Just wanted to check if anyone understands what defines being in priority group 6. I'm asthmatic take my reliever, preventer and have 500mg of theophylline a day. I read the green book from the gove site and its says that asthmatics who are on steroid treatment (my preventer contains steroids but I'm unsure if this means tablets, such as prednisone). Or have been hospitalised. I have been in hospital multiple times from attacks twice in intensive care, but not in the last 20 odd years (I am 45) so don't know if this will count. I also think my BMI may be over 40, I don't know if the doctors will know this, I think they weighed me a couple of years ago but I've put around a stone on since .
Don't know if I'm in priority group 6 - Asthma Community ...
Don't know if I'm in priority group 6
Written by
Alw75
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
38 Replies
•
It might count
I think you are group 6 18-64 yr olds with underlying health conditions ie; clinically vulnerable. I'm Group 5 due to my age, and diabetic and asthmatic, but because I'm inbetween the 65-69 age group my gp surgery told me they can't vaccinate me as I'm not group 6 and all gp's now are only vaccinating group 6 people.
At the conference yesterday they said that Group 5 (65-69) will be sent letters to book using the NHS booking system. But if they prefer to wait for their GP to contact them they can (the booking system may offer somewhere less near initially). GPs will be focusing on those in Group 6 with underlying conditions first because they are the ones who know their patients' conditions. So being group 5, you should get a letter to book anyway. It's a bit odd because you also have diabetes which is a definite for the underlying conditions (asthma seems to vary for grouping)...so you'd think they could include you as group 6 for that. But it's likely that age is dominant factor so they've made the decision you're group 5.
Hopefully either way you'll hear soon though as both groups are underway now!
bbc.co.uk/news/health-56069... Millions of asthmatics 'must wait for vaccine'
People with asthma will be vaccinated in the sixth priority group, after the over-65s and frontline staff, IF they:
Have ever had an emergency asthma admission, or;
They have had three oral (tablet or liquid) steroid prescriptions over a three month period
The vaccine minister, Mr Zahawi, said last night that all asthmatics who take an inhaler are in group 6. He was clearly not aware of the rules himself, which is hardly surprising for someone with his track record. However, if the man is charge is getting confused what chance does everyone else have?
twitter.com/asthmaccl/statu...
It just shows how little the people making decisions about us understand asthma. As far as I'm aware all asthmatics have at least one inhaler, so I can imagine a back track on this. Furthermore, do they really think that if someone hasn't had steroids recently that that means their lungs are stronger. If I get a chest infection I usually end up on prednisone, haven't had one for a couple of years so not needed steroids, but its often about if you come into contact with a trigger. I would expect those making decisions to understand this, so they surely can't be experts.
It's also kind of convenient for them to make asthma so unclear. When you think about it, if they vaccinated all asthmatics that need the flu jab how big would group 6 be. I can imagine at least a couple more million. That's puts extra pressure on them hitting their goals. How can they make out that people with such a serious lung condition are not vulnerable to a disease that attacks the lungs.
I wish there was more pushback on the flimsy 'evidence' that's being used to justify this decision. It seems to be based on a BMJ algorithm, which can't/doesn't seem to take into account extra measures asthmatics have been taking like shielding, which is surely a huge flaw - I wasn't told to shield, but I've been really, really cautious, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Definitely seems like we're being thrown under the bus so they can hit their vaccine targets...
As well as the worries of the actual virus, what is worrying me now is how this will effect how my workplace views my personal circumstances. They've been really really good allowing me to work from home since March because I've been on the 'clinically vulnerable' list - my asthma is well managed but I'm on steroid inhalers, and I struggle particularly through winter. The Government are now, in a nut shell, saying my asthma is not severe enough to be considered vulnerable anymore and so shouldn't have any special requirements.
Like Garfunkel said, it very much feels like we're being thrown under the bus so they can meet targets and not because of solid data.
It's so bad, asthma doesn't actually improve unless you grow out of it as a child, so how can they say a person is vulnerable one minute and not the next. Added to this the criteria doesn't take into account that a person that has had no hospital admissions or steroids recently may just not have yet come into contact with a major trigger (I didn't know I was allergic to horses until I had riding lessons and eventually had one of the worst attacks I have ever had) so how do they know for individuals whether covid will be a life taking trigger.
Systemic steroids, in this case, means oral steroids such as prednisolone. But your weight and history of hospital admissions, albeit a long time ago, should put you in group 6. But we're dependent on the algorithms used by the NHS to put patients in the relevant groups.
GPs were asked to review their patient lists for those who had missed out on the correct group allocation and input computer codes to update the system. Instructions to GPs can be found in this link in respect of high and moderate risk patients (you're moderate per your BMI) digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/...
The only way to ensure you're in the right group is to talk with your GP with regards the code on your records. As you say, they may be unaware of your current BMI. You could look up BMI the formula and work out what your current score is in order to persuade your GP to update their records with the right SNOMED-CT code.
But can we trust our GPS to check our records properly when they'll have so many to go through. This year I had to make a complaint to get past the receptionist fir my flu jab, because I had been missed of the list due to the brand name of my steroid inhaler. I got an apology and apparently my records have been updated for its very worrying.
I might wait a couple of weeks as it will take time but don't really want to ask them about the BMI thing if I don't need to, as I phone in April to ask about whether I should be in the shielding group (I'm a mature student so luckily have been able to stay home anyway, so didn't need it for work etc, but just wanted to know how high the risk was for me) I was treated like I was trying to scam benefits or something, so I feel like asking about this will generate the same reaction.
systemic steroids means steroids by mouth
I am finding it super confusing as well!!
I take:
Fostair 200/6
Fexofendadine 120mg
cetirizine 10mg
avamys 27.5micrograms
ventolin (inhaler and accuhaler)
and am about to start spiriva respimat (when it arrives this week)
I am only 20 and apart from my support bubble, I am not seeing anyone outside my household at all or leaving the house.
And my BMI is in the healthy range.
I do not think I will get the vaccine according to the current guidelines, as I do not take steriod tablets/liquid (did not improve my asthma and had negative side effects toke them consinitly a few years ago) and am 20 years old. But very unsure about the vaccine rules, they seem to change all the time.
I have now got to the point that I’ll get it when I get it but I’m over 55 so think I’m group 6 anyway .I’m on fostair 100/6 ,
montelukast,spiriva,fexofenadine and steroid nasal spray also emergency preds which I used twice last year but I can’t help feeling that we are being left behind because we manage our asthma well not because it’s any less serious than another persons and it’s creating a 2 tier asthma system where as before covid we all were just asthmatics no matter whether it was well managed or not (I’m not belittling any asthmatic and I know it’s hard to find a regime that fits each person as each persons asthma is unique to them )
I spoke the my GP as hit the criteria for Gp 6 with previous emergency admissions but I was told that the GPS don’t know if I will be in that cohort or not. I’m so confused now. I guess I will get it eventually anyway
I’ve been given my vaccination slot under group 6. The only way I qualify is asthma. Afaik I’m not ‘serious’.
It’s worth remembering that some areas are further ahead in their vaccination groups than others. We’ve just moved on to group 6, but the neighbouring trust started their group 6 last week. I guess it depends on the number of patients they have in each group.
Try putting your data in the calculator and it will tell you your group and likely date to get vaccine - omnicalculator.com/health/v...
You can't rely on the omni calculator it comes up with a different result each time I've found.My surgery won't vaccinate me, they've finished the over 70's and now are only going to vaccinate those in Group 6. I'm Group 5 for age as I'm 68, but i also have asthma and diabetes which also puts me in Group 6, but the receptionist is adamant I must book online for the mass vaccination centre an hours drive away, or pick a chemist in another area. I'm not happy about this at all.
Your group is the highest one though (in priority, not number). So someone who is group 6 medically but 80 would have been in their age group not group 6. So you are group 5.
The official line according to the government on Monday was that group 5 can be done by GP if they don't want to go to centre offered on the booking service but GPs will do this once they've done Group 6.
My doctors surgery are refusing to vaccinate me even though I'm clinically vulnerable with diabetes they told me they are only vaccinating those in group 6, they are not vaccinating any group 5 people whether they are clinically vulnerable or not. Whether this is the bolshy receptionists, who don't know that group 5's who are CV have to be vaccinated by their GP surgery or not who knows. Its like banging your head against the wall trying to reason with them. I asked if I wait will I be contacted by them and they said no, as I'm group 5 and had a letter from the NHS to book at a mass vaccination centre or pharmacy. Just going round and round in circles to reason with them.
My mum is having the same problem, she is in her late 70s and disabled. When my dad rang to make her appointment I think he was told that she would have to queue for a couple of hours. She cannot stand for more than around 5 minutes, if my dad also in his late 70s could get the scooter in the car they also then have the issue of her weak bladder. He told them that she can't stand queueing due to these multiple problems and they said they would make alternative arrangements. This was weeks ago, they've heard nothing, my dad tried to call back and can't get through, waited 30 minutes on the phone then they cut him off. I think he's going to his local MP about it. You should do the same. When they are vaccinating the elderly they should expect problems like this, but have made no plans to overcome it. I think it may even be against the 2010 discrimination act, as they are not making adjustments for the disabled.
Is she registered as housebound? Equally I know at the GP surgery where I worked they provided chairs etc for those who needed them (or they queued in their wheelchairs/scooters etc). And the queue wasn’t a couple hours. Everyone was given a specific time (to the minute 😅) as so long as people arrived on time it was 15-30 mins queuing.
Hopefully she’s getting support for the issues she has so the GP is already aware of them etc.
Hope she gets vaccinated soon
I don't think she's registered as housebound she goes out on her scooter, but they live in cromer, a very small town, I think as they area as a whole is quite like this there is only one centre for everybody. But even if she has something to sit on, she is fretting because they have to drive around 40 minutes, as soon as she gets there she will need a toilet, then probably again 30 minutes later. She gets herself worked up about this, for example when she has to go to Norwich hospital she won't drink anything that morning. It is because she had an accident once when they travelled on boxing day to visit us and nowhere was open on the way. We live 3 hrs from them.
That’s where I am! Small world. Sheringham was where I was talking about. There were relatively speedy there vaccine wise. And they understood people needing the loo etc 😅. There’s also Rossi’s in N.Walsham that’s been doing them. People I know who have gone there haven’t queued too long either.
If she’s under Cromer group practice my advice is to call between 10.30 and 12. Queue is shorter and you don’t get cut off 😅
Is is at North Walsham, I think that's where she's been told to go. I don't know why they think it's a 2 hr queue it may just be something they've heard
Yeah. North Walsham. As I said I haven’t heard 2hrs if that helps.
I will pass that onto my dad, thankyou, also do you know if she would be able to book at sherringham rather than north Walsham as it is much closer for them
I would think that your previous admissions would put you in group 6. It’s the same for me.... I asked my GP and they said that they simply don’t know yet. Looks like we will have to wait and see
Having my vaccine today..ive got asthma..you should be all getting called now..good luck and stay safe
It is all very confusing, and would be helpful if could be told where fall. Asthmatic -I have been on steroids in last 3 months, had 4 courses between Feb to December 2020 and I am on montelukast and 250 Flutiform. So wasn’t sure where I would fall.
Yesterday I received a text asking me to book for vaccination. Went on website and then wasn’t sure if to book or not as said needed invite letter or shielding letter- haven’t received either. Rang up number given if had queries and told if received text - book and to take my phone to show text with me if any queries. So booked yesterday- shocked to get appointment for this morning 9.30am. But I did feel very anxious, I was so worried in case told to go home and that I would end up wasting my time, an appointment and vaccine centre staffs time. Got there, no queries and have had first jab.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Don't know what to do anymore...
Hi
I've recently been really suffering with hayfever affecting my asthma. The antihistamines that...
What priority group for vaccination am I in if I have asthma?
We know there has been confusion about when people with asthma will get the COVID-19 vaccine and...
I'm a little lost and don't know what the next step is
This isnt urgent or anything - just not sure what I can do next.
I had an attack at a training...
I don't know what to do???
In hospital, on a ward, having an asthma attack. They won't give me nebs as I'm not desatting and...
Plumie/Joan UK
Joan UK sent a PM report to Webed:
Dear Administrator,
Joan uk wishes to alert you to a private...
I don't know what my real voice is.
Group 6 or not Group 6 - the additional stress is bonkers
Very anxious
GRRR - inhalers don't seem to be working
Preventers make it harder for me to breathe. Does this happen to anyone else?
