In reply to Michael Hood:
Particularly when we've got a batch of Pfizer, we absolutley need to use every single dose within 5 days.
We got a bit ahead on 2nd doses of Pfizer, for various reasons:
- initially only using 5 doses per vial - this was increased to 6 doses, so when the "2nd dose" batches came, we could get ahead.
- some people can't have their 2nd dose e.g. unwell, now housebound, RIP, moved house, etc - so that creates more spare doses.
So the end result is that some people will be invited for their 2nd dose sooner than expected. It isn't an "officially endorsed 7 week gap" - it's just a pragmatic way to use up doses.
Last weekend at the clinic where I was vaccinating we phoned the police to see who could come, and also contacted local schools to give teachers aged >40 their 1st dose, as a way to use up the spare doses.
This isn't an issue for AZ vaccine, because you can just leave the unused vial in the fridge ready for the next clinic.