AZ 2nd Dose

gettingtheresometime

I had my 1st dose at my local GP as I was considered to be on the clinically vulerable w/e 19/3 so 12 weeks will be up w/e 11/6.
I rung them today as OH has had his appt for his 2nd dose even though he had his 1st a fortnight after me.
Was told that they were in the process of recalling people for their 2nd doses but what happens if I don't 'get the call' in time? Is there a point at which the course has to be repeated?

MattMattMattUK

gettingtheresometime said:

I had my 1st dose at my local GP as I was considered to be on the clinically vulerable w/e 19/3 so 12 weeks will be up w/e 11/6.
I rung them today as OH has had his appt for his 2nd dose even though he had his 1st a fortnight after me.
Was told that they were in the process of recalling people for their 2nd doses but what happens if I don't 'get the call' in time? Is there a point at which the course has to be repeated?

No, not based on current data which points to "optimal" timelines, rather than absolutes. It would also be unlikely that you do not get the call in time, however from the experiences of older relatives there might not be much warning between the call and the date. 

ThisnotThat

Nothing happens if you don't get the 2nd dose by next week.

If anything, the efficacy of the vaccines increases the longer there is between doses, not the other way around.

gettingtheresometime

MattMattMattUK said:

gettingtheresometime said:

I had my 1st dose at my local GP as I was considered to be on the clinically vulerable w/e 19/3 so 12 weeks will be up w/e 11/6.
I rung them today as OH has had his appt for his 2nd dose even though he had his 1st a fortnight after me.
Was told that they were in the process of recalling people for their 2nd doses but what happens if I don't 'get the call' in time? Is there a point at which the course has to be repeated?

No, not based on current data which points to "optimal" timelines, rather than absolutes. It would also be unlikely that you do not get the call in time, however from the experiences of older relatives there might not be much warning between the call and the date. 

In fairness to the GP when I had the phone call for the initial dose, I could have had it the next day - and I'm fortunate that I could just leave work if an appt was available the same day.
Not really concerned - apart from the fact OH is threatening to book one of these sort cruises that the companies are doing at the moment & you have to be fully vaccinated to go!

molerat

I don't believe there is any "plan B" if you don't get second dosed within the specified timescale.  Looks like your provider is in a bit of a mess with their records.  Our vac centre now has a policy of if you are post 8 weeks you can just walk in ! - but ours is using a large unit in an out of town centre retail park.

MattMattMattUK

molerat said:

I don't believe there is any "plan B" if you don't get second dosed within the specified timescale.  Looks like your provider is in a bit of a mess with their records.  Our vac centre now has a policy of if you are post 8 weeks you can just walk in ! - but ours is using a large unit in an out of town centre retail park.

The one nearest to my work is the same, but on the proviso that they are offering the same vaccine as your initial dose on the day you walk in as they are not yet authorised to mix vaccines. 

68ComebackSpecial

Have you gone online to book a second appointment? I had my first 20 March after a call from my GP and then booked my 2nd online which came up as 11 June - 11 weeks and 6 days after the first. A week after the announcement that the interval was dropped to 8 weeks, and no call from my GP, I took the plunge and cancelled my existing appointment and rebooked. I was able to get a slot two later and I had my second dose last Monday - just over 9 weeks after the first. If a suitable appointment isn't available you don't have to complete the booking so you have nothing to lose.

poppy12345

You may get a text with a new appointment date and time. My daughter's 2nd dose was brought forward a couple of weeks and we received the text just 2 days before the appointment.

epm-84

gettingtheresometime said:

I had my 1st dose at my local GP as I was considered to be on the clinically vulerable w/e 19/3 so 12 weeks will be up w/e 11/6.

The AZ second dose can be done 8-16 weeks after the 1st.  In January the government decided 12 weeks was the best option as it could mean they could accelerate the 1st dose rollout and use the same time frame for both AZ and Pfizer (Pfizer recommends the 2nd dose is 3-12 weeks after the 1st.)

The government have now decided over 50s should get the 2nd dose 8 weeks after the 1st.  For under 50s it's still recommended as 12 weeks.  Could an age difference be why your OH has been recalled first?

Another possibility is the GP had some cancellations/unbooked slots and they were able to get in contact with your OH more easily.

The AZ is a traditional vaccine type so I would guess even if they miss the 16 week 'deadline' the worst thing that could happen is you don't get quite as many antibodies as you would have got otherwise.  However, it's also possible you end up with less protection in the short term and more in the long term

epm-84

molerat said:

Our vac centre now has a policy of if you are post 8 weeks you can just walk in ! - but ours is using a large unit in an out of town centre retail park.

Officially they are supposed to offer to rebook any 2nd appointments for over 50s so they are 8 weeks after the first but possibly easier to just say "walk in" if they have spare slots rather than getting everyone to rebook.

GP led vaccination centres didn't book 2nd appointments at the same time as the 1st as they didn't know which days they would get supply of vaccines 11 weeks in advance.

KxMx

Anyone first vaccinated under groups 1-9 is eligible to have the second dose brought forward to 8 weeks rather than 12.

My local GP Federation who did my first appointment did nothing about moving appointments for those eligible, nor released any information so I bypassed them and booked through the national service, which was advised by my local CCG. 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

Subsequently I was vaccinated again at just under 9 weeks instead of 11.