Change in timescale for 2nd vaccine dose.

[Pantani]

I am concerned about the change from 3 weeks to 3 months for the delivery of second doses of the vaccines. I am classed as extremely vulnerable and given that the effectiveness of the first dose beyond 3 weeks does not seem to be proven. I think that I will have to shield after 3 weeks. I won't feel very confident in the effectiveness of the vaccine ,the.saame being true of the second dose. If their guestimate of the effectiveness is wrong the whole exercise will have been s waste of time. Yet another Boris led cock up.

[sassy59]

It’s quite puzzling Pantani but I think they want to vaccinate as many as possible first time round and then wait until 12 weeks to go round again. We need to all abide by hands, face, space for the foreseeable future if not always. As and when Pete and I do go out we will wear face coverings at all times, go out when it’s quieter if possible and generally keep away from others.

We don’t really know what will happen but can only have hope for the future. Happy 2021.

Love from Carole xxxx

[Pantani in reply to sassy59]

I know what you say is the reason behind their decision. It will be ok to do this as long as their reasoning is correct. If it proves to be incorrect then the whole vaccination program will have been a waste of time and money as well as lives.

[sassy59 in reply to Pantani]

Let’s hope it’s not incorrect. Stay safe Pantani xxx

[Pantani in reply to sassy59]

We can but live in hope Carol. Hope you and Pete have a Happy New Year..😍

[sassy59 in reply to Pantani]

We can Pantani. Thank you for your kind wishes. Happy New Year to you too. Xxx😘🙏🏻

[Biker88]

Nothing to be concerned about, the science has now shown that it takes several days from the first dose for the vaccine to trigger the body’s immune system and 3 weeks is now the minimum time before the second dose and 12 weeks is the current maximum. Having the vaccine doesn’t mean that it is safe to drop all shielding yet, as we don’t know what the affect on transmission is.

[Pantani in reply to Biker88]

I won't be dropping shielding . As for the science of 12 weeks let's hope that it is correct.

[O2Trees in reply to Biker88]

As I understand it, this is NOT so for the Pfizer one. Pfizer have said that theirs is not trialed for the second dose to be given 12 weeks later. In any event, obviously important to continue shielding.

[skischool in reply to O2Trees]

You are entirely correct Jean.my sister who is a front line worker for the NHs had her Pfizer jab yesterday and is scheduled to have her second shot in 3 weeks time,Ironically she is a home visiting phlebotomist so it was a bit like a busmans holiday for her and her colleagues.🙃😻 x

p.s i'll let you kow if they reschedule the second dose but imo that would go against the license that the MRHA issued and approved for it's use?

[O2Trees in reply to skischool]

What a mess Mike. This government couldnt run a piss-up in a brewery.

My sister who is 90 has had her first one - Pfizer - and is scheduled for the second one on 7th January. We're waiting to see if it's cancelled.

The other thing being suggested now, reported from the States, is that we are considering mixing the vaccines if supplies of the first one runs out. Words fail!

[skischool in reply to O2Trees]

Yes i read that article and it's ludicrous,they should stick with the original plan and we should shield until our turn arrives,regardless of the timecales invoved grr!x

[O2Trees in reply to skischool]

Id be happy to shield for longer if it meant that more key workers like teachers could get the jab quicker. Someone we know here says a teacher at her granddaughter's school has just died. She had an underlying condition and was terrified of having to be teaching with the pandemic. And there it is - she caught it and she's dead. Shocking.

As I write there are 70,000 members of the NEU on a zoom call - I didnt even know that was technically possible! Johnson will have to cave on closing schools and if he doesn't now, then there will be mayhem further down the line and a lot more will die.

[pegbl in reply to O2Trees]

My sister who lives in Manchester was told if she's had a date for her 2nd vaccine....7thJan then she will still get it....it's those that haven't been given a date will be expected to wait the 12 weeks . Xxx

[O2Trees in reply to pegbl]

Really hope you're right Pegbi - its not what Ive heard though. xx

[knitter]

Concerns me too.....been reading BBC news article on the subject .

[madonbrew]

Me too...it seems very wrong to me. I can understand the reason behind it for wanting more to be immunised but it seems very unethical, and where’s the evidence it will be equally as effective? It’s like saying you can only have 3 days course of antibiotics out of a 6 day course for a chest infection. So more people start to get rid of their chest infection, but then no one actually does because they haven’t had the complete course....

I’ve probably got it all in a muddle and that’s not how it is at all, but it’s how it feels.

Just keep staying safe Pantani and everyone!

[Annie31]

I think it's a given that everyone should continue to take all necessary precautions far into the future, regardless of the so-called disparity and timings of the efficacy of the dosages of the vaccines now advocated. This chopping and changing and mixed messages coming through is what is making 'doubting Thomas's of us all. You simply don't know what to believe any more. The first I read of this latest move was a suggestion put forward by Tony Blair about a week or so ago, to stop with the second dose at three weeks but instead to vaccinate as many as they could with the first jab and leave a bigger gap between the two. Well I'm sorry but how is he privy to this kind of information before we even hear anything from the likes of Witty or Valance or the Government and what kind of medical expertise has he got to put this to the people via the media first?

None of this instills confidence and I'm done with it!

[Snackjack]

Agree with every word you have said, what happens if they do not get supplies in time to give the second dose to people within the now proposed 12 weeks, agree will have been a waste of time. I think my resolve to stay shielding until the masses have been vaccinated still remains but may now be a lot longer than I first thought. Very worrying for all of us in the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable group.

[Pantani in reply to Snackjack]

I also think that to extend it to the longest time gap is asking for trouble. It would be safer to have gone to 9 weeks which would have left some time in hand in case supplies were delayed .

[hypercat54]

As far as I understand it the first dose gives the immediate protection and the second one is for longer term protection? If that's the case then 3 months should be ok.

The more people have the first jab the less the rate of transmission so we are all safer. I guess this is the science behind the medicine.

[Bevvy]

From what I have read with first injection get very high level of protection and the second injection only raises protection by small amount.Therefore makes sense that if secondary jab can wait then more people can get first jab quicker.

I have been saying for several days it makes sense to postpone 2nd injection.

[Echoblue]

The details of the trials are readily accessible on the MHRA website and do show there is quite a variation in timing of people having their second dose, particularly with the Oxford AstraZeneca one so there is evidence out there.

Do remember that with any of the vaccinations, it won’t guarantee you won’t get COVID-19 at all, but what it does is dramatically lessen any effect and this has been shown for all the vaccinations.

I was particularly heartened by the Oxford AZ one that not one person who contracted COVID-19 had to be hospitalised even after the first lower dose vaccination. It will still be important we continue with cleanliness, masks and social distancing even after vaccination. ....... and no, I have no vested interest in any of the production companies. Stay safe

[Comino2]

Personally I am concerned at the small amount of those over 50 or with pre existing conditions that were in the trials for the Oxford vaccine.The percentage in the pfizer was much higher as they were prioritised but I fear the stocks will soon run out of that particular vaccine.

We apparently will have to wait a few months for the results of the Oxford trials in this particular group as their trials are still ongoing.I expect the majority of the recipients will be offered that one.

I appreciate that it will be cheaper [approx £3 v £25 ] and be easier to store but to me its efficacy for those most vulnerable is a worrying factor.I sincerely hope time will prove me wrong.

Maybe in the future there will be different types of vaccines for the different age groups as there is with the flu jab?

Meanwhile we will carry on being cautious and careful and hope others less vulnerable will not become complacent till we have more evidence.

The Ryanair 'Jab and Go' tv advert is pretty reckless example of that as it encourages people to potentially spread the virus when it is not proven yet that you cannot still transmit it to others even after being vaccinated.

Maybe there should be a compulsory covidiot jab ?