2nd dose Pfizer before 8 weeks

cloud2021 · 2021-07-12T09:36:12+00:00

Hi all, I had my first dose of Pfizer 5 weeks ago when I was 13 weeks, had a very sore arm but apart from that not much... I could possibly have the second dose this week, I was wondering if any of you had their second dose before the 8 weeks period and had any bad side effects or know of reason why we should wait 8 weeks?

SouthwestSis · 12/07/2021 10:50

You get better immunity from a second dose if you wait 8 weeks for it, so better to just keep being careful and avoid socialising indoors and keep your 2nd dose for closer to 7 or 8 weeks

Rosieposy89 · 12/07/2021 10:50

The vaccine is less effective when the second dose is given before 8 weeks. I am waiting the full 8 weeks for mine given that Pfizer has reduced effectiveness against Delta anyway.

WaitingForNormality · 12/07/2021 10:57

I'm no longer pregnant as baby is here and healthy now, but I had Pfizer dose #1 two weeks before I had DS. I've been booked in for my second dose this week but looking at dates it'll only have been 7 weeks (and 1 day!) since my first dose. Is this okay? I assumed it was as the GP surgery offered me that date for the second dose, but now reading the comments I see effectiveness is reduced if it's done too soon.... but as it's only a few days am I right to think it's not a big deal?

YouLikeTheBadOnesToo · 12/07/2021 11:00

@WaitingForNormality

I'm no longer pregnant as baby is here and healthy now, but I had Pfizer dose #1 two weeks before I had DS. I've been booked in for my second dose this week but looking at dates it'll only have been 7 weeks (and 1 day!) since my first dose. Is this okay? I assumed it was as the GP surgery offered me that date for the second dose, but now reading the comments I see effectiveness is reduced if it's done too soon.... but as it's only a few days am I right to think it's not a big deal?

I really think it depends on area, here (tees valley area) they’re turning people away even one day before 8 weeks. Although, they were usually walk in appointments, so it might be different for a booked appointment. Maybe give them a call and clarify, so you’re not wasting your time.

Mseddy · 12/07/2021 11:05

Slightly unhelpful as there was 8 weeks and 6 days between my doses so just over. But I had Pfizer, just had my second dose 3 days ago and I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant. My arm was less sore second time and I just felt tired and had some hot flushes like last time. The tiredness and hot flushes could also be pregnancy related though!

Dahlia5 · 12/07/2021 11:12

I had my second dose 4 weeks after the first one. I'm due on the 5th August so wanted to develop full immunity before they lift restrictions on 19th July and before I'm admitted to the hospital.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 12/07/2021 11:29

@Rosieposy89

The vaccine is less effective when the second dose is given before 8 weeks. I am waiting the full 8 weeks for mine given that Pfizer has reduced effectiveness against Delta anyway.

While there appears to evidence of this for AZ, I don't think there is for the mRNA vaccines. The main reason the UK extended the interval between doses was to get first doses into as many people as possible. In most other countries, the second dose is given much earlier (Ireland is 3-4 weeks).

I came across one paper here that is looking at extended intervals for pfizer. However, it is a pre-print that has not yet been peer reviewed. They looked at peak antibody response 2-3 weeks after the second dose (14 weeks after the first dose), which was higher for the extended interval regime. There are a lot of variables in there that are not addressed such as the immune response over an extended period of time.

Also, they were testing on over 80's who have a much lower immune response than younger people.

I guess what you need to consider is the lower protection who definitely have with only one shot vs the increased immunity from two vs the notion that waiting might increase immunity, even though there is no real evidence yet (that I can find - happy to be corrected though) that it does for pfizer, while also remembering that the UK's reasoning for extending the interval was not based on increased immunity but on spreading the supplies as far as possible.

Original poster

cloud2021 · 12/07/2021 11:47

Thank you all, very helpful... @OchonAgusOchonOh I agree with you, Pfizer was created with a 21days interval between the 2 doses and the only initial reason for the 8 weeks was to get as many people having their first jab.
My main reason for trying and having the 2nd dose early is that cases are spiking and I am a bit worried, as I am still going to the office twice a week.
Also I will need to book my whooping jab but I will have to wait at least 2 weeks from the 2nd dose, and after that the flu jab... so just trying to close the covid jab as soon as possible!

OP posts:

shivawn · 12/07/2021 12:27

Yeah most of the world is getting Pfizer 3 weeks apart are per guidelines. As far as I know there's only a couple small UK based studies claiming that it's more effective when given at longer intervals to elderly people.

It's one of the most effective vaccines we have, there is absolutely no reason to wait. I worked on a covid ward and had colleagues that got extremely sick from covid a few weeks after their first dose and before their second.

EileenGC · 12/07/2021 12:41

The 8 week wait making it more effective is not true, certainly not for the mRNA vaccines.

I'm not in the UK and I'm receiving my second Pfizer this week, 4 weeks after the first dose. The guidelines still say 21 days, so they try not to steer away from that much.

There is no reason why you should wait for 8+ weeks. The side effects are also very rarely linked to how long you waited between doses.