Does anyone know when those of us who weren't in the shielding group will get the vaccine?
I'm 26 and my asthma is controlled by Montelukast & Qavar and I also have PoTs, so just wondering when the vaccine will be for us as any illness floors me and an increase in temp makes everything much worse.
My friend is 40 he’s got his invite today so not long now
Hang tight and know that we're all feeling the same way as you!
I'm 29 and i'm also on Montelukast and the highest dose of Symbicort, but i've heard nothing from my doctor about the jab.
They will get to us eventually.
I’m sorry to hear of your health problems. I have similar but unfortunately we get the vaccine the same as our age group. Crazy but true. It’s such a bewildering decision.
Keeping my fingers crossed for everyone! I was told last week by one of the GPs at my surgery that I would be in my age group (I’m 29, have Asthma, on Fostair and antihistamines and nasal sprays for severe hay fever) however on Tuesday out of the blue I had a text from my surgery inviting me for the vaccine which I had this morning, and they confirmed I’d been called because of my asthma, so there is a bit of hope it will be sooner rather than later, although it does seem to be pot luck and down to vaccine supply and GP surgery discretion when sending out the invites x
Our daughter, age 38 and living in Scotland, got her invitations a couple of days ago. She has asthma, but not badly now. I believe she is only on Ventolin now, as and when. However, her partner, same age group but no asthma hasn’t got an invitation yet.
That’s so strange. AsthmaUK website states: “If you were sent a shielding letter, you will be in priority group 4.
If you have ever had an emergency hospital admission for your asthma, or ever been prescribed three courses of steroid tablets in a three-month period, you will fall into priority group 6.
If you do not fall into either of these groups and are under the age of 50, you will be vaccinated after the first nine priority groups”.
But I keep hearing about people with very mild asthma being vaccinated. I’m severe and have had many hospital admissions but don’t qualify. The GP says hospital admissions must be recent whatever that means. What a mess! I’m glad to hear at least some GPs are seeing sense.
I think part of the problem I’m having with my practice is that of the six doctors only one has been there longer than three years, and three of them I don’t recall being part of the practice prior to covid. The one who has been there longer than three years has been there for ten years at most. She has come across me, but only two or three times. Of the two doctors who knew me very well (for over twenty five years in fact) one retired three years ago, the other retired about nine months later. A third doctor (who knew me quite well) left not long afterwards. In other words, none of the GPs there now know me and my medical issues that well.
This is in Scotland, so there may be some differences. She was surprised to get it, but assumed it was her asthma as her partner didn’t get one yet.
I’ve just realised you’ve given the same reply to me twice 😀. See my response below.
Keeping fingers crossed that I won’t have too long to wait now.
I think the fact is that those Of us with asthma have been badly treated by this situation. We have breathing issues, some may be mild but still we are reliant upon drugs to maintain regular breathing. Personally I feel let down by this government who have included many other conditions which do not require support from drugs and yet we are having to wait. It seems that asthma is not receiving the media exposure of other groups, such as those with learning difficulties. I also note that people have died from asthma attacks and the effects of pollution upon the respiratory system yet it is not a focus of the media. Something is wrong here, is there a cover up as to the real numbers of asthma sufferers and the reasons why!
Fatal asthma attacks do get reported in the media and the most recent high profile case was of a child whose asthma was certainly greatly aggravated by pollution and it eventually proved fatal.
I think one of the problems we have to contend with comes, ironically, from the very thing which is a life saver for most of us- the ventolin inhaler. These seem to be handed out if there is a suspicion of asthma (whether the condition is actually present or not). That has been the case for decades and it is not actually helping the public perception of the condition. Some years ago I very nearly had a angry row with a teacher who said that all children should be made to do cross country running and when I pointed out that asthmatic children might not be able to he nearly exploded, stating that he was fed up with kids waving their blue inhalers and using them as an excuse to get out of PE. And yes, I’m sure that sometimes that happens - but sometimes it is justified! Annoyingly another teacher supported him by pointing out that her son was asthmatic and he was able to do cross country running (which just goes to show how little she knew about the condition) to which my response was that my asthmatic son was able to do so as well but if anyone had got me to run one they would have ended up dialling 999 after I’d gone about 300 yards! There is just not enough understanding that the condition is hugely variable and that different asthmatics are affected by different things. I think that to many, asthma is just asthma, something which is treated by a blue inhaler. And as those who have only a blue ventolin inhaler are at the mild, intermittent end of the spectrum that is all too often how we are all viewed. Things are improving I think, because there has been media coverage of some very sad fatal cases (often involving children), but things still have a long way to go.
Agree with this! Both sides. The lack of understanding of asthma is huge - no, blue inhaler only (or even blue/brown) doesn't mean asthma is necessarily "easy", asthma is not just a bit of wheeze or shortness of breath, having an inhaler doesn't mean someone can or can't do something and shouldn't be an excuse (but also can be important)....so very often people (asthmatic or not) decide that something is fact and is therefore the same for everyone (symptoms, effect, vulnerability, you name it).....just no!
But also..... absolutely what you said about it always being asthma when it might not be. I am sure that so much asthma in this country is not actually asthma. Or only in part. Of course people need to be investigated and monitored (and then ongoing with it, with good education on all sides) because yes it is asthma sometimes....but equally important is the finding out when it's not asthma (generally so and at specific times) because not-asthma doesn't respond to asthma treatments so it's never going to help. Yet other things do. But then the blue inhaler is waved and that becomes the constant. And many people will not be told otherwise (about anything).
Such a minefield! (Hope that makes sense.... it's 4.30 am 😅)
There does seem to be a bit of a postcode lottery going on here. I’m in my late fifties, on rather more powerful meds than your daughter (and I’m on them twice daily, and because of the time of year on maximum dose), have another medical condition which has caused breathing issues for much of the past fourteen months and I’ve heard nothing yet. I’ve also been admitted to hospital with asthma and pneumonia in the past. None of this seems to count. Of course it might just be that our area is being really slow, though that would be surprising given I was told a month ago they were getting through groups really quickly.
I think we just have to wait. I’m hopeful that even if I’m not group six I might hear in the next couple of weeks.
This was in Scotland, so there may be some differences in how it is done.
I think there has to be - though to be fair not all the replies on this thread are from people who live in Scotland.
I am sorry to hear about your issues, and that I responded the same way twice to you! I didn’t realise it was the comment was from the same person.
I am lucky as I am 70plus so got it quickly-ish. I am borderline for shielding shielding. It’s never been an issue as due to my age I haven’t had to convince an employer. I live in England.
Follow-up re our daughter: she want yesterday to be jabbed. This is in a small town in Scotland. A doctor checked her history, and due to her allergies she was denied for now! They need to check it is safe first, and she may have to go to the local hospital, 45 minutes away (so not far but potentially too far for serious anaphylactic shock). Thus she never got her jab, and may have a bit of a wait.
Don’t worry about answering twice - it happens:-).
Sorry to hear your daughter has got to wait because of her allergies - that must be really frustrating, not to mention a little worrying.
I really don’t know which group I’ll be in, though given I suspect they’re now vaccinating group six round here and I haven’t heard anything I doubt I’m in that one. I must be right on the line between group 7 and 8, given when my birthday falls. It’s just possible they may bump me up to group 7 because of that - who knows.
They might well do - as soon as you tick that box you might move up - my uncle has just crossed an age band (he was glad to for once ha ha!) and was invited to book as soon as he moved. Fingers crossed for you!
Good question. I had mine over 2 weeks ago. As I got mine I have ask when my partner would receive his, because we live together and he does still work regular. Been told should be happening in April. I am in Scotland don't know where you live but check with your GP or have a look at the government websites. You stay safe and keep warm. 🌺🌺🌺
I contacted my GP this week and was told by the nurse that she had no idea when I would be vaccinated, basically told to wait my turn despite having a number of issues including moderate asthma etc. So I guess I will just wait my turn.
Hey I have no idea either when I will get the vaccine either , I'm 20 and on:Fostair (2 puffs twice a day but taking much more😂)
Cetrizine 10mg
Spiriva respimat
Fexofenadine 120mg
Avamys
And I also live with my mum who's a doctor working in a hospital.
So I had a call about mine and it’s booked in for Tuesday. I have asthma controlled by fostair and ventolin and 31 living in South Yorkshire. I think you should be getting called imminently however it will depend on where you are in the country as different regions are at different points.
My surgery has still not done any vulnerable people according to their website. They decided to vaccinate group 5 first contrary to guidance. I’ve contacted the CCG but don’t hold out much hope of anything changing anytime soon. Their website is very forceful and forthright about the fact they won’t talk to you about vaccines.
I’m appalled by them.
I am 55, asthmatic, on Montelukast, Fostair, Ventolin and Omeprazole but habe been told I am in group 8. I know of young people who have had the jab because their BMI is high. It is a lottery.
The recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation states for the Phase Two of Covid vaccination that the simplest system by age range is also the most rapid in getting people vaccinated. It notes that men, people in certain occupations, members of BAME origins, those clinically obese and those who are deprived are most at risk of hospitalisation but that the quickest way to vaccinate the population is by age ranges rather than by identifying individuals, because the risk of bad outcomes generally reduces by age.That excludes those deemed to be clinically vulnerable in the 18-64 year olds who fall into Phase 1, band 6. The difficulty is that identifying those individuals in band 6 causes delays in vaccination for everyone.
So the JCVI recommendation for Phase 2 (people aged 18-49) are 3 bands, 1. Those aged 40-49; 2. Those aged 30-39; and 3. those aged 18-29.
However I am not medically qualified and don't know your history so don't know whether you're in Phase 1 or Phase 2.
Currently there is a bit of a postcode lottery due to population densities and population numbers. Vaccination in rural areas generally being slower than in towns, cities, and metropolitan areas. In my part of Lincolnshire the over 75s were still being vaccinated three weeks ago.
Agree - and the "postcode lottery" is also part of it for the new group 6 people because where you live matters for that. Even if it doesn't actually have an impact personally, it's a high-weighted factor in their risk calculator. Many many people are being invited and are assuming that it's because they have asthma. The reality (on the risk calculator stuff) is that that's unlikely to be the main reason because "asthma" is not seen as a risk in the same weighting as other factors (as you've already mentioned of course).
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