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Original poster

Is there a way to have the second dose earlier than 8 weeks?

76 replies

FeelingJittery1 · 01/09/2021 10:14

My dad passed away today morning..I’m in pieces snd not sure what to do. I’m single jabbed and the next appointment is not until early Oct- is there any way I can have this earlier - maybe in 6 weeks so I can travel when the restrictions lift in my country?

I have a call booked in with the gp tomorrow but has anyone done this? I had Pfizer

OP posts:
Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 01/09/2021 10:16

Bump

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3cats4poniesandababy · 01/09/2021 10:18

I don't believe so. Everything I have seen says minimum of 8 weeks. I guess all you can do it see what GP says?

Will the country accept PCR testing instead if vaccination?

PeonyTime · 01/09/2021 10:21

When did you have your first vaccination?
Walk in clinics are everywhere round here currently. You could get in there 8 weeks to the day.
I'm not sure there is the possibility of a smaller than 8 week gap tho - and there is usually a 2 week wait post second vaccination for you to class as fully vaccinated.

Sorry to hear about your Dad Flowers

mamamedic · 01/09/2021 10:23

Sorry for the loss of your Dad. Yes you can get vaccinated earlier. My sons had 2nd jabs at 3 weeks in order to travel. Go onto Reddit/getjabbed and there's loads of info there about walk in clinics that will vaccinate earlier than 8 weeks.

Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 01/09/2021 10:23

@PeonyTime 1st dose was 3 weeks ago-

@3cats4poniesandababy you have to quarantine in a facility for 2 weeks if not double jabbed

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steppemum · 01/09/2021 10:24

it depends which vaccine you had.

On the radio recently they were talking about this and actually with AZ, if you have it BEFORE 8 weeks, it is ineffective as a second dose.

I think for Pfizer it is about 4 weeks.

But whether you can get anyone to give it to you is another matter

Lou98 · 01/09/2021 10:30

When I went for my Pfizer they told me that it was a minimum 8 weeks as it's not as effective before that (although I've seen others say different so worth a check with the GP)

Also though, they told me that you need to wait 2 weeks after the second before you're technically counted as double jabbed if that makes sense - so even if you get someone to give you it at 6 weeks say, you'd still have to wait 2 weeks before you don't need to quarantine.

Would you be able to go over any earlier and do the 2 week quarantine?

Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 01/09/2021 10:30

@mamamedic I’ll have a look

@steppemum I had Pfizer

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MKCH · 01/09/2021 10:32

I had my second Pfizer at 7 weeks (through official NHS booking website) - they did say that would be the absolute minimum they'd be prepared to do though.

Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 01/09/2021 10:32

@Lou98 if I had two hand then I can quarantine at home- with a negative pcr

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Wellbythebloodyhell · 01/09/2021 10:34

I Don't think so. It's been really strict 8 weeks even when GP have booked people in early they have been turned away at vaccine centre on instructions from above (above GPs). Early vaccination Is very strictly for clinical reasons only such as the patient my be under going chemotherapy for example and earlier vaccination would co incide with their treatments. GPs in our area have been advised not to send patients forward for early vaccination for travel purposes (regardless of circumstances) the reason for this is the efficacy of the vaccine works best between 8-12 weeks so having it earlier means you're not as protected as you could be. I can only speak for my area CCG of course, other areas maybe less strict. I'm sorry to hear about your father Flowers

Cookerhood · 01/09/2021 10:35

At our vaccination centre they will not vaccinate you before 8 weeks without a medical reason, supported by a note from your doctor. However there are walk in centres where you can get them earlier. I hesitate to suggest it to you given your anxieties but there is a reddit subforum (I don't do reddit, so don't really understand it) where people signpost centres where you can get it in under 8 weeks. Just don't disappear down any other rabbit holes on there. It's called "get jabbed" I think. Whereabouts in the country are you (roughly)?
I'm sorry to hear about your father.
If it is a red country you will have to quarantine in a hotel when you come back here.

Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 01/09/2021 10:37

@Cookerhood yes I’m trying to avoid rabbit holes- I’m east of England -

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FluffyFerns · 01/09/2021 10:39

I had my second Pfizer at 5 weeks. Depending where you are in the country, there might be places that will let you have it early. Will be worth looking at this Reddit page to find out: www.reddit.com/r/GetJabbed/

Ontopofthesunset · 01/09/2021 10:50

Definitely go onto the Reddit/getjabbed thread. It depends where in the country you are but my son and various other young people who needed the second jab for travel (year abroad etc) were able to get it - lots of clinics and pharmacies in London offering it. The one my son went to was offering Pfizer after 3 weeks.

Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 01/09/2021 10:52

@Ontopofthesunset I’m looking for somewhere around Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire or Cambridge- nothing so far but will keep looking.

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worrybutterfly · 01/09/2021 10:57

I'm pregnant have been trying to get my vaccine earlier for weeks.

It's a postcode lottery if I'm honest, I have healthy friends that are under 30 who've managed to get their vaccines with a 3-4week gap. There just turned up at a walk-in clinic and it was done, no questions asked.

I tried as my second vaccine is due the week of my due date and I'd rather not have the side effects while in labour or with a newborn.The vaccine centre said to talk to my GP who'd sign it off, I spoke to GP and they said to go to the vaccine centre and talk to the doctor there who'd be able to approve it.

Went to the vaccine centre and the doctor there said they were happy to do it but I'd need a letter from the GP first. I contacted the GP again and said I was happy to pay for the letter (standard practise fee), they said ok but now I've been waiting over a week for the letter. I chased them after a week and was told they'd get back to me ASAP but in the meantime to try at the walk-in clinic again.

I feel like I'm wasting so much NHS time going back snd forth, when common sense should just be applied.

Smartiesandhugs · 01/09/2021 11:17

I had Pfizer with 4 weeks between doses. It was done at my gp surgery and they booked the second one so clearly they think it’s safe talk to your gp surgery and see what they can do

Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 01/09/2021 11:28

@Smartiesandhugs I have a call booked for tomorrow- I’ll see how that goes

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Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 01/09/2021 11:42

@worrybutterfly I hope you get your 2nd dose sooner- a few posters asked me to check Reddit is it worth you doing the same to see if there are centres offering second dose earlier?

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Youremindmeofthebabe · 01/09/2021 15:58

Have you tried a local walk in centre? When I had my first Pfizer 3 weeks ago, they told me I was able to come back in 3 weeks for the second. Online it doesn’t give you an option to do that, but the people who administered it were very clear.

MrsScrubbithatescleaning · 01/09/2021 16:06

Here it’s routinely 3 weeks between Pfizer jabs so 8 weeks seems a long time to wait.

RuthTopp · 01/09/2021 16:17

At the very beginning it was touted that the Pfizer was to be spaced at 3 weeks . That is what happened to my Pils .

Abraxan · 01/09/2021 16:21

Some drop in centres say it's fine from 3-4 weeks.

Dd had hers early at 4-5 weeks at one. It meant she would be fully protected before she went to the first of her planned festivals.

Abraxan · 01/09/2021 16:23

Dh also had his second Pfizer early - think it was about 4 weeks. Arranged and done via the go vaccination centre. That was in May.

When dd had hers done early it was July.