Why are they acting like everybody has access to both jabs?

[NaturalBlondeYeahRight]

All the news talking about the app/passport. Holidays/clubs etc for the double jabbled. Most youngsters have only just had their first jab. My two probably won’t get second until the end of summer. No journalists ever mention it or ask them if they can speed up. I think most under 25’s would love to have second vaccine with 3 week gap like EU and USA.

@Yorkshirepudding1987 that is so bizarre. We have had nothing from our GP about either vaccination, not a text or letter, I asked the council about the pop clinics when they posted about them and was told by them that it was minimum 8 weeks and other people said they have been turned away.

@JaninaDuszejko

It's effectiveness is much lower after 3 weeks compared to 8.

That's AZ which the young aren't getting.

Evidence from Israel where they all have Pfizer is that the same is true of Pfizer. A longer gap is better. It's a dilemma. DS is now 5 weeks post 1st dose, 2nd dose brought forward to 8 weeks. He's very keen to get 2nd dose early because he's a teacher and the school and city is rife with covid. Even if he wasn't seriously ill he doesn't want to have to isolate.

[quote Thesearmsofmine]@Yorkshirepudding1987 that is so bizarre. We have had nothing from our GP about either vaccination, not a text or letter, I asked the council about the pop clinics when they posted about them and was told by them that it was minimum 8 weeks and other people said they have been turned away.[/quote]
Its really odd isn't it. To be fair our GP have been really good throughout the whole pandemic. They seemed way ahead with their vaccine list, my partner had his first jab 2 months or so ago and he's 35 (I had mine in Feb as being accidentally added to shielding but that wasn't their fault)
We got another text last week about a drop in happening at Cathedral House that they sent to everyone registered at our drs. My partner had his second there after 3.5 weeks.

Many NHS staff who treat Covid patients face-to-face (not in ICU in nice respirator helmets etc) but just on respiratory wards wearing thin paper masks were given their 2nd dose after 3 weeks.
I think we can assume a 3 week gap is fine.
Especially since the rest of the world is doing this. If the UK evidence of a longer gap was just so very compelling, other countries would be doing it also.
Again, the NHS staff who are the most frontline and got it very first of all in December/early Jan only had a 3 week gap.
If it is less effective like that, then they'd better blimming give the poor sods a booster as they are about to be swimming in Covid again for weeks.

The reason they haven't shortened the window between gaps for the under-40s yet is that there are concerns about supply of Pfizer etc (those of us in this age group are not getting AZ).

That said, I think they're messing this up in some places because friends my age (30s) have gone to get their second jabs, been allowed (before 8 weeks) and been told that the centre has too many doses left over and will have to chuck them out at the end of the day (Pfizer being tricky to keep).

I am still waiting for my second, which isn't scheduled until August 18. Feeling increasingly frustrated about it all tbh

@Yorkshirepudding1987 we are Kirklees too!! I think the rate has been so high here that they are encouraging as much as they can for everyone to go early!

[quote Sunshinedaisymeadowsxx]@NaturalBlondeYeahRight they can book them earlier though if they want. There are so many pop up vaccine centres daily that anyone can drop in for their 2nd if they want too. My DSS is booked for his 2nd in sept, he had first maybe 3 weeks ago, next week he’s going to go to a drop in centre for his 2nd[/quote]
I’ve looked into this though and it’s hit and miss if it’ll work. A lot of centres have been told off from up high for doing second jabs prior to 8 weeks and stopped.
I know one person who got a second after 3 weeks for travel purposes but she blagged it at a pharmacy to a sympathetic member of staff and they did it due to some very, very spurious reasoning.

@MaryBoBary

But the line is always double jabbed OR a negative test. Not double jabbed only.

I'm 31 and my second jab isn't until September. There are lots still to get first jabs. They wouldn't rule out that much of the consumer market. The economy can't afford too. I agree with PP that's it's just to encourage younger people to get jabbed - just in case.

It’s double jabbed to get out of isolation through Test and Trace and double jabbed to avoid quarantining from an Amber country though isn’t it? In which case, there is a massive benefit. I guess the T&T thing only happens from mid August and given everyone has been eligible for 3-4 weeks now, it’s probably fair to say that it is possible for someone to have not skipped the queue and be double jabbed at around the right time, but only just.

DS tried to get his 2nd dose early today. The walk in centre was empty, they refused and turned him away.

My young adults have looked into the drop in centres here and they are all VERY clear you need to be 8 weeks after your first jab before you can have your second.
My youngest has to wait for her first until she is more than 4 weeks from her positive test.

I agree with others that it is probably some nudging to remind the younger adults to get their vaccinations.

It’s double jabbed to get out of isolation through Test and Trace and double jabbed to avoid quarantining from an Amber country though isn’t it?

A great incentive for people to reduce time between doses, reducing effectiveness and then not having to test/isolate. What could go wrong?

@examina

Many NHS staff who treat Covid patients face-to-face (not in ICU in nice respirator helmets etc) but just on respiratory wards wearing thin paper masks were given their 2nd dose after 3 weeks. I think we can assume a 3 week gap is fine. Especially since the rest of the world is doing this. If the UK evidence of a longer gap was just so very compelling, other countries would be doing it also. Again, the NHS staff who are the most frontline and got it very first of all in December/early Jan only had a 3 week gap. If it is less effective like that, then they'd better blimming give the poor sods a booster as they are about to be swimming in Covid again for weeks.

A 3 week gap is fine - but not optimal. I think in the coming weeks/months, boosters will be required for all who had shorter gaps.

The issue with all of this is that the world has been learning in real time, and we are all essentially in a trial. That trial is now providing up to date and real life data, which obviously was not available earlier in the year.