What to do if you miss your second COVID-19 vaccine – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Even though social distancing guidelines have receded across the county, the spread of new variants of COVID-19 shows us why it is still essential that all eligible people get vaccinated against the coronavirus. And that’s why it’s important to know what to do if you miss your second dose of a two-shot vaccine.

From July 4^e holidays, only 55% of Americans eligible for any of the vaccines (ages 12 and older) were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 according to the CDC. This is well below the target for the country to achieve collective immunity levels. The constant parade of variations only underscores the importance of achieving this goal and getting as many people vaccinated as possible.

But, for some, the problem is not getting the first of a two-dose vaccination, but missing the appointment for the second injection. Whether it’s a family or work dispute, a scheduling error, or just an oversight, many people miss their second shot, which is crucial for comprehensive protection.

To get a better idea of ​​what to do if you miss that second appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine, we spoke with Respiratory and Critical Challenge Doctor Joseph Khabbaza, MD.

What to do if you missed your appointment

“If you missed your appointment, the best advice is to reschedule and get that second dose as soon as possible,” says Dr. Khabbaza. “Regardless of the delay, you will still be considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after your second injection. “

While the CDC has established guidelines for the wait time between doses – 21 days for Pfizer and 28 days for Moderna – the organization also says that a delay of up to 42 days between doses “is allowed. when a delay is inevitable ”. But there is still a lot to learn about how we respond to these vaccines.

“Some initial studies would have shown that there was no negative effect after waiting more than 42 days between doses,” says Dr. Khabbaza.

In the UK, a shortage of available vaccines led to the decision to delay most second doses of Pfizer vaccine for up to 12 weeks so that as many people as possible could receive the first dose. In May, a study found that older patients who waited for that 12-week interval had higher antibody levels than those who waited the standard 3 weeks between doses.

While these results indicate that you are not injured by a delay between shots, you should still get your second shot as soon as possible. “Even if you have some immunity after the first shot, you want to get that full immunity as quickly as possible,” says Dr. Khabbaza. “But these studies are important to show that it’s not too late for your second injection if you miss your appointment.”

Why getting the second shot matters

The second shot of two-dose vaccines is essential to achieve full immunity against COVID-19. For example, studies shared by the CDC showed that a single dose of Pfizer vaccine ranged from 60% to 80% effectiveness against COVID-19. But these studies also showed that both doses were 90% effective against COVID-19 with an even higher rate of effectiveness against severe cases of COVID-19.

This full immunity is extremely important both to protect each person and to protect our communities from the spread of the virus, says Dr Khabbaza. “In addition to helping us achieve this important herd immunity status, the vaccines have been shown to be very effective against the mutations and variants that we have seen so far,” he says.

“The delta variant is getting a lot of our attention now and if you are fully vaccinated – that is, two doses of a two-shot vaccine – you have very little to worry about,” he adds. . “And it’s important to be fully vaccinated to protect against potential future variants.”

Can I get the second dose earlier?

The CDC recommends that you do do not get your second shot early. You want to give the antibodies generated by the first shot as much time as possible to build up. If there is a scenario where getting your second injection a day or two earlier will prevent a long delay in getting that second dose, talk to your health care provider for the best course of action.

Tips for getting your second dose on time

Life can be very busy and it is not uncommon to forget a date or for a conflict to arise that necessitates a reshuffle. Here are a few ways to make sure you don’t miss your window to get that essential second dose.

Clear calendar

When planning your doses, make sure your schedule is clear. Make sure your appointments don’t overlap with work trips, vacations, or other conflicts that will prevent you from going to get your photo. And, if possible, be sure to prioritize your vaccine appointment over everything else. It is so important.

Schedule the second dose as soon as possible

Scheduling procedures vary from place to place, but many places will allow you to schedule your second dose when you get your first injection. If your location doesn’t have this option, be sure to ask about their scheduling process so you get a good idea of ​​when that appointment will be made.

If scheduling conflicts mean you have to get your doses from different places, that’s okay. According to the CDC, having your second injection at a different location than your first injection is okay as long as you receive the same vaccine for both doses.

Set reminders

Use emails and online calendar reminders to send yourself alerts so you don’t forget the appointment. You can also often set reminders on your smartphone. Writing down the date and time of the appointment and placing it where you will always see it is also a good rule of thumb.