GP can only give me first dose of vaccine

Orlak2410

I'm in my early 20's and have an underlying condition. My GP said she can only give me the first dose of the phizer vaccine but said that she cannot give me the second dose. How will I get my second dose 4 weeks later? My age cohort may not be called by then. Thanks.

Dempo1

Orlak2410 wrote: »

I'm in my early 20's and have an underlying condition. My GP said she can only give me the first dose of the phizer vaccine but said that she cannot give me the second dose. How will I get my second dose 4 weeks later? My age cohort may not be called by then. Thanks.

This is most unusual? That is not how this is supposed to work. Like yourself I've an underlying condition, cohort 7, twice your age and generally GP"S Seem to be looking after those with underlying conditions. I have dose 1 done and just got called for 2nd tomorrow week, Pfizer.

Has the GP given a reason why only one Dose? The only thing I can recommend is calling the HSE Vacinations number, listed on their website, it can take a while and explain the situation.

I'm concerned about your situation as I'm not at all sure if you can be on two lists if that makes sense.

Maybe other posters have similar experience and offer better advice, good luck regardless

Tree

My gp didn't do cohorts 4/7 so (eventually) ended up at a vaccination hub. Getting the first and not the second seems really strange. Is she going to refer you to a hub? (they can refer to the hubs, but mine had issues w/ the HSE complaining about their IT system)

Orlak2410

Dempo1 wrote: »

This is most unusual? That is not how this is supposed to work. Like yourself I've an underlying condition, cohort 7, twice your age and generally GP"S Seem to be looking after those with underlying conditions. I have dose 1 done and just got called for 2nd tomorrow week, Pfizer.

Has the GP given a reason why only one Dose? The only thing I can recommend is calling the HSE Vacinations number, listed on their website, it can take a while and explain the situation.

I'm concerned about your situation as I'm not at all sure if you can be on two lists if that makes sense.

Maybe other posters have similar experience and offer better advice, good luck regardless

She said that they are finishing up doing the older cohorts and vulnerable groups and that the rest will be done at vaccination centres

Orlak2410

Tree wrote: »

My gp didn't do cohorts 4/7 so (eventually) ended up at a vaccination hub. Getting the first and not the second seems really strange. Is she going to refer you to a hub? (they can refer to the hubs, but mine had issues w/ the HSE complaining about their IT system)

She said she cannot refer me to a hub for my second dose but when I rang up the hse live helpline, they said that that’s what gp’s can do if they can only give one dose and then I would be contacted a month later to go to a hub.

Gael23

Dud you have the virus on the past few months op?

Dempo1

Orlak2410 wrote: »

She said that they are finishing up doing the older cohorts and vulnerable groups and that the rest will be done at vaccination centres

Seems very strange to only half complete a patients vacinne schedule, I've certainly not come across this.

Dempo1

Orlak2410 wrote: »

She said she cannot refer me to a hub for my second dose but when I rang up the hse live helpline, they said that that’s what gp’s can do if they can only give one dose and then I would be contacted a month later to go to a hub.

Precisely and this I believe is the process, I'm still quite flummoxed as to why any GP would decide to only do half a vacinne schedule, if this the case, OP probably better off registering fully with HSE program which in fairness is now quite quick. I'd just be concerned if GP does one dose and OP has to be referred (albeit GP say they can't do this).or OP registers themselves what potential gaps between does could happen, also how would someone navigate or explain they've had 1st dose already?

Orlak2410

Gael23 wrote: »

Dud you have the virus on the past few months op?

No not that I’m aware of

Orlak2410

Dempo1 wrote: »

Precisely and this I believe is the process, I'm still quite flummoxed as to why any GP would decide to only do half a vacinne schedule, if this the case, OP probably better off registering fully with HSE program which in fairness is now quite quick. I'd just be concerned if GP does one dose and OP has to be referred (albeit GP say they can't do this).or OP registers themselves what potential gaps between does could happen, also how would someone navigate or explain they've had 1st dose already?

I don’t think I can register myself as my age group won’t be called until late July at the earliest. The only way I can get one is through my GP but I probably have left it too late. Perhaps my GP only ordered a certain amount for their anticipated needs. I should get some proof from my GP that I have received my first dose if she does not want to register me with the HSE.

Wabbit Ears

Underlying condition also, got both Jabs at the Gp 4 weeks apart. If my GP had said they only do the first and wouldn't give me specifics on how I got my second Id be no thanks and looking for a copy of my medial records for my New GP.

God, even the thoughts of that awkward situation gives me anxiety.. I officially hate your GP for you.

Blinder

@Orlak2410. Is your underlining condition listed in the Cohort 4/7 groups?

is_that_so

Orlak2410 wrote: »

I don’t think I can register myself as my age group won’t be called until late July at the earliest. The only way I can get one is through my GP but I probably have left it too late. Perhaps my GP only ordered a certain amount for their anticipated needs. I should get some proof from my GP that I have received my first dose if she does not want to register me with the HSE.

There is a plan in the works for groups left outside the general portal process, according to the HSE and there should be details on it in the next 10 days.

Orlak2410

Wabbit Ears wrote: »

Underlying condition also, got both Jabs at the Gp 4 weeks apart. If my GP had said they only do the first and wouldn't give me specifics on how I got my second Id be no thanks and looking for a copy of my medial records for my New GP.

God, even the thoughts of that awkward situation gives me anxiety.. I officially hate your GP for you.

I rang the hse live helpline twice and they said that if my GP can only give me the first dose, they should register my details on the HSE portal and then I should be contacted when my second dose is due and I can get it in a centre. I know GP’s are put on a pedestal and feared by some but I don’t think they can do something like this.

Orlak2410

Blinder wrote: »

@Orlak2410. Is your underlining condition listed in the Cohort 4/7 groups?

Yes it is

Edgarfrndly

That's very unusual. I got my first dose through my GP (also underlying condition) and get my second in 2 weeks through them also. What reasoning did they give for not being able to give your second?

Orlak2410

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

That's very unusual. I got my first dose through my GP (also underlying condition) and get my second in 2 weeks through them also. What reasoning did they give for not being able to give your second?

Something about them finishing up vaccinating their patients (older and vulnerable patients) and the rest having to go to vaccination centres (presumably because younger patients are more tech savvy to register themselves)

OrlaFS2017

I’m in similar situation in that I’ll be away for second dose and GP isn’t sure if they’ll have a smaller vaccine clinic at a later date. Can your GP not register you cos I’d the HSE hack?

Dempo1

Orlak2410 wrote: »

I don’t think I can register myself as my age group won’t be called until late July at the earliest. The only way I can get one is through my GP but I probably have left it too late. Perhaps my GP only ordered a certain amount for their anticipated needs. I should get some proof from my GP that I have received my first dose if she does not want to register me with the HSE.

Yes apologies, I forgot your age

Blinder

Orlak2410 wrote: »

Yes it is

Ok.
If I was you I would , get 1st dose in GPs.
They give you a card with the vaccine details ( date vaccine was given and type of vaccine and batch number etc.)
If they still say that they can't refer you to the HSE for second dose.
Ring HSE helpline again, tell thy you have first dose and need to make appointment for second dose. If they say that GP has to refer you, tell they that GP won't etc.
Ask them to either contact the GP or to put into writing to you that GP has to refer. Once you have it in writing, go back to GP and show them. If still not referring you, get back onto HSE helpline.
Basically you're going to have to be the squeaky wheel until they take notice of you.

Orlak2410

OrlaFS2017 wrote: »

I’m in similar situation in that I’ll be away for second dose and GP isn’t sure if they’ll have a smaller vaccine clinic at a later date. Can your GP not register you cos I’d the HSE hack?

No sure the hse told me the other day that the GP can register me for a second dose at a centre. I rang the hse live helpline twice and spoke to two different people just to be sure. I am just worried that if a GP does not want to do that, nobody will challenge them on it because of their status in society

Orlak2410

Blinder wrote: »

Ok.
If I was you I would , get 1st dose in GPs.
They give you a card with the vaccine details ( date vaccine was given and type of vaccine and batch number etc.)
If they still say that they can't refer you to the HSE for second dose.
Ring HSE helpline again, tell thy you have first dose and need to make appointment for second dose. If they say that GP has to refer you, tell they that GP won't etc.
Ask them to either contact the GP or to put into writing to you that GP has to refer. Once you have it in writing, go back to GP and show them. If still not referring you, get back onto HSE helpline.
Basically you're going to have to be the squeaky wheel until they take notice of you.

That sounds like the best course of action. The GP did say to me that I may have to wait until my age cohort is called to receive my second dose but the vaccine doses are four weeks apart for a reason. It is the way they are engineered. If I get first dose then wait 7/8 weeks until my second dose, it may interfere with the vaccines integrity

Edgarfrndly

Yeah definitely worth getting first dose either way, you'll have a good degree of immunity after 14 days and press the HSE for the second dose.

RoamingDoc

Blinder wrote: »

you're going to have to be the squeaky wheel until they take notice of you.

A damning indictment of the health system.
Though I really can't think of any other way around this.


This passing from one service to another crap is something that happens far too often.

OP: As others have said, get your first dose as soon as you can so that you'll at least be partially protected. Then do the job of the health service for it and make sure that your course is completed on time.

ClosedAccountFuzzy

I think if I were you in your position I'd be looking for a new GP.

Darc19

I'll get my second shot in 2 weeks.

I'll lay any money that I won't get it from the same person or in the same cubicle.


Where's the issue with this.

Gp gives you the first shot. They register it the same way someone is registered at a vaccination centre. You get called in 4 weeks to get the second shot.

Only change is it is a different location.


So far, despite the shower of "expert" naysayers, the HSE vaccine rollout has been utterly superb considering what it entails.

And the naysayers absolutely hate that.

JPup

Take the first dose. Worse case scenario you get the second in August with your age group.

Orlak2410

RoamingDoc wrote: »

A damning indictment of the health system.
Though I really can't think of any other way around this.


This passing from one service to another crap is something that happens far too often.

OP: As others have said, get your first dose as soon as you can so that you'll at least be partially protected. Then do the job of the health service for it and make sure that your course is completed on time.

I can’t register myself online as it won’t let me. I’ll have to ring them and try to make an appointment that way. If I give them the batch number that should be proof of a first dose. Does anybody know what the procedure is if you get an appointment that you can’t make? Can you rearrange it.

Orlak2410

Darc19 wrote: »

I'll get my second shot in 2 weeks.

I'll lay any money that I won't get it from the same person or in the same cubicle.


Where's the issue with this.

Gp gives you the first shot. They register it the same way someone is registered at a vaccination centre. You get called in 4 weeks to get the second shot.

Only change is it is a different location.


So far, despite the shower of "expert" naysayers, the HSE vaccine rollout has been utterly superb considering what it entails.

And the naysayers absolutely hate that.

Yeah that should happen. Maybe my GP is just not familiar with the vaccination centre procedures as she probably gave all of her patients the first and second doses so far.

ebbsy

When the time is rightgo to your nearest vac centre with ID and PPS number. Tell them your circumstances.

Thats what I did, wasn't going to wait for the doc any longer.

There was no problem.

Orlak2410

ebbsy wrote: »

When the time is rightgo to your nearest vac centre with ID and PPS number. Tell them your circumstances.

Thats what I did, wasn't going to wait for the doc any longer.

There was no problem.

Yeah that’s a good idea. They say not to do that but would they really refuse you at the door especially if you say you’ll wait for an appointment that somebody didn’t turn up for.

ebbsy

Orlak2410 wrote: »

Yeah that’s a good idea. They say not to do that but would they really refuse you at the door especially if you say you’ll wait for an appointment that somebody didn’t turn up for.

They will not refuse you. Great staff.

Breezer

OP, I am a GP. Obviously I can’t say for sure, but what I suspect has happened here is that your GP is not participating in vaccinating those in cohort 7 (people under 60 with medical conditions) but they had spare doses left over from vaccinating other groups. You got your first vaccine from these spare doses, but there are no more doses being delivered to your GP.

In this case, your GP should refer you to get a second dose at a vaccination clinic. There is an email service set up by the HSE specifically for this purpose.

I will say that the amount of ever-changing information about covid and vaccines over the last 15 months has been intense, to put it mildly. Add to that the fact that our computers and sometimes phones haven’t been working properly for the last few weeks, which was right when you posted this thread. I work with a large team of doctors and nurses so we’ve been able to rely on each other to help keep up with the latest developments, but honestly a lot of it has been blink and you miss it stuff. I’d suggest you have another chat with your GP and ask to be referred to a vaccination centre for dose two.