Bringing forward a vaccination appointment

GrahamLM52

I've had a text telling me I can arrange to bring my second vaccination forward.

If I go to the app and enter my details there is no option for bringing a date forward - only to cancel my current appointment.

I have tried phoning 119 but keep getting the message to call back later, then I get cut off.

Has anyone successfully brought forward their appointment date using the app?

Do you have to cancel your current appointment first, then rebook?

techwatcher

I had the same issue. After trying 119 and getting the same result as you did I took a deep breath and cancelled the
appointment. Rebooking resulted in being presented with an earlier date.

So yes, you have to cancel your current appointment then rebook.

michael1234

I have rebooked but like techwatcher needed to take a deep breath. It did work out well for me but there's obviously an element of luck.

A shame the system works that way.

GrahamLM52

Thanks for the replies. I've only got 11 days to go, so I've decided not to risk changing the date!

silvercar

The plan in some mass vaccination centres is to bring forward Astra Zeneca second doses by 1-3 weeks, then switch the centres over to do Pfizer for first appointments for the under 40s. If you’ve been sent the message to move your date forward I would do so.

Barny1979

I presume they make people cancel first to prevent people forgetting to cancel their later booking and using up a slot and not turning up as they have already had the jab.

silvercar

Barny1979 said:

I presume they make people cancel first to prevent people forgetting to cancel their later booking and using up a slot and not turning up as they have already had the jab.

The system should in theory cancel your appointment by at worst 3 days after your jab, as the systems are linked. Your data is input as your vaccination takes place, though some places keep paper records then update those within 24 hours. That then updates your personal record which in turn feeds through to the central database of vaccine records and updates the national picture. This feeds through to the booking system. Occasionally there are glitches, which is why I say check your appointment has been cancelled.

Where it is most valuable to cancel is when your national booking appointment is within a few days of your vaccine. Cancelling sooner gives others a greater chance to take that slot.
they ask people to cancel first primarily to stop people blocking up the booking system by just playing around or to try to hold more than one slot. The system was put together very quickly, the idea of thousands of people going on every day to move their appointment by a few hours risks clogging it all up.

DCFC79

Barny1979 said:

I presume they make people cancel first to prevent people forgetting to cancel their later booking and using up a slot and not turning up as they have already had the jab.

Yes I see why that would be the case but why you should be able to view what other appointments are available before cancelling the one you have booked.

TBagpuss

DCFC79 said:

Barny1979 said:

I presume they make people cancel first to prevent people forgetting to cancel their later booking and using up a slot and not turning up as they have already had the jab.

Yes I see why that would be the case but why you should be able to view what other appointments are available before cancelling the one you have booked.

I agree that it would be helpful to be able to see available slots without having to cancel first - I had this dilemma as when I booked, the only available slots were a considerable distance away - anecdotally I then heard that more slots were released at out more local hubs but there was no way to check availability without cancelling the slot I already had - in the end I decided to keep my original slot for the first dose and then cancelled and re-booked for the second dose, which enabled me to get one closer to home (Not least as I had started to feel quite shaky by the time I arrived hoe, the first time - if it happens again with the second I should at least be able to get home before it hits!  
I had tried calling 119 but they can't see availability either, unless you let them cancel your existing appointment (although it you want to try, I did find I got through pretty quickly when I called late evening - I think the lines are open until 11)

That said, given how quickly it was put together I can understand that they they didn't make it any more complicated than it absolutely needed to be! 

jimi_man

I got a text from GP hubs to rebook mine at an earlier date. I followed the link they sent and there was no requirement to cancel the later appointment and I'm not going to until I've had it either, just in case it doesn't work out.  

silvercar

jimi_man said:

I got a text from GP hubs to rebook mine at an earlier date. I followed the link they sent and there was no requirement to cancel the later appointment and I'm not going to until I've had it either, just in case it doesn't work out.  

If your original was also booked through your GP booking system, you may well find it has automatically been cancelled. If the original was through the national booking system it will sit there until either you cancel or the system is notified you’ve had your second elsewhere.