Struggling to get Second Dose of Vaccine Before Due Date

[MintGreenLife]

I completely agonised over the decision of whether to have the vaccination or not when it was offered to me by my GP. It was offered to me before my age group with the reason being the GP had been instructed to offer it to all pregnant patients. After a lot of research I decided to go ahead. I spoke to a GP at the vaccination centre who advised that I have my second jab in good time before my due date, firstly to provide as much benefit to me and baby as possible, and secondly to avoid potential side effects around the time I could go into labour.

I’ve left it 3.5 weeks since my first jab and now as advised by the GP called my surgery to book my second jab, only I can’t 🤷🏻‍♀️ They say I can’t have it before 8 weeks after my first jab, which isn’t what the GP told me. That would mean having it 2 weeks before my due date, which if that’s the only option then fine, only I can’t get an appointment until after my due date and 40 miles away, meaning a 80 mile round trip with a newborn 🤦🏻‍♀️ Am I being ridiculous in thinking why wasn’t this considered in the first place?! I was told I could get the jab sooner and should do so, yet it’s completely impossible. There’s a clinic two weeks away just a five min drive away, and they won’t let me book it as will have been 6 weeks since my first jab. Anyone else having similar issues??

I am facing a sort of similar issue (just not related to due date; only 2nd trimester). We live in an area where the delta variant is prevalent so DH and me have been keen to get the 2nd jab asap, but both of us have been told we must wait a minimum of 12 weeks (well into August). While I have family in another country who have been told they have to get the 2nd one within 4 weeks!

We have called our GPs, NHS, midwife - no one is willing to get us in any earlier. So if anyone knows a way around this, please let me know!

Is it your first baby OP? I’d probably go for the 2 weeks before your due date option. You could always cancel/rearrange closer to the time if there’s any reason why baby needs to come before their due date (if they’re breech etc).

I’ve had a similar problem in that I became eligible/able to book the vaccine from my due date 😂 if I could have got it 2 weeks before I would have done.

I also know people who have only had a month or so between jabs so I’d be surprised if the 8 week thing is true, unless it depends on the type.

I’m surprised people have had doses sooner than 8
weeks- I thought it was always supposed to be at least 8 weeks, maybe it depends which vaccine you took?

Google found this www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/03/C1254-covid-19-vaccination-programme-faqs-on-second-dose-v2.pdf which suggests waiting close to 12 weeks is preferable but if you’re vulnerable around 8 weeks-
Is the reason you couldn’t get the second vaccine til august because you have to book through a centre? If so, I wonder if it’s possible to request to book via your GP for 8 weeks (I ask because the GP called me to book me in, I didn’t have to go through the central system because I’m pregnant, otherwise I’d have to go the “normal” route if that makes sense?) This is what I will be doing otherwise I’m due my second dose a few days after I’m due to give birth! x

I believe the science is that having it between 8 and 12 weeks is optimal in terms of protection... having said that, I think the research is around AZ not Pfizer or Moderna... my friends in Europe are still eagerly awaiting their first dose, but only have to wait 32 days between doses... so I think protocols vary by country.

I booked mine via the NHS website and my second dose was at 39 weeks. I rang 119 a week later and they cancelled it and re-booked me for 1 week earlier. She said that as more centres are set up with Pfizer more appointments are coming available earlier/quicker.

Personally, I would escalate back to the GP you spoke to... often those that you book with follow the "party line", but if he has said you can have it prior to 8 weeks, he may be able to do something to help?

@AnonymousXXIX so frustrating 🤦🏻‍♀️ I get that it’s far easier to set a timeframe across the board, but it’s so annoying that there’s no wriggle room and personal circumstances aren’t taken into consideration. In the USA they give the Pfizer vaccine 3 weeks apart, so there’s no medical reason to not do them closer together.

@PinkPlantCase yep first baby. At the moment I can’t even book for 2 weeks before my due date? Despite being told I should be able to get it 8 weeks apart. I did think I I had heard of others being able to get it closer together. I know there’s a clinic 5 mins away in a few weeks time doing Pfizer, so I may just turn up there and see what they can do, worth a try!

@Inmypjsagain thanks for your reply. The GP booked my first dose, but didn’t seem to be able to offer much for my second, advised I looked online and tired to book myself, but yeah next one coming up isn’t until after my due date. May try the GP again and see if they can offer me something around the 8 week mark.

@SillyBry annoyingly the GP I spoke to was just someone at the vaccine centre and I didn’t get their name. I’ll try calling my surgery again and seeing if I can get around the 8 week mark as really would prefer to have my second dose while still pregnant for there to be a better chance of antibodies being passed to baby. So frustrating that GP advised me to have it sooner when it seems that might not even be a viable option!

@MintGreenLife that’s what I’d do and maybe nearer the time too? I wonder if it’s possible for you to directly get a call back from the GP to discuss with him/her as I can imagine you’ll get a standard response from the receptionist. Annoying that they booked you in the first place because you’re pregnant but then referred you to the online system which has no nearby dates! But the suggestion to call 119 was a good one I think, if the GP can’t assist.

@Inmypjsagain yeah that’s probably a good plan. May call next week and ask to make an appointment to speak with the GP directly. I tried 119 and they didn’t have anything sooner to offer me. I’ll keep my eye out online and will hopefully get somewhere with the GP! Thanks for your advice ☺️

I'm having the same issue. My friend (who lives in another area in the UK) was given hers 5 weeks apart to ensure she was fully protected by her due date. My GP has also said it's important with rising infections to have had the second one in good time but locally there is a shortage of Pfizer second dose appointments so currently I am booked for the second dose 11 weeks apart, 4 days after my due date

I will take the advice up thread too, thanks.

Like you say, my colleagues in the US have had their vaccinations 4/5 weeks apart. So whilst it might not be “recommended” by our government, it’s certainly possible!!

I suppose it’s more for another thread but I find this COVID vaccine business so weird- how countries do it differently, how even different Drs advise different timescales! It’s so confusing when you’re trying to do it “properly” because you don’t know what’s best!!! It was hard enough trying to research whether to get it when pregnant…!

Hope you get the second dose soon and if you do find a good workaround please let us know 😊 x

@Inmypjsagain I will do, going to try my best to sort it as the increase in cases now is a worry, but I’m not feeling hopeful!

@mintgreenlife I'm having my first one this week, and I had a chat with my GP as my second one would be start of Sept which was 10 days before due date. Spoke to the GP who said he would arrange for me to have it at 8 weeks so I could have time before the birth, so might be worth a try!

Update on my side: both DH and myself cancelled our 2nd vaccinations today (scary)... and were able to book a slot 3 weeks earlier!