For Pfizer vaccine - does it make a difference if 4 weeks or 8 weeks apart? Which is more effective?

[loveyouradvice]

Hi... 18 year old daughter here who had her first vaccine 4 weeks ago.

I was inclined to encourage her to get the next as soon as she can, on the basis we have a vulnerable person in the house and better sooner given Delta doing the rounds of teens.

But my DH spotted that 8 weeks is more effective - which is probably a good idea, since she will be at Uni in the autumn. And yes, I think she might be in a group more vulnerable to Long Covid....

What does the latest science say? What would you do?

I don't think you get the choice at the moment... You can't get your second until 8 weeks after first

NHS staff and the elderly and clinically vulnerable groups had to wait 12 + weeks for dose 2 at the outset due to supply being lower.

Same for the next group with AZ.

If you'll note infections.and deaths have still dropped regardless.

A young healthy teenager is at a low risk from covid anyway.

I read that moderna worked well at any gap given. AZ worked better with a longer gap. Pfizer was the first vaccine and everyone got it at the outset with a longer.

Go for 6 weeks. It doubt it matters all that much.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-57682233

This article discusses this. I have friends abroad who had 6 weeks between Pfizer as standard. Some people my age (30s) are being called for second dose by their GPS after 6 weeks so it must be at least ok.

@Nikki305

I don't think you get the choice at the moment... You can't get your second until 8 weeks after first

Forgot that. I was texted to rearrange mine early but that was a 9 week gap. I don't think you can choose.

@Nikki305

I don't think you get the choice at the moment... You can't get your second until 8 weeks after first

I had my second Pfizer yesterday 6 weeks after my first. Had the text on Friday, booked for the following day. Depends on your area.

That's good to know, really hope I get mine sooner!

Yes, booking it I think she's been given her appointment at 10 weeks... but we're in an area where there seem to be lots of drop in get your vaccine places to encourage take up...so some of them seem to be getting their second much earlier....

I wouldn't be in any hurry. Second dose of moderna was hell. Far worse than the first.

It was 3 days ago and I'm still not right.

My second Pfizer has been fine so far, no side effects other than a mildly sore arm.

I’ve posted this before but the ONLY reason we are pushing an 8 week gap is a supply issue. It was in the press last week.

Take a look at Israel, the UAE & states the the US with high uptake. They all did Pfizer 3 weeks apart & are pretty much fully open. Infections are in the low hundreds & deaths extremely low. Israel is about 0-3 per week!

We aren’t biologically so different that U.K. people need an 8 week gap 😂 it’s the supply.

There was a study looking at a longer gap in the over 80’s only. They did have a better immune response with a bigger gap. The study notes this isn’t so surprising as a 80+ year old has a vastly slower immune system/response..

Also, anecdotal but everyone I know who had Pfizer & both doses had minimal side effects. Sore arm, minor headache 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m 33 and so all my friends & younger family have had it..

Pfizer was first regulated for use 3 weeks between doses, AZ was trialled on 12 weeks. Those vaccinated before Christmas only had a 3 week gap. Supply issues drove the delay and Pfizer was retrospectively regulated for a longer gap between doses.

@loveyouradvice

Yes, booking it I think she's been given her appointment at 10 weeks... but we're in an area where there seem to be lots of drop in get your vaccine places to encourage take up...so some of them seem to be getting their second much earlier....

It's just worth checking the position before you go... the local walks ins here can't accept someone who isn't 8 weeks post first vaccine. They are being very strict about it (I'm 8 weeks tomorrow but couldn't attend a walk in this weekend) although this doesn't seem to be the case everywhere.

thanks Lemoncake great advice - will do

Anything after 3 weeks for Pfizer is fine. (Because of her age, I'm assuming that's what she had.)

The science about waiting is purely based on a limited study involving 80-something year olds. You can't extrapolate that back to your 18-year-old DD.

It's getting increasingly more difficult to find somewhere that will vaccinate 'early' and some centres are actually binning vaccines thanks to stupid centralised NHS policy. But if she can find somewhere willing to vaccinate her after 22 days, I'd recommend it. Waiting for 8 weeks only means she has 5 weeks in which she could catch Delta.