Second pfizer jab earlier than 8 weeks

[Iwonder08]

Has anyone managed to get a second pfizer jab earlier than 8 weeks after the first one? Medically there should be 21 days between 2 doses so there is no reason not to have it sooner. Is it at all possible to book earlier if there are special circumstances?

I had mine at 4 weeks (Pfizer) in S.Yorkshire.

@TreaslakeandBack

We’re doing 3 weeks gap for Pfizer and4 weeks AZ where I vaccinate (Yorkshire).

DS got turned away in Yorkshire today. He's 5 weeks but although he got past the stewards at the door those inside were adamant no 2nd dose before 8 weeks. The place was empty as well. I'm conflicted on this. There is plenty of evidence that a longer gap gives greater immunity and I would have counselled strongly in favour of waiting until the last couple of weeks. But cases are so high now the risk / benefit ratio has changed.

@FASDE1517 can you give me a bit more information? Was it Pfizer? I can’t find the hospital on the list of walkins in Kent. How many weeks was your son?

@givemushypeasachance

The Guardian liveblog referenced one of the vaccination committee talking about that on Radio 4 this morning. tl;dr is you get short term gains from doing the jabs closer together so more people 'fully vaccination' quicker, but lose out on the strength of protection and how long it lasts:

Prof Adam Finn, a member of the JCVI, expressed reservations about the idea. He told the Today programme that, although in some respects people might benefit from getting a second dose early, in other respects they might lose out. He said:

"There is of course an advantage in giving the second dose early, in the current circumstances with all the cases that we are seeing because you get a further boost, but the downside to that is the size of that boost is smaller and probably that will mean that the duration of protection you get from that second dose will be shorter.

So there’s a sweet spot, and at the moment the advice we have given is we should not reduce the interval less than eight weeks."

Giving the mRNA vaccines at a 3-4 week interval has helped the highly vaccinated parts of the US keep COVID rates low.

I'd rather have that than some slightly higher level of protection. At worst I'll take a booster if needed.

There’s very little evidence a longer gap helps for Pfizer (there is more evidence it does for AZ). There’s only 1 study for Pfizer showing higher antibody levels when you compare a 3 to 12 week gap but it’s in over 80’s who are slower to illicit an immune response.

Everyone in my age bracket were offered Pfizer 3/4 weeks apart. We had our 2nd done a couple of weeks ago. It was through a local dr surgery hub. Somerset. I thought 3 weeks was advised now? It does seem to keep changing!

Forgot to say, age bracket is early 30s.

Why are waiting times so difficult country to country?!
I had pfeizer and booked in 4 weeks later for second dose ( Ireland)

Not difficult- different

@MountainDweller Same! My second appointment time was exactly four weeks - to the minute - after the first (BL). Have to love Swiss time-keeping!
I got Moderna, which in Ireland is given after about 3 weeks. In Germany I believe its currently six weeks . So much variation!

Why are waiting times so difficult country to country?!

The waiting times have largely been driven by supply.

The initial recommendation from Pfizer was a 3 weeks gap but it was only based on stage 3 clinical trials (25,000-30,000 people). In the grand scheme of things, it is not a big sample

Now we have given millions of vaccines in the UK alone and we have got much better data on the relationship between vaccine efficacy and the length of gap between the two doses. I do not think all the results have been published so it is entirely possible that JCVI (and Adam Finn) have got strong evidence that an 8 week gap works better than a shorter interval.

However - there is a trade off between vaccine efficacy and speed of roll out when cases are high.

I’m in Australia and here it’s 3-4 weeks for Pfizer and they don’t want you going over 4 weeks.

I’m planning on a booster in December or maybe an AZ shot later in the year too.

Same in NZ Ozgirl75

Son was invited for his second Pfizer after four weeks, East Midlands. He had it although I was unsure if it would have been better for him to wait until 8 weeks.

Dd got turned away at a walk in last week. She had 10 days to go before 8 weeks!

I got mine done at four weeks in the north east.

It was a drop in and I was first in the queue,
My friend went later in the day and they refused and said she had to be 8 weeks.

I got my second Pfizer with a 4 week gap, (at a walk in) because I'm heavily pregnant.
I got my first as soon as I was eligible by age, but the original 12 week gap would have meant the second jab in my due date week, when I might be a bit busy.

@Ozgirl75

I’m in Australia and here it’s 3-4 weeks for Pfizer and they don’t want you going over 4 weeks.

I’m planning on a booster in December or maybe an AZ shot later in the year too.

I'm in Aus, and getting second Pfizer at 5 weeks (this Friday, yay!)

I had my second dose of Pfizer 5 weeks after my first - someone reported on the reddit get jabbed thread that a walk in clinic at a local hospital was doing 2nd doses for people 21 days+ past their first Pfizer so I went there, queued for hours and got jabbed.

Well having been turned away yesterday DS tried again at a different centre today and got it. It's a 5 week gap. Not ideal, but with the massive increase in covid all around he feels safer.