first one. Received a text today asking me to book in my second one with dates offered this week but am unsure whether to go ahead- the link seems legitimate etc...but wasn't expecting the GP to contact me as I've already booked via National Booking. Under 40 and had Pfizer- but concerned that if I book this week I'll be told off/not allowed to have it as it's just 4 weeks after my first.

I doubt you'll be turned away if you book via the gp text. There seems to be a concerted effort to bring forward the second dose. If you've got the text then it's definitely legit and if you book via the link you'll be on the list for the day, so they'll be expecting you.

I had a GP text yesterday to book my second Pfizer dose for this coming Saturday which will be 4 weeks exactly after my first dose. I’ve booked. I’m 36.

I’m now booked in, hurrah!

Good for you OP ( and the rest of posters who have managed to book their 2nd)
Could you tell me your whereabouts please as I want to escalate this, there is no reason why I can't get my 2nd earlier.

@ursuslemonade South-East London.

I’m in SE London. There’s a push to bring forward the AZ jab for the over 40s who had the first jab in mid-April. Lots of the mass vaccination centres are now offering walk-ins for that group and those that haven’t had their first AZ jab yet (look on social media). But there seems to be a shortage of the Pfizer vaccine for both first and second jabs not already booked - with centres previously having availability now no longer doing so.

@Lovelydovey I'm in SE London, under 40, had Pfizer and my GP hub contacted me to book my 2nd vaccination at a 4 week gap! Presumably if they can do that, there can't be too much of a Pfizer shortage!

I’ve just checked the NHS booking system and it’s now offering me jabs from 8 weeks instead of 11. I’m 31.

Thank you for your answers. I'm in Berkshire so not a million miles away.

In many countries they are doing 3-4 weeks between Pfizer as per manufacture guidelines. 2 dose offers better protection.