Booking vaccination in England

[Katy4321]

Hi,
I have booked my vaccination appointment using the online service (a little while ago) , but at no point was there an option to say I was pregnant or way of figuring out if the moderna or pfizer vaccines will be on offer that day. Do I just go and if they only have AZ, will they book me for another day? I'm hoping to get is as close as possible after 14 weeks pregnant and my age group has already been called.

My GP website and phoneline have messages basically saying don't call us about getting access vaccine (or fill in an econsult if you have concerns about it - which I don't).

I'd appreciate any advice if anyone has figured out how to book a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine when pregnant.
Thank you

I came here today to ask this. I have called every possible helpline. My GP don't want to have anything to do with it - they keep saying "vaccines are nothing to do with us". I had an interesting conversation with 119 today where the guy on the phone told me pregnant women were not allowed to have the vaccine (false) and that "we only offer the Astra Zeneca vaccine" when I asked what he meant by 'we' he said "the NHS".

Nobody seems to know and it's getting so frustrating. If you attend your appointment please could you let me know what happens?

I have had an appointment booked but cancelled after speaking to a volunteer at the centre who told me if i turned up and was pregnant then they would turn me away and back to my GP. I'm properly at a loss now of where to go next.

I’m in the same boat, I’ve been going round in circles for 2 weeks. My practice informed me today that they can only book through certain channels and if those centres don’t have Moderna or Pfizer there’s not a lot they can do.

I think we all need to keep hassling our GPs and 119 in the hope that the issue eventually gets sorted (last thing any of us want when we’re pregnant), it’s not like pregnancy is a rare condition I’ll bet there are thousands of women right now who are eligible for a vaccine but can’t get one.

Even if your GP practice says they don’t want to know you have a valid reason to discuss because you’ve been referred to them by 119.

I’m stressing now because I’m 26 weeks so second dose will be right around my due date. I was early with #1 and I’ll be so cross if I have to travel out of area whilst I’m in PP recovery and nursing a newborn every 3 hours... I mean will they even let me bring the baby into the centre? Im a second time mum I know how relentless the first weeks of motherhood are and I really don’t fancy having to hike around the country in that state

My GP had a list of people who can only have Pfizer and moderna and then booked me into a centre who had Pfizer. Now that under 30s can only have those vaccines the Govt have bought more in and more centres seem to be offering it. I was told I would be turned away at an AstraZeneca site

@tedlife and @rachel54321 thanks for your replies - sounds like both of you are having a bit of a mare, and there a surely others.

@Lenny86 thank you. It looks like we really need to push our GPS to get it sorted.

I may try midwife as well. And will update if I get it sorted or not

@Rachel54321 if it helps, I had my first jab at 1 week post partum. I had baby in a sling and he was very cooed over. I had the moderna (majeski reading) and they checked that I was ok to have it on my blood thinners (prescribed following birth) and while breastfeeding but all ok'd by the doctor on duty. I felt a bit rough for about half a day.

Same issue here. Got the link to book vaccine from GP surgery. Went along to appt and they refused to give it to me because they were only doing AZ. (Had naively assumed I wouldn’t be invited for a vaccine I can’t have!) Had multiple phone calls to GP since (getting bounced between drs and admin) who are looking into it but I bet my bottom dollar I’ll be having to chase them in a week or so’s time...

Maybe there will be more pressure to get it sorted and clarity the system once it’s the over 30s’ turn - then there’ll be LOADS of pregnant women wanting it!

I'm also stuck. Turned away from vaccine appointment as it was AZ (which I would have happily had). Conflicting stories from 119, midwife and GP receptionist but none of them able to actually help. Feeling really annoyed, how is there no system for this?!

I emailed the nurse dealing with vaccinations at my GP surgery and asked her to ask a GP to refer me specifically for the Pfizer or Moderna one on the basis that I was pregnant. There was a bit of a long winded exchange of emails because it’s all new guidance for pregnant women but they did and I got it a couple of days later (probably a cancellation appointment given how quickly it was offered).

It may not help at all, as it seems that what you get on a particular day at a specific site is a complete gamble (see other threads on that). However, I’ve heard that if a site is delivering Pfizer/Moderna, when booking online, you will be given a very limited choice of where to get your second dose. If the list of potential venues for the second dose is lengthy then it probably suggest AZ (as a lot more venues are offering it). Hope they will put in place a proper system soon.

Thanks! That is reassuring! initially my doctors thought I would have to go to reading but they were unable to book me in there. They just had confirmation that my local centre is getting Pfizer next week so I got a call this afternoon telling me I’m booked for next Wednesday 😄 it doesn’t solve the problem for my doctors surgery with regards to booking at other centres but at least they can get a bunch of us vaccinated 😄

Seems like there is a general problem

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57007249.

Thanks all for your replies and suggestions. I haven't yet tried again but will update when I do.

@motherofcrocodiles thanks for the link- at least the problem is being recognised. So hopefully should get easier....

Just seen this article. Looks like they will change the online booking system in coming days to allow us to select we are pregnant and get moderna/pfizer.
www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/07/pregnant-women-in-uk-passed-from-pillar-to-post-over-choice-of-vaccine

Yep, I saw this too. Thanks to Stella Creasy for making a noise- she's great!

More information here, saying the online system should be changed by the end of the week and suggests to contact you MP if that hasn't happened

@motherofcrocodiles yes Stella Creasy has been great. Shame it had to get to that. Tried my GP and 119 again today and both were adamant it was the other I should be talking to.... You think at least someone would tell them the system will be updated by the end of the week, so they could at least let more people know.

graziadaily.co.uk/amp/life/parenting/pregnant-covid-vaccine-booking-pfizer-moderna/?__twitter_impression=true

FYI @fallowfields @tedlife and anyone else still trying to figure it out

That's good news! I actually got mine at the weekend in the end- afraid to say I did it by booking a normal appointment and just saying no to the pregnancy question. I can see this wouldn't appeal to most but I just got too frustrated with the system and having the choice taken out of my hands.