Thinking About It.

[teacake44]

Had my NHS number come for my jab, and to book. Well I can't make my mind up. Why, because its only the UK who have decided to stretch the second dose past three weeks, and Pfizer have not commented on that decision ???

[teacake44]

They don't have to keep asking me, I have my invitation with no time limit on it. That's down to me.

[teacake44]

No data means the government are acting blind.

[New Judge]

//...basically do what they want, gives me little faith in their decision to ignore the instructions on how to give a life saving vaccine.//

But the choice is still as I outlined yesterday: if you believe either it will harm you or is of no use unless the second dose is given within three weeks then don't have it (because you won't get your second jab within three weeks).

[teacake44]

Well I've already made my decision, I'm going to wait until the end of March, unless a one shot vaccine comes along in the meantime, or more data is available on the two dose one.

[Barsel]

teacake, I understand exactly where you are coming from.
Three of my neighbours were given the Pfizer jab followed by the second one after 3 weeks.
Next neighbour to have it was told it would be 12 weeks before he gets the second one, and this is because the government changed it to this.
As you have rightly said, Pfizer have not said this will be ok to wait 12 weeks, and this is why you are concerned.
I share your concerns, but after giving it a lot of thought, I've decided to go ahead and have my first jab this coming Saturday simply because I do believe it will give me some protection and if I have to wait 12 weeks for the next one, then so be it.
There is always the possibility that it could change again and we may not have to wait as long. I hope you decide to go for it because as others have said, even one jab should protect you from having to go into ICU if you were to get it. Good luck.

[teacake44]

^ Thanks and good luck to you Barsel! I've also considered how much I mix with other people outside my own home. Near on nill.

[Barsel]

teacake, I am in the same position as you. The only time I go out is for a doctors or hospital appointment. I have cancelled a hospital appointment this coming Wednesday because I want to keep as well as I can before I have my jab. Then after 4 weeks?? I think it is, I will have more protection from catching the virus than I do now. The decision is yours of course, but I hope you will give it a bit more thought? Can you talk to your GP about your concerns? The GP's know a lot more than you realise although I do appreciate that some people don't have easy access to their GP as I am fortunate to do so.

[teacake44]

There's nothing a GP can tell me that I don't already know, hence, if I asked him if Pfizer endorsed the governments decision? his answer would be no. If I asked him would the second dose be as effected in 12 weeks time, or safe? he wouldn't know.

My decision is based on the governments track record over the last 12 months, also that no one I know, in government, or scientists within government who made the decision, have had their first jab?
If I wish to gamble with my health, it will be my decision not the UK governments to play roulette with.

[Barsel]

teacake, What is your main concern?
Is it that you don't think the vaccine will work if you have to wait 12 weeks before you get the second dose or that it won't work at all, or that it will make you very unwell?
I know you would appreciate it if Pfizer were to put out a statement to say it will be ok, but perhaps they can't do that because they don't know!
At the end of the day we have 2 choices and that is to have the vaccine or not and sometimes we have to put our trust into something or someone when we're not really sure if we can.
As I said before, give it some more thought and I hope you come to the decision you are happy with. x

[teacake44]

Well NJ, I just picked up on your post @19.57 Sunday. Wondering if I may be so busy I can't afford the time to go and get the vaccine.
Plenty of time, unlike you a few weeks ago almost insisting on you're own appointment time. :0) made me laugh!!!

[teacake44]

Barsel Its really all answered in my post @ 12.47. Any medication whether it be by month, injection should be followed by the manufactures instructions, not played about with. In a nutshell!!

[bednobs]

How long are you going to wait? There is never likely to be a scenario in which you can choose your vaccine. Even if you wait a year to make your appt, you cannot say which one you will be offered on the day. Even if your preferred one is available in the UK by then, you might find your vaccination centre receives a delivery of a different one on the day
Holding on until you think there'll be one more acceptable to you is (in my opinion) foolhardy

[bobbinwales]

// My decision is based on ... no one I know, in government, or scientists within government who made the decision, have had their first jab?//
As none of them seem to be over 80 its not suprising they havent had it. Am pretty sure if they jumped the queue thered have been complaints. especially from you if Hancock was prioratised

[bobbinwales]

your missing the point teacake. Delaying the second one doesnt make the first one any less effective, it just delays the added protection you get from the second. Get your first one which is the most important one. If you rarely go out why are you worried about the timing of the second which gives only a small extra benifit anyway

[bobbinwales]

Read this teacake. The only people really questioning the delay are the BMA who suggest 6 weeks as suggested by the WHO not the 12 weeks suggested by Whitty, Van Tam and immunolgists, but if you read it you'll see even there case isnt that strong and Van Tam has answered it
https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n226

[THECORBYLOON]

Would you rather go months and months without any protection and risk ending up in ICU or have a reduced protection from a single jag which has been shown to give some protection, even without the second one?

[bobbinwales]

Am pretty sure that if you have one now and one in 12 weeks that will be quicker than waiting for some one-jab alternative or than waiting for someone to decide to return to the 3 weeks gap system

[sherrardk]

I think if you get offered a jab and you turn it down that you should go to the back of the queue.

[zylaphone]

I agree Sherrardk, don’t think we can’t afford to pedantic

[MartinMillar]

Best answer to sherr.
Go to the back of the line and let someone whose actually wants the vaccine have it.