Accelerated Rollout of Second Jab to Over 50s

[iveivan]

Many people booked their first and second jabs at the same time on the NHS website. The website doesn’t say anything about rebooking.

I can’t see any details on how the accelerated rollout will work. Has anyone seen anything from the NHS on this?

 

[cupid_stunt]

It was only announced on Friday, following the special SAGE meeting on Thursday, I am sure it'll take the NHS & GPs a few days to work out the logistics, and the details of how to put it into action.

ETA -

 

[AnnaKarpik]

I had a text this morning saying I could move my appointment but I don't have enough faith in the system to cancel the appointment I have and try booking a new one.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Vaccination booking website says -

We'll be contacting some people directly to bring forward their appointment for the 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

This is so people at greater risk of getting seriously ill due to coronavirus can get maximum protection earlier.

Please wait to be contacted if you think you're in this group.

 

[haushoch]

Mr Haushoch and I logged onto the NHS vaccination booking website, and clicked on 'manage my booking', then entered NHS numbers, birthdays, and the original booking reference number for vaccine shot Number 2. It then gives you the option to cancel, and once you've cancelled, you immediately get the option to re-book, which we both did successfully - we now have our Shot 2 booked two weeks earlier than our original appointment. It all worked without a hitch. One thing to bear in mind is that according to some studies, a longer gap between the two AZ vaccine doses affords better overall protection. We now have 8 weeks between shots, rather than 10.

 

[platinumsage]

Yes the longer gap can offer better protection, but it is intended to give over-50s the booster jabs in the autumn if ongoing research shows it is appropriate.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

One thing to bear in mind is that according to some studies, a longer gap between the two AZ vaccine doses affords better overall protection. We now have 8 weeks between shots, rather than 10

what do they mean by 'a longer gap' here though?

wasn't the original plan something like 4 weeks between shots, which then got extended mainly so more people could have their first shot?

It then gives you the option to cancel, and once you've cancelled, you immediately get the option to re-book, which we both did successfully - we now have our Shot 2 booked two weeks earlier than our original appointment.

i'd be nervous that it would cancel my booked second shot (due mid june) and not offer me anything earlier

think i'm going to wait until i get contacted...

 

[MickiQ]

My second jab is next Saturday anyway so I doubt it will get moved forward. They're now down to 38 year olds which covers my Son-in-Law, Mrs Q has texted Eldest this morning to tell her to nag her husband to get it booked.

 

[sheothebudworths]

I did the same and cancelled and rebooked with no problem.
Will now have my second after 9 weeks instead of 12 (and could've had it this coming week, another week earlier).

 

[marty21]

My 2nd jab will be on June 19th, 1st jab was April 2nd , I'm happy with that sort of jab gap tbf

 

[AnnaKarpik]

I bit the bullet, cancelled and rebooked. I live in a tourist hotspot and can't help feeling I'm surrounded by diseased people all the time It's nice to get done a couple of weeks earlier.

 

[cupid_stunt]

My 2nd jab will be on June 19th, 1st jab was April 2nd , I'm happy with that sort of jab gap tbf

Similar here, my second jab is 5th June, and I am in a very no risk area, so I am happy enough with that.

And, I suspect my GP hub will struggle with re-bookings, when they are going flat out anyway, so it would probably mean going to an NHS mass vaccination centre, a 25 mile round trip in my van, rather than a short walk down the road.

 

[sheothebudworths]

Should have said - I didn't know about the 'wait until you're contacted' advice until this thread.
I still wouldn't have bothered otherwise (already had my 2nd booked for mid-June), except that I work in a school canteen and encounter hundreds of kids, daily (plus two anti-vaxxer colleagues ) - so with the new advice around facemasks in schools (or lack of them ) along with noting that, while we have low case numbers here atm, Brighton was highlighted as one of the areas where there is a growth in the Indian variant (20-30% of recent cases, iirc), it seemed like a sensible enough idea to try.

 

[marshall]

My second is only 10 days off anyway, so I think I can wait.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Should have said - I didn't know about the 'wait until you're contacted' advice until this thread.
I still wouldn't have bothered otherwise (already had my 2nd booked for mid-June), except that I work in a school canteen and encounter hundreds of kids, daily (plus two anti-vaxxer colleagues ) - so with the new advice around facemasks in schools (or lack of them ) along with noting that, while we have low case numbers here atm, Brighton was highlighted as one of the areas where there is a growth in the Indian variant (20-30% of recent cases, iirc), it seemed like a sensible enough idea to try.

I think it's perfectly reasonable for anyone to re-book earlier, especially when working with lots of kids and/or other people in general.

I hadn't heard Brighton was an area with a growth in the Indian variant, so thanks for the heads up. Looking on the covid map, 7-days to the 10th May, I see your case numbers are up 89.7% to 18.9 cases per 100k, which I guess is caused by this Indian variant, whereas here in Worthing we are down -35.7% to 8.1 cases.

As there's no way to stop it spreading across the conurbation, I may now look into bringing my second jab forward, ideally if I can avoid a drive over to Brighton or Chichester.

 

[platinumsage]

what do they mean by 'a longer gap' here though?

wasn't the original plan something like 4 weeks between shots, which then got extended mainly so more people could have their first shot?



i'd be nervous that it would cancel my booked second shot (due mid june) and not offer me anything earlier

think i'm going to wait until i get contacted...

12+ weeks seems to be preferable in terms of antibody levels after the second dose e.g. this is with AZ:

 

[marty21]

Similar here, my second jab is 5th June, and I am in a very no risk area, so I am happy enough with that.

And, I suspect my GP hub will struggle with re-bookings, when they are going flat out anyway, so it would probably mean going to an NHS mass vaccination centre, a 25 mile round trip in my van, rather than a short walk down the road.

I'm having mine at a local Chemist , so more convenient than schlepping somewhere further away.

 

[William of Walworth]

My second one has already been lined-up for this coming Saturday (22nd) -- so there won't need to be any change in my case

 

[rubbershoes]

There was a muck up about the date of mine but I called 119 and they got it sorted

 

[elbows]

I think it's perfectly reasonable for anyone to re-book earlier, especially when working with lots of kids and/or other people in general.

I hadn't heard Brighton was an area with a growth in the Indian variant, so thanks for the heads up. Looking on the covid map, 7-days to the 10th May, I see your case numbers are up 89.7% to 18.9 cases per 100k, which I guess is caused by this Indian variant, whereas here in Worthing we are down -35.7% to 8.1 cases.

As there's no way to stop it spreading across the conurbation, I may now look into bringing my second jab forward, ideally if I can avoid a drive over to Brighton or Chichester.

Plus given the long delays between taking test samples and getting genome sequencing done, I recommend people dont make assumptions about the India variant not being in their area. I hate the various forms of lag between reality and the data in this pandemic but there is only so much the gap can be shrunk so people have to work hard on their data-driven perceptions in order not to fall behind the curve.

 

[Boudicca]

My friend has finally managed to get a flight back from Jamaica to go for his hospital check up (prostate cancer some years ago).

Given that he has to do 10 days quarantine and then 8 weeks between jabs, I'm stuck with him for the best part of three months, aren't I?

 

[Steel Icarus]

I'm not 50 for another ten days so I guess I just wait to be contacted? My second jab us booked for July 11th

 

[Leafster]

I had a text yesterday from the GP Hub asking me to book my second jab for an earlier date than previously arranged. So, I'm having my second jab on Sunday instead of in early June.

 

[Epona]

I hadn't booked my 2nd before the change so I booked it a couple of days ago - they offered me dates from exactly 8 weeks after my 1st jab so that is when I am having mine done

 

[Miss-Shelf]

What is the data on the efficacy of shortening to 8 weeks. I'm at 9 weeks now. Haven't been invited but presume i could book...wondered if I should wait for 10 weeks