Jabs - update

Hi everyone! I’ve deleted my last post about this as the situation became rather confusing. Apologies! So I decided to post again with my understanding of the JCVI’s advice, issued today, on who will be offered another. It’s set out in this document gov.uk/government/news/jcvi...

As you may have heard, anyone over 75 (that’s about 7m people, apparently), regardless of their state of health, is to be offered another jab in the next few weeks.

In addition, there are about 1/2m people aged 12 & over who are considered to be immunosuppressed, who will also be invited for another jab. As most of these people have already had, or are about to have, their 4th jab, this will actually be their 5th!

This category is nothing to do with the previous CEV one (clinically extremely vulnerable), which no longer exists, although some people in that category obviously ARE immunosuppressed.

So, who counts as immunosuppressed? Well the answer is in the Green Book, referred to in the above link. You’ll see this is 47 pages long but I’ve had a look & the relevant section is on page 25 (confusingly headed “Criteria for a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in those aged 12 years and above”). You’ll see whether you fit into any of the main categories, but can I also point out that the following are also covered & may apply to many people here:

1. Those taking over 20mg prednisolone per day for more than 10 days in the month before vaccination

2. Those taking over 10mg prednisolone per day for more than 4 weeks in the 3 months before vaccination

3. Those who’ve taken over 40mg prednisolone per day for 7 days in the month before vaccination

I’m afraid I’ve no idea who’ll contact you.

I hope I’ve explained this ok. I’ve always been rubbish at that.

[skischool]

It's absolutely potty,so someone with very mild copd who regularly consumes preds for fun will get a booster jab,yet those with a lung function of less than 20 % who don't take preds other than when they have an exacerbation along with their ab's is not considered vulnerable enough to need future protection?Why the hell they make it so complicated and don't just offer the general CEV group recognised as such a booster beggars belief.

Maybe we are to be advised to give Dignitas a call and save the govt some money?

Grumpy ski's and a cat that doesn't care.

😂😹 x

[Oshgosh in reply to skischool]

Be grumpy as you like.I struggle to understand the latest edicts at the best of times x

[Hidden in reply to skischool]

I know! I could hardly believe it tbh. I’ll be having 5 jabs. I qualify by virtue of an immune disorder & also popping pred a lot recently but really, 5?! I think Prof Wei Shin Lim is adorable but I’m not at all sure I’ll be following him to the ends of the earth on this one.

Ed - eg my bro in law, who has mild asthma but worries about it & seems to take pred at the drop of a hat - he’ll qualify for one, yet research has shown asthma doesn’t cause complications in covid 🤷‍♀️

[Hidden in reply to skischool]

Absolutely agree ski's. This criteria demonstrates the gross level of ignorance of the level of risk faced by those of us with damaged lungs, even if we are not immunosuppressed or take oral steroids. It is frustrating and upsetting that they can make this decision over our heads and that we have no voice to challenge it.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It’s mad. Covid is a respiratory virus, ergo those with already damaged lungs are the ones most at risk. Surely that much should be obvious to anyone?!

[katieoxo60 in reply to skischool]

Can I join you in the grumpy club , thank goodness I have paid for my funeral. I'm CEV not due to my age or immune status. Apparently I wont be able to get test packs free so I wont be able to enter my Gps either or know if I have the virus or other chest condition . Oh well the NHS will just have to treat my lung or Asthma or Covid based on a GPs presumption on the telephone, glad I'm old enough to stay home if sick, like every other day of the year.😡

[Hidden in reply to katieoxo60]

LFT kits will be about £20 from 1 April, which is a worry. I’ll still get them free, but I want the people around me to have done the tests! We could be sitting next to an asymptomatic person who genuinely has no idea they have covid 😠

[katieoxo60 in reply to Hidden]

I agree with you, if you are at risk you need to know those who are with you are safe too . This means a large number of people will be left at risk from the virus and may become very ill and need hospital care which defeats the issue, it will still leave large room for spread just like flu . As I understand the jab looses its effectiveness over time . hence the need for boosters.

[Izb1 in reply to skischool]

Just like everything else the medical/government do, it is all unnecessarily complicated and always seems so unfair to the people its supposed to be protecting x

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

I have to admit I'm totally lost with it all, hope you All have a good night and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx

[sassy59]

Very well explained Hanne thank you. Peter takes 10mg of pred per day and funnily enough was talking about a 5th jab a few days ago. I thought he’d got it wrong and was getting confused. We’ll see what happens. Xxx

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

Pete should get another one then. Really, carers (ie you) should get them too, cos those working in care homes will. I’ll research this in case I’ve missed it x

[sassy59 in reply to Hidden]

Yes so it seems but I won’t get offered one I’m sure. I don’t fit any criteria and being an unpaid carer doesn’t seem to count. I might ask though. They can only say no. Xxxx

[knitter]

I am immunosuppressed due to long term oral steroid usage .I was sent a letter inviting me to arrange a 4 th booster, but I have had a cold since so delayed it .

Quite a complicated letter on where to get the booster and how to arrange it.

New announcements on 4th booster yesterday .

[Hidden in reply to knitter]

Glad you got a letter because I’m sure many eligible people haven’t. Eg those who aren’t under a consultant will be relying on their gp to spot that they should have a 4th because of steroid use. I doubt most surgeries are set up to identify individual patients in that way

[Angelagone in reply to Hidden]

I haven't taken oral steroids for a couple of years ( for which I'm extremely grateful, I hate the wretched things ) so I won't qualify. I have copd, asthma type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. And I'm fat. But hey, I'm sure I'll be okay. 🙈

[katieoxo60]

Thank you Hanne62, it seems clear to me.

[Hidden in reply to katieoxo60]

Oh goodie! I tried not to ramble hehe

[CDPO16]

If of interest there's a discussion about whether CEV have been abandoned on Jeremy Vine show channel 5 about 10.15am today.

[Hidden in reply to CDPO16]

Ah, missed that. Will catch up on bbc sounds later. Thanks

[CDPO16 in reply to Hidden]

It was channel 5 Hanne, may be available on my5 catchup if you have that.

[Hidden in reply to CDPO16]

Ah yes, I’ve got my5, thanks for the info. Don’t like JV but I do want to hear what’s said x

[CDPO16 in reply to Hidden]

It's being discussed on Jeremy Vine's BBC radio 2 programme at the moment. Lots of people unhappy in particular about the free testing being stopped.

[Tykelady]

My booster appointment was the day after I finished a course of prednisolone and I never thought to mention this to the nurse but later found that I should have waited three weeks after the meds finished as the efficacy of the jab could be reduced so I'm more baffled now. Incidentally I agree with Ski in that some sufferers regard taking steroids as a badge of honour.

[Hidden in reply to Tykelady]

And to be fair, gps are too ready to prescribe steroids. They should be used sparingly because of the long term effects, but gps regard them as a quick fix. I hate taking them but unfortunately I’ve had a lot this winter. Insisted upon by my consultant tho. Then, as I wean off at 5mg a week, it takes ages to get off them grr

[Izb1]

Where will this all end. I for one am beginning to wonder just how safe it is to be pumping this amount of vaccine into our bodies, nobody knows just yet what the effects this will have in the future. I have been happy to be protected and have the jabs but am seriously concerned for the future on just how many we will be having. I will follow the guidelines for now but will keep my options open for the future. Thank you for the update Hanne62 x

[Hidden]

Ah, didn’t know that. The AUK guys say it doesn’t make people more susceptible to severe illness from covid itself, but long covid is another story.

[Hidden]

It does make you wonder, doesn’t it, the wisdom of repeatedly triggering the same immune response. But I suppose this happens all the time, quite naturally, in response to all the bugs we encounter every day of our lives.

The JVCI occasionally do a news conference with Prof Wei Shin Lim, Dr June Raine etc. I’m hoping there’ll be one of these soon because this has given rise to so many questions.

[Hidden]

Another thing I don’t get is why perfectly healthy 75yr olds should qualify, over those with rubbish lungs. That makes no sense either!

[Hidden]

Predictably the PM’s announcement of the end of free testing has led to squillions of people ordering them, so govt.uk website now says there are none available! You couldn’t make it uptest-for-coronavirus.servic...

[scot_tosh]

I feel totally abandoned by the dept of health, I was previously on the CEV list, but now I am not included. I have emphysema but because I try to stay away from steroids unless admitted to hospital with an exacerbation, I do not now qualify for a 4th dose of Covid vaccine and not a priority for anti viral treatment, I will also not be considered for free testing. Seems to me that this is all about the Boris cutting the cost of Covid rather than living with Covid.

[Hidden in reply to scot_tosh]

You’re in good company, scot_tosh, as many here feel the same way. I’m lucky to be under the Brompton, but it’s a long way & they can’t provide emergency treatment. Despite all the plates I’m spinning (other health conditions too) I’ve not heard a peep from my gp in the last 2yrs. Can’t even get a phone appointment unless the receptionist deems it urgent! And if it IS urgent, they tell you to go to A&E. Honestly, it’s a nightmare