GP can only give me first dose of vaccine

Orlak2410 · 10-06-2021 5:06pm #1

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 · 10-06-2021 5:14pm

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 · 10-06-2021 11:32pm

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 · 11-06-2021 8:07am

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 · 11-06-2021 8:08am

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 · 11-06-2021 8:19am

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

Dempo1 · 11-06-2021 8:45am

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 · 11-06-2021 8:52am

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 · 11-06-2021 10:53am

Gael23 wrote: »

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

No not that I’m aware of

Orlak2410 · 11-06-2021 10:57am

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 · 11-06-2021 10:58am

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 · 11-06-2021 11:02am

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

is_that_so · 11-06-2021 11:02am

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 · 11-06-2021 11:02am

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 · 11-06-2021 11:03am

Blinder wrote: »

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

Yes it is

Edgarfrndly · 11-06-2021 11:04am

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 · 11-06-2021 11:09am

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 · 11-06-2021 11:11am

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 · 11-06-2021 11:12am

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 · 11-06-2021 11:12am

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 · 11-06-2021 11:14am

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 · 11-06-2021 11:17am

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 · 11-06-2021 11:52am

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 · 12-06-2021 12:34am

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 · 12-06-2021 12:38am

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

Darc19 · 12-06-2021 12:49am

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 · 12-06-2021 12:56am

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

Orlak2410 · 12-06-2021 4:56pm

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 · 12-06-2021 4:59pm

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 · 12-06-2021 5:02pm

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 · 15-06-2021 8:12am

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.

GP can only give me first dose of vaccine

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