Has anyone successfully rescheduled a vaccine appointment recently?

[jennyfromtheblock22]

My DH found out just today he has an appointment for his second Pfizer vaccine on 4th July (he's 48). However we are on holiday in Edinburgh on 3rd, 4th and 5th July. He tried to reschedule online tonight and there are no appointments at all in Ayrshire, Glasgow or Edinburgh for the week of his appointment, the week before or the week after. None anywhere! This can't be right can it? The website says not to call the helpline to try and reschedule if there are no appointments as they use the same booking system.
I'd be a bit gutted if we have to cancel our first family holiday in over a year to allow him to get his second vaccine. Anyone managed to reschedule recently?

I had the exact same issue with my second vaccine. First time getting to go away and introduce our pandemic baby to his family. Spoke to someone in the phone who said that if you cancel your appointment, you can't rebook online.

I asked him not to cancel then and I would try to reschedule myself. Turns out he did cancel it! So for the next week I phoned at 8am on the dot to reschedule but not slots. With it being so close to the 12 weeks as well I was quite worried. The people on the phone kept telling me there was evidence to show that having it after 12 weeks doesn't make a difference.

After a while I became increasingly frustrated and asked the person what do I do? He offered me the phone number for my local health board, phoned them up and the guy I spoke to said he could book 12 appointments per day in my area and managed to book me in bang on my 12 weeks. He also said that it was important to get it within your 12 weeks, contrary to what the call centre said!!

@Ajahd really? That's a bloody nightmare! I can't believe there's no appointments anywhere in central Scotland at all w/c 4th July or the weeks after.

My colleague rescheduled her 2nd dose last week as appointment was end June and she's on holiday.
She had to check online for several days and suddenly there was slots released. That was West Lothian.
he should just keep checking each day and he'll get something

There was nothing when I initially tried to reschedule mine a few weeks in advance but loads to choose from when I checked closer to the time. Hopefully the same for you!

I know someone who just dropped into the Mosque and got it done there and then. Maybe give that a try?

Ah great, we'll try each day and closer to his appointment date. I take it it's ok to get it done in a different health board area to the one you stay in.

It only looks at your health board area, which is frustrating because I'm on the edge of mine. The next, board area, (which was a 20 minute drive) had appointments, but my own area (a 40 minute drive to the main vaccination centre) had nothing.

If you have Facebook, like your local NHS they post about drop in vaccine centres. I know a lot her have drop in centres for astra zenica vaccines for anyone who had their first dose over 10 weeks ago

Do you live in ayrshire? If you do I can help

I rescheduled mine twice to get a date that suited me best and my son managed to reschedule his (did it on Sunday) to get an appointment that fitted in with his work shifts. Like you, the first couple of times I tried there was absolutely nothing but I kept looking and eventually some became available. The (very helpful) man I spoke to on the helpline said that although the system isn't live, it does get updated fairly regularly.

Hi all thanks. We'll just keep trying each day. @BryanAdamsLeftAnkle I'm in Glasgow but thanks anyway

I would call the helpline anyway, my DD rescheduled hers in Edinburgh the other day.

I changed dh's last week after the nurse dealing with him post surgery recommended that he wait and see if he had an infection. So managed to get tomorrow from Sunday.

I had the same issue. I have kept trying every day and today managed to book in two weeks earlier. Keep trying.

Are these for 2nd vaccines? Can I ask how long people have waited to get their appointment? From having their 1st one I mean?

@ToooOldForThis

Are these for 2nd vaccines? Can I ask how long people have waited to get their appointment? From having their 1st one I mean?

I had to call as mine had been missed. However I managed to get it done at 11 weeks instead of 13 weeks as they had scheduled.

I had the same issue - originally booked through local hospital hub, they couldn't change it so I tried the national booking line who were very helpful but wanted to send me over an hour's drive away. Just when I was giving up hope I received a text from my local GP inviting me to book there.
It's worth trying different options, since they are all linked on the system but can only book at their own venues.

I got mine at 11 weeks, I got the letter on the Thursday for a Tuesday appointment. I'd already contacted the helpline so knew when it was but you don't get much notice.

You can reschedule online. I kept trying at different times of the day and got mine changed after trying for a couple of days.

Vacs.nhs.Scot

Thanks all
I take it you have to have the appointment though, before you can start to reschedule?

They are doing drop in clinics in some sites in Edinburgh for AZ for over 40's for second doses. That might work out for you.

Yes, just keep checking every day. One will pop up.

most centres don't know what vaccines they'll have more than a week ahead. You can have your 2nd between 8-12 weeks

@sparkle17

They are doing drop in clinics in some sites in Edinburgh for AZ for over 40's for second doses. That might work out for you.

Drop in clinics this weekend in Forth Valley- targeted at those over 40 who haven’t had first dose, but I’m assuming anyone due a second won’t be turned away, or am I assuming too much?

I couldn’t make my date for the second vaccine and, like you, couldn’t reschedule as there were none available. Phoned helpline to ask if I could go to the local drop in clinic which was doing Pfizer and they said head on in. The drop in clinic were a bit unsure but went and checked it out and gave me the vaccine. Much easier than trying to rebook when there was nothing available in my local authority area for the next month.