Vaccine Progress, Approval, and Deployment

[TravelDream]

The Welsh Government has just announced everyone aged 18+ will have an appointment date by the start of next week and will receive the jab by the end of this month. Truly wonderful news with it being a month ahead of schedule.

We are now on day 12 with zero deaths too.

Covid: All adults in Wales to be offered first jab by Monday

Wales plan to offer second Covid doses by September while boosters may be offered this autumn.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[WelshBluebird]

I've got my second jab tomorrow, and as it happens is sounds like my partner will be able to book their first one too as those 25-29 will become eligible to book then (although based on the experiences of some friends and colleagues - it may be worth waiting a day or two to try to get a location nearer home!).

 

[Domh245]

(although based on the experiences of some friends and colleagues - it may be worth waiting a day or two to try to get a location nearer home!).

Or start trying already as the site will often accept bookings from the next age group before any official announcement. Varies by area but always worth a shot (ha!)

 

[Horizon22]

Over 25s will be offered the vaccine from tomorrow in England. As someone in that group, its been a long wait!

Covid vaccine: 25 to 29-year-olds in England invited

Rollout continues, with all over 25s able to book a Covid vaccine in England from Tuesday.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[brad465]

Over 25s will be offered the vaccine from tomorrow in England. As someone in that group, its been a long wait!

Covid vaccine: 25 to 29-year-olds in England invited

Rollout continues, with all over 25s able to book a Covid vaccine in England from Tuesday.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ditto, although I'll personally have to be careful when I book, as I've got multiple domestic events/trips in the next month that I not only want to avoid a clash, but also to not get one right before I travel in case any side effects get in the way of them.

 

[The Ham]

itto, although I'll personally have to be careful when I book, as I've got multiple domestic events/trips in the next month that I not only want to avoid a clash, but also to not get one right before I travel in case any side effects get in the way of them.

The other thing to consider is when you're likely to get the second dose, which may mean playing with when you get the first dose a little.

 

[kristiang85]

Has anybody rebooked their second dose for an earlier date yet?

I've tried to do mine, under the manage my appointment, but after putting in my NHS no and DOB, it asks for either of my booking references. I didn't get a booking reference for either jab, not a confirmatory email or text for the second one (I've checked my spam too). There's no option for 'if you can't find your reference'.

 

[johncrossley]

Has anybody rebooked their second dose for an earlier date yet?

I've tried to do mine, under the manage my appointment, but after putting in my NHS no and DOB, it asks for either of my booking references. I didn't get a booking reference for either jab, not a confirmatory email or text for the second one (I've checked my spam too). There's no option for 'if you can't find your reference'.

Ring 119 and they'll sort it. The website is very flaky when it comes to sending out emails or texts. I've rebooked my appointments several times and most of the time there was no email or text.

 

[Bantamzen]

Dose numerous dos of the AZ in my arm now. Definitely felt it a bit more than the first, and my arm feels a little hot and heavy. My wife found the second dose a little worse than the first, so we'll see how it goes. Just hope any grotty happens tomorrow and not Thursday, got my first trip away then to see family in Cheshire!

 

[kristiang85]

Ring 119 and they'll sort it. The website is very flaky when it comes to sending out emails or texts. I've rebooked my appointments several times and most of the time there was no email or text.

OK thank you!

 

[ainsworth74]

So I had the Moderna shot and upon reading the leaflet that came with it a bit more closely it says that the second dose should follow within 28 days. Obviously when I booked online it gave me an appointment further down the line than 28 days. So I rang 119 to see if they had any clue and basically their response was: "we don't know where the 28 days things has come from and in any case our system can only book 11 to 12 weeks so we can't rebook, maybe call your GP?".

Now having spoken to my GP of vaccine related things (when I first got given appointments flaming miles away) I know they're likely to be about as much use a chocolate fireguard so does anyone have any information about what's actually going on? Are we spacing the doses out contrary to 'manufacturers instructions' like we've done very successfully with Pfizer and AstraZeneca or what?

 

[Darandio]

So I had the Moderna shot and upon reading the leaflet that came with it a bit more closely it says that the second dose should follow within 28 days. Obviously when I booked online it gave me an appointment further down the line than 28 days. So I rang 119 to see if they had any clue and basically their response was: "we don't know where the 28 days things has come from and in any case our system can only book 11 to 12 weeks so we can't rebook, maybe call your GP?".

Now having spoken to my GP of vaccine related things (when I first got given appointments flaming miles away) I know they're likely to be about as much use a chocolate fireguard so does anyone have any information about what's actually going on? Are we spacing the doses out contrary to 'manufacturers instructions' like we've done very successfully with Pfizer and AstraZeneca or what?

JCVI is still stating 8 weeks for priority groups and 12 weeks for others here.

 

[ainsworth74]

JCVI is still stating 8 weeks for priority groups and 12 weeks for others here.

Aha thank you. Clearly my Google fu was not up the task!

 

[Trackman]

Dose numerous dos of the AZ in my arm now. Definitely felt it a bit more than the first, and my arm feels a little hot and heavy. My wife found the second dose a little worse than the first, so we'll see how it goes. Just hope any grotty happens tomorrow and not Thursday, got my first trip away then to see family in Cheshire!

Had my second AZ today but this time by army personal, felt it less than the first.

I am speaking to you now from the Nightingale Hospital near Washington which has been turned into a vaccination centre whilst I wait my fifteen minutes to have an allergic reaction.

Was this because you were driving? They never asked me today, but they did ask me if I had a reaction to the first jab or on certain meds (twice)- so they probably thought I was safe to drive.

 

[Darandio]

Was this because you were driving? They never asked me today, but they did ask me if I had a reaction to the first jab or on certain meds (twice)- so they probably thought I was safe to drive.

When I had my first dose of AZ last Saturday they did ask me and said I only needed to wait if I was driving.

 

[Mintona]

When I had mine they stuck a sticker on my t shirt with the time 15 minutes precisely after my jab (I had it at 10.12 so the sticker said 10.27) and you weren’t allowed to leave the waiting area until that time arrived.

 

[Jamiescott1]

Has anybody rebooked their second dose for an earlier date yet?

I've tried to do mine, under the manage my appointment, but after putting in my NHS no and DOB, it asks for either of my booking references. I didn't get a booking reference for either jab, not a confirmatory email or text for the second one (I've checked my spam too). There's no option for 'if you can't find your reference'.

Yep. I had my booking reference in both the text and email sent. Cancelled my 2nd appointment which was booked for 30th July and booked a new one for 5th July at a different location to the first

 

[TravelDream]

So I had the Moderna shot and upon reading the leaflet that came with it a bit more closely it says that the second dose should follow within 28 days. Obviously when I booked online it gave me an appointment further down the line than 28 days. So I rang 119 to see if they had any clue and basically their response was: "we don't know where the 28 days things has come from and in any case our system can only book 11 to 12 weeks so we can't rebook, maybe call your GP?".

The vaccines were tested on different time scales to what we use them.

The Oxford/AZ and Pfizer vaccines had a three week interval and the Moderna one a four week interval. Generic leaflets were probably written with this timescale in mind.

The JCVI/ Government decided to extend the interval between doses to give as many people one dose as possible. One dose is still very effective against serious illness and death - even against the new Indian variant.

The current guideline those in priority groups should get the second dose after 8 weeks and others from 11-12 weeks. There might be a bit of difference in areas where the Indian variant numbers are high as they are trying to boost vaccination there.

 

[ainsworth74]

Was this because you were driving? They never asked me today, but they did ask me if I had a reaction to the first jab or on certain meds (twice)- so they probably thought I was safe to drive.

I was but they didn't ask me. But I assume that due to the location (an out of town industrial park) they just decided it was easier to make everyone wait rather than weed out the handful of people who had been given a lift or gotten the bus.

When I had mine they stuck a sticker on my t shirt with the time 15 minutes precisely after my jab (I had it at 10.12 so the sticker said 10.27) and you weren’t allowed to leave the waiting area until that time arrived.

We were instructed to time ourselves!

 

[davews]

I was told to sit in my car for 15 minutes aftereach of my AZ jabs, but there was nobody checking up on you.

 

[Cdd89]

I was told to wait for 13 minutes. Madness, right?

 

[northernchris]

I am speaking to you now from the Nightingale Hospital near Washington which has been turned into a vaccination centre whilst I wait my fifteen minutes to have an allergic reaction.

I've been given Moderna which took me by surprise as I was expecting Pfizer. Anyone know if this Moderna business is any good?

Had my first dose last week which was Moderna. Had no side effects but my arm was really sore for the next couple of days

 

[DelayRepay]

I was told to sit in my car for 15 minutes aftereach of my AZ jabs, but there was nobody checking up on you.

I was told to sit in the car for 15 minutes and to beep my horn if I felt funny, when someone would come to help me.

Fortunately I did not feel funny so didn't need to test the system!

@kristiang85 - there's something odd with the booking system. For my original booking, cancellation and then re-booking, I got the text and email confirmations about three days later. Actually I am surprised they don't send reminder texts/emails the day before.

 

[Snow1964]

I was told to sit in the car for 15 minutes and to beep my horn if I felt funny, when someone would come to help me.

Fortunately I did not feel funny so didn't need to test the system!

@kristiang85 - there's something odd with the booking system. For my original booking, cancellation and then re-booking, I got the text and email confirmations about three days later. Actually I am surprised they don't send reminder texts/emails the day before.

I got reminders both as text and email 1-2 days before
Oddly my wife’s reminders came few hours differently (even though we had same time slot at same location)

Had the same instruction amble to car, beep horn if problem, dont drive for 15 mins from jab, but it was only for those getting second jab, as first jabs had waiting area (everyone were split at check in into A queue for second jabs and separate P queue for first jabs (they presumably got pfzier). All very efficient (at Bath racecourse)

 

[DannyMich2018]

From today in England 25-29 year olds can book their first vaccine. This is a large group so assume first doses will increase now as much fewer 2nd ones will be due. 1st doses fell at the end of March and have never got to above about 250000 per day whereas 2nd ones have stayed high with perhaps slight reduction the last week.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Has anybody rebooked their second dose for an earlier date yet?

No, in fact I had a choice of dates when I had the second invitation text last week and I specifically booked as close as I could to the exact 12 week mark from my first one. That was on Friday 19th March so for me the 12 week mark would be Friday 11th June; the actual date the needle maniacs get hold of me this time round will be this Sunday 13th June, so just two days over the exact mark.

As it has been shown that 12 weeks gives a greater overall percentage of effectiveness, I was not going to rush it for any sooner and accept a lower percentage just because Boris Johnson & Co are panicking again.

 

[The Ham]

From today in England 25-29 year olds can book their first vaccine. This is a large group so assume first doses will increase now as much fewer 2nd ones will be due. 1st doses fell at the end of March and have never got to above about 250000 per day whereas 2nd ones have stayed high with perhaps slight reduction the last week.

Large group as in age band or as in total numbers within that group?

Given that most over 50's will have had both doses now (and a good number under that age too, given that there's be a lot of at risk people done too) then I suspect that the over 18's but under 25's won't be waiting very long for their first dose - especially given that most people I know in their mid 30's have had their first dose already (OK some only just, but I'd expect that those who haven't will follow within the next week or so).

 

[DelayRepay]

Given that most over 50's will have had both doses now (and a good number under that age too, given that there's be a lot of at risk people done too) then I suspect that the over 18's but under 25's won't be waiting very long for their first dose - especially given that most people I know in their mid 30's have had their first dose already (OK some only just, but I'd expect that those who haven't will follow within the next week or so).

The cynic in me wonders if they'll open it up to people aged 18+ quite soon, then claim to have met their target of 'offering' everyone a vaccine - even if the last cohort have to wait a few weeks for a suitable appointment?

 

[WelshBluebird]

The cynic in me wonders if they'll open it up to people aged 18+ quite soon, then claim to have met their target of 'offering' everyone a vaccine - even if the last cohort have to wait a few weeks for a suitable appointment?

Worth saying my partner who is 27 booked their first jab yesterday for tomorrow. So, whilst it depends on area, I'm not convinced there is a "few weeks wait" for your first appointment anymore.

 

[Tracked]

I was told to sit in my car for 15 minutes aftereach of my AZ jabs, but there was nobody checking up on you.

Same here for my first jab, there was someone on the door but they were more bothered with people arriving (I'd only driven in as it was raining that day). Had my 2nd jab the other day and they asked if I'd driven in; I'd cycled in and the 15 minute thing wasn't mentioned for that.

Incidentally, side-effects I had from AZ:

1st Jab: Nothing on the day, woke up with a sore arm at 4am the next day and it was sore for 3 days after that
2nd Jab: Felt the needle going in more this time, think it might've been the person doing the jab (they didn't wipe where they'd injected afterwards, unlike the 1st Jab), arm slightly sore the next day only.