Clinically vulnerable

[Triobolium]

Has anyone else noticed that on the gov.uk site for covid vaccines, in the clinically vulnerable group (not extremely) asthma has be upped to severe asthma. This means that other asthmatics are no longer sixth in line for a jab.

[twinkly29]

No, it doesn't mean that. It's incorrect, the information I mean.

Asthma UK explained it in this previous post:

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

[Triobolium in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks twinkly29 I missed that post, I was getting a bit stressed as I work in a school. My work colleagues were shocked that I wasn't in the shielded group, I have a lot of time off work which is down to bad asthma as a child and into my teens which left me with a reduced lung function and salbutamol makes very little difference to my airways (found by lung function tests 30 years ago) I am in my 60s now so you can understand how worrying it all is.

[twinkly29 in reply to Triobolium]

It might be worth trying to have your asthma reviewed as maybe a change of meds would help (it should be able to be done over the phone) especially if you're symptomatic and your current meds don't seem enough.

And, if you've not had lung function tests since then, having some repeated when you can would probably be a good idea as it's possible that that was a snapshot at the time but not necessarily indicative of all the time.

But to go back to the lists released ....

wouldn't it have been helpful if they had actually asked people who knew for appropriate terminology....!! Rather like anything they do and say for education actually (said as an ex-teacher).....!

[Triobolium in reply to twinkly29]

I had a review done last week, it is only when I get viral infections that things go pear shaped. My peak flow at my last 5 years of reviews has been 240.

[twinkly29 in reply to Triobolium]

Your peak flow is only important though in relation to your best recent best (not to other people's or official charts) - so actually if it's consistently been that then that's actually a good thing. Glad you've had a review too. Hopefully you'll get your vaccine in not too many weeks time which will then give you as much protection as is available. If you're 65+ then your age comes above being group 6 for asthma; if you're 60-64 then that's the same group anyway as asthma that's not CEV. So hopefully it won't be too long for you (although I'm sure it still seems a long way away!)

[Triobolium in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks twinkly29

[B_Asthma]

As someone on the extremely vulnerable list due to asthma, the government has always mainted a differentiation between asthma and severe asthma. Severe asthma has been defined by medication prescribed. Furthermore, there is now research suggesting asthmatics are not at a higher risk for COVID.

[twinkly29 in reply to B_Asthma]

The issue the poster means here is that, on the vaccine priority lists, the terminology used for the respiratory examples for both groups 4 and 6 is "severe asthma". Even more unhelpfully, on one of the official documents, the expanded description of the chronic respiratory conditions bit for group 6 actually used the same wording as that of severe respiratory issues linked to the CEV/shielding information. All this is why Asthma UK asked them to clarify it properly - as you rightly say, there is a difference but there wasn't in their wording.

[Triobolium in reply to twinkly29]

I know several people with asthma who were originally shielded, including a young child but second time around not shielded. At the start of the pandemic asthma shielding medication was altered and now seems to be mainly down to the number of courses of prednisolone you have had over a few months.

I have read articles that suggested asthmatics may have some protection because of taking regular inhaled steroids. I think it is all down to the luck of the draw, it either gets you or it doesn't however long covid is worrying because there are no timescales and it may well cause permanent damage.

[twinkly29 in reply to Triobolium]

Yes nearly all children were thought to no longer be CEV (for whatever condition they had) in the summer. And yes also to the meds changes. Initially they mentioned certain meds and then people got hung up on medication names whereas I think the issue is actually the control (hence the focus on long-term on repeated prednisolone). Plus then they discovered that most asthmatics aren't any more at risk than non-asthmatics. As you say, the luck of the draw probably as covid is so very random.

The thought of long covid is worrying, you're right, but equally I think that's the luck of the draw too as not everyone gets that - and someone people do seem to think being unwell for 3 weeks is long covid whereas actually that's just covid. But no, no-one wants actual long covid lasting months.

[Ems31000]

Yes this is all a bit tricky. AsthmaUK have said they asked for clarification on the wording, but this wording weeks and weeks later hasn't been changed on any official guidance. I checked with my doctors when talked about something else this week and they said they would be taking the JCVI priority list obviously unless it changed, so regardless of what may or may not have been clarified, if the priority list doesn't change, we won't be in Group 6 i don't think.

[Hidden in reply to Ems31000]

I’m inclined to agree with you Ems. If it really were a mistake they’d have corrected it by now and the health boards have to follow the official guidance. That guidance clearly states that group 6 includes severe asthma only (but not those who are shielding- they’re group 4).

[Ems31000 in reply to Hidden]

I would just be very surprised if they change it now. I hope I'm wrong!

[Hidden in reply to Ems31000]

Yes, I do too Ems!

[LDloveslattecoffe]

My understanding group 6 is underlying health conditions so anyone not in the clinically extremely vulnerable group but is eligible for a flu jab is in group 6.

[Hidden in reply to LDloveslattecoffe]

{EDIT: THIS IS WHAT I WAS TOLD BY MY SURGERY. IT MAY NOT BE UK POLICY}. That used to be my understanding too but that’s not the case. Only severe asthmatics (frequent or continuous use of oral steroids) are on the vaccine priority list. All other asthmatics are being treated the same as the general population without health conditions. I was told that by my surgery yesterday. Health Boards and GPs are following the JCVI guidance and The Green Book that both outline this clearly. We were initially told it was a mistake and that an amendment was to be made but that has now turned out not to be the case after all. We’ll just have to wait. It’s good news that non-severe asthmatics aren’t deemed to be at any increased risk but I have to admit to being incredibly worried by this.

[Ems31000 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Artichokes - have you found this out for definite?

[Hidden in reply to Ems31000]

I spoke to the asthma nurse at my surgery (about something else) and she says they'll be going by The Green Book and JCVI guidance. From what I gather via social media, others (who are not random strangers to me) have been told the same by their surgeries in other parts of the UK. I haven't seen it confirmed in writing by Asthma UK though, so maybe there's something going on behind the scenes and a glimmer of hope. It had better hurry up though.

[Triobolium in reply to Hidden]

Hi Artichokes, I work in a school so it is all very worrying and I am 65 in July (so if not group 6, will not be too far behind in group 7.

[Anfaw]

Yes, unfortunately the The Green Book and JCVI guidance is what GPs and vaccination centres will be working from, so unless they are updated then asthmatics who aren't on systemic steroids and haven't been hospitalised will not be prioritised, no matter what asthma UK say, and they have been VERY quiet on that matter since that one announcement. Hopefully there is some discussion/change in the background but I don't hold out much hope anymore I'm afraid.

[Pipsqueak77 in reply to Anfaw]

Hi

Just to throw another spanner in the works... I am interested to see the vaccine priority list when the government add in all the police, firefighters and teachers etc.. who are now going to be moved up the list???

Just a thought..🤔🤔

[Anfaw in reply to Pipsqueak77]

The JCVI has always mentioned occupational groups as a consideration for prioritisation in the second phase (so after group 9) it just says it is more of a ministerial/policy issue than for them to advise. I'm so frustrated by this, I just want to know for sure whether I am group 6 or not! 😆

[Ems31000 in reply to Anfaw]

Same - either way just want to know to deal with it - the conflicting info and lack of certainty is driving me mad!