Covid Vaccine Advice

[Sunflower_28]

Hi there. I have mild asthma and therefore am ‘clinically vulnerable’. I assumed that I would be in group 6 for my vaccine but there is so much confusion about whether this is the case or not. Does anybody know what’s actually happening please?

[LeiLey]

Hi I’m not sure about groups (someone else will know more than me- as I’ve already had my jab with being front line nHS) but I am aware that the GP surgeries are getting in touch with people when they are due their jab. LeiLey

[Sunflower_28 in reply to LeiLey]

Thank you for your reply, I’m so glad that you’ve had your vaccine. Thank you for all you do x

[LeiLey in reply to Sunflower_28]

Aww bless you. Thank you very much for the appreciation and fingers crossed you get your jab soon too 😊 x

[Sunflower_28 in reply to LeiLey]

💖 thank you lovely x

[twinkly29]

Those who are classed as Clinically vulnerable are the group 6s - current requirement is ever had a hosp admission for asthma or ever had to have 3 courses of prednisolone in 3 months. Asthma "below" that is not considered to make people any more vulnerable than non-asthmatics.

That said, some GPs are doing their own thing so who knows!

[Sunflower_28 in reply to twinkly29]

Thank you for your reply. I read on the NHS website that those with mild asthma, not severe are classed as clinically vulnerable - so I’m just a bit confused! I will probably contact my GP to find out where I stand!

[twinkly29 in reply to Sunflower_28]

The NHS stuff had said CV since last March and doesn't seem to have been changed in line with the dept of health and JCVI at all. No idea why! Yes regarding flu all asthmatics are vulnerable - but it's a very different condition to covid. Not that you're saying that but many people do. Asthmatics who are not severe (and actually even many severe asthmatics) are not needing hospital if they have covid so they've worked out the risk of immediate complications/death isn't what they had to guess at last year.

But....might be worth phoning your GP if you want to?

[Sunflower_28 in reply to twinkly29]

Luckily I had my flu vaccination in November, but having my covid vaccine is also very important to me (like a lot of others) as I am desperate to not just protect myself but those around me. Flu is definitely different but we still don’t always know what outcome covid will bring to someone’s life. I totally understand that my condition isn’t as bad as someone who has severe asthma or a worse condition - but at the same time I just wish it was a bit more clear!

Yes I think I’ll defo contact my GP about it to ease my worry. Thank you for your advice I appreciate it 😊

[twinkly29 in reply to Sunflower_28]

No I agree. What a lot of people forget (again not you!) is that the vaccine eligibility for the first 9 groups is about needing hospital, complications and dying. Not the beyond - again completely agree this is important! Asthma UK are working hard to get every asthmatic "done" after group 9, presumably partly because of the possible longer term issues. Also yes about not knowing how someone might react to covid but that goes for literally every person in the world so is a difficult factor to include.

Now, if covid could go and die somewhere that'd be great 🤣

Good luck with your GP though - good idea to speak to them.

[Sunflower_28 in reply to twinkly29]

Yes that’s so true. I have seen that Asthma UK are doing all they can aswell which is great - and the fact that the vaccines are being rolled out a lot quicker is a bonus too.

Exactly it may not affect someone needing hospitalisation but it could cause long covid or other issues which is also scary to think about.

Wouldn’t it be lovely if covid did go and die, and never returned again 😂😂

Thank you so much!

[Alw75 in reply to twinkly29]

Could it not be the case though that not enough asthmatics have contracted covid for there to be a clear result. I would think that this has been worked out on hospital admissions but I can't see how they would know how many asthmatics have actually been infected. I think that with out experiences with issues that affect the lungs many asthmatics are still and have been very cautious throughout, where most people I know have become less carful, not washing hands, using hand sanitiser, social distancing etc. I have to remind my family to do these things all the time, which is quite stressful.

[Sunflower_28 in reply to Alw75]

I’d like to know what evidence there is, actually. I’ve certainly been very careful and still am, it’s damaging my mental health but I’m doing my best to keep healthy and protect everyone not just myself - having the vaccine would help ease my mind a little. I have done all of those things and will continue to do so for as long as needed.

[ewusia28 in reply to Sunflower_28]

I was careful too and did my best. Nothing. I don't know where or when this quack got me.

[twinkly29 in reply to Alw75]

Who knows but asthmatics will have had covid, many of them, but not needed hosp. I understand your point but no idea how it could be verified and by the time it's done all people (adults) will be vaccinated. Hopefully!

Some of it is definitely a GP practice decision. Not postcode as people are saying but more if a practice is going with strict guidelines or using their own parameters. So people can only query it and see I guess?

[Nutzs47 in reply to twinkly29]

I actually know someone who has been called for their jab who is what someone would call a mild asthmatic ,she actually asked at her surgery why she’d been called as she’s under 40 and the reason is she’s asthmatic .This is why people are getting upset as there’s no consistency at all and it all depends on your dr really, if you havent needed secondary care you are basically being told to wait your turn like everyone else .

[twinkly29 in reply to Nutzs47]

Yes I understand that, I know it's happening . But equally other people are surely allowed to float possible other .... viewpoints, reasons, anything they can think of. Not to be right or anything but to try and help.

[Nutzs47 in reply to twinkly29]

Yep but no matter what it all comes down to how your Gp has inputted your medical records and what area you live in.I can understand people’s worries but unless you’ve been shielding with an official letter from the NHS I think it’s a wait til your called scenario and no amount of different viewpoints will change that.my mental health as taken a right bashing throughout all this and I’ve had to work throughout even though my dr told me I was high risk,I’m an essential worker , and I can’t wait for my jab but I’ll just carry on as I have done throughout being cautious and it will come when it comes there’s no point causing myself more stress worrying about it xx

[Hidden in reply to twinkly29]

The “ever had a hospital admission” for asthma is the bit that has me scratching my head. I have been hospitalised with asthma, but I also had pneumonia at the time. I was very sick at home, GP was called out and he sent for an ambulance having listened to my chest. The first thing they began to treat when they got me to the hospital was the asthma. This was thirty years ago so what they had for it then was nothing like today. I do remember being nebulised (and more than once) and given oxygen though. And I was admitted.

As yet I’ve not had any indication that I’m in group 6. This isn’t a huge concern as, being in my late fifties, I will be in phase 1 of the vaccine roll out so although it might be delayed it shouldn’t be for too long. I admit that I wonder whether my notes say I was admitted for pneumonia, when in fact the asthma was also a concern at the time (my peak flow was below 200 if I remember rightly - it should have been 425).

So at the moment I’m just waiting for the letter/email to arrive without any clear idea when that might be.

[Sunflower_28 in reply to Hidden]

I’m so sorry to hear that, MaggieHP. It really isn’t very clear at all - and I think that’s the issue I’m finding. I understand that many people are my entitled to have the vaccine before myself but I still have a health condition. I hope that you can have your vaccination asap x

[twinkly29 in reply to Hidden]

Yes agreed that's a tricky point. Ok they've got to have a "thing" but some are being told way back doesn't count (which if say childhood or 30 years ago and it was a one off then is probably not relevant for risk now....but all cases are individual of course). But then don't have a blanket statement when it's not used!

[Hidden in reply to twinkly29]

Agree completely. That blanket term must be causing a lot of confusion for other people like me.

I had a similarly bad reaction to an infection a little over ten years ago. Not quite so serious, but certainly heading that way and my GP was in two minds whether to send me to hospital then. But this was two days before Christmas and I think that may have influenced her decision to nebulise me in the surgery, prescribe oral steroids and antibiotics and keep me at home with instructions on what to do should things not improve. As it was the combination of treatments and antibiotics brought things back under control and kept them there so I didn’t end up in hospital. Sadly, that GP and the other GP who knew my asthma well have both retired now, Those who are in the practice at the moment have never witnessed what can happen with me and how quickly it can go.

[twinkly29 in reply to Hidden]

It's so hard to know in those circumstances because ok yes what if...but equally if you'd gone to a&e they'd probably have done that there are there wouldn't have been an admission either, given it settled. But I understand the other side of the what if too! Hopefully future boosters will become part of normality on a rolling programme and everyone will be covered according to previous ones expiring or something.

[Alw75 in reply to twinkly29]

It does say if "ever have an emergency admission, so I would expect it to count. My last hospital admission was around 20 years ago, but had more admissions than I can count prior to that. As times gone on I've understood my triggers and its better controlled, however, I know myself if I miss medication I still become seriously ill and end up on prednisone. So I don't think that the amount of time should be relevant, it's just controlled not less serious. If covid will be a trigger which none of us know then that control goes out of the window.

[Hidden in reply to Alw75]

I would expect it to as well. If the words “ever have” were intended to be open to interpretation that should have been stated or they shouldn’t have been used at all.

In my case my concern (though as I said, because of my age the delay in having the jab won’t be too long) is that when my medical history notes were entered on to the system (and I’ve no idea how that was done) that admission to hospital may have been put down to pneumonia with the asthma side of it (the greatest immediate threat at the time - nothing I had, including using quite a lot of ventolin - was touching it) being sidelined. If that’s the case it won’t be picked up.

[Alw75 in reply to Hidden]

This is one if the things that confuses me. I'm not certain if I have this right but, is it not the case that one of the threats we face from the flu is that it can become pneumonia. Isn't that quite common with covid also. So even though they are different viruses they can lead to the same thing.

[Chelle25]

Hi GreyLady25 I have just had my first covid jab but havent got severe asthma nor am I in the current age groups that have been vaccinated so far. I have just read this morning that they are now starting to offer the vaccination to those with certain underlying conditions (such as asthma) and who were offered a flu jab. Again this may also rely on supplies of the vaccine but I hope it gives you hope of receiving your soon.

[Sunflower_28 in reply to Chelle25]

Oh brilliant I’m glad that you were able to have yours! This has definitely given me some hope, going to contact my GP today just to try and gain some clarity. Thank you! 😊

[Mrs_s1001]

Hello, I have never been hospitalised or prescribed prednisolone however I received my jab on Thursday. I received a text from my gp stating I was considered to be in the clinically extremely vulnerable group and that I should book it. I have esnophillic asthma requiring fostair and montelukast. It’s not currently controlled so I’m not sure if this is why I received it but, I’m of course grateful to have had it. I understand a lot of it is also area specific. You may receive contact out of the blue like I did.

I hope you get yours soon too

🤞x

[twinkly29 in reply to Mrs_s1001]

It's more likely to be other lifestyle factors (I say lifestyle but that sounds like it's all a choice when very often it's not!) but probably linked to being uncontrolled with your asthma, as the new CEV additions are not solely medical based. But glad that you've been identified and "done"!

[Mrs_s1001 in reply to twinkly29]

I don’t think mines anything to do with lifestyle factors. I’m a non-smoker, have a healthy bmi of 20 and run on average 25-30 miles per week. I think it’s purely that eosinophilic asthma is considered a severe subtype and of course the uncontrolled element 👍

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Mrs_s1001]

I presume it's the uncontrolled element.you have that means you've had the jab - or perhaps something else that isn't currently an issue? I know of someone who got it because she has a history of seizures, but hasn't had one for several years and isn't currently on meds for it. She'd almost forgotten until her GP said that was why she'd been invited.

Eosinophilic asthma itself isn't actually inherently more severe than other types, it just describes what is driving your asthma. However, often (not always) people don't find out what type they have until they are uncontrolled/more severe, particularly since there are now treatments specifically targeted for severe eosinophilic (and for allergic) asthma, but not for other types of severe asthma. Eosinophilic is starting to be better known perhaps because of this and because there's been more research on this type. However, 40-50% of severe asthmatics (like me) don't have eosinophilic asthma.

[twinkly29 in reply to Lysistrata]

Yes this - mine hasn't got a fancy name but is a complete nightmare 😆.

[Sunflower_28 in reply to Mrs_s1001]

So glad that you were able to receive your vaccine! I definitely agree about the area thing - it seems like that is the case at the moment. Thank you so much, take care 😊 x

[Tvpuzzle]

No idea we have had a letter to go to a vaccs centre but they are miles away. Waiting to hear from our surgery my husband is 67 had a HA and a stent a year ago also has diabetis. I am66 with asthma had a spell in hosp a year ago and usually need steroids 2 or 3 times a year. Still waiting for an appointment for vaccs. Think it depends where u live. They saying they have done most of group 6 but obviously not all.

[twinkly29 in reply to Tvpuzzle]

The difficulty is that your age and your husband's age puts you in Group 5 because age above 65 is a higher relative risk than group 6 conditions. Group 5 people are being asked to book at centres. If they can't, or prefer not to, the GP can do it but I think they were to be done after the group 6 people as these are the current GP focus. That's my understanding of it anyway. But in your situation it's either choose one of the centres or choose to wait.

[Tvpuzzle in reply to twinkly29]

Centres offered far too far away for us. Wonder why if we group 5 we have not heard from surgery, have they jumped to next group? seems strange but not much makes sense anymore. You would think they would have stuck to the plan. Mind we both work and never gt a shielding letter last year!!

[twinkly29 in reply to Tvpuzzle]

Because that was the plan. To get more people vaccinated more quickly, GPs were asked to do their group 6 patients because they know their conditions, leaving the people in the group 5 to be done at centres - if possible. If not, that was always said to be ok but it's then at the hands of your surgery being ready to mop up so to speak. If you'd been CEV you'd have been in group 4 anyway.

So basically they're branching out doing 2 groups. Maybe call your surgery and say you'd like them to contact you both when they do the group 5 who can't get to the vaccine centres? Then you know they know you're waiting.

[Alw75 in reply to twinkly29]

I'm also confused about what goes are doing. My sons girlfriend is carer and had her 1st jab in December at the home where she works. She'll need her next one over the next couple of weeks. Her manager asked them to book it with there goes, so she rang our and they said "we are still vaccinating over 70s". I thought they were only doing group 6. Also she is quite stressed as, should she get a letter, where is she supposed to have it done. She's worried that if she doesn't get it b4 the 12 weeks are up the first won't count.

[Alw75 in reply to Alw75]

*groups

[Alw75 in reply to Alw75]

Sorry *gp's

[Alw75 in reply to Alw75]

My sons friend also with the same gp was vaccinated last week, he's in his twenty but extremely vulnerable. So im not sure if it's that their the people over 70 who can't get to a vaccination centre. Maybe their doing them before starting group 6

[twinkly29 in reply to Alw75]

Hmm tricky. Could she try online or the phone line for the vaccines? Or her work? (To ask where to contact I mean) Or ask to speak to the practice manager at GP and discuss with them?

[Freddy1973]

In the area where I live they have started vaccinating all the over 50s age group with or without underlying health conditions.

[Standoffmillsy]

Sorry to say that you won’t b in band 6 I’m in group 8 because of my age and I have moderate asthma so I made a complaint as it’s your gp who puts u in the category!!!! Was told they had to follow government guide lines but suggested I go on list for any left over vaccine which I agreed to . Two hours later I was phoned and offered a spare vaccine was over the moon. Will add my asthma was out of control last year and am on flutiform the highest dose and montelukes had lots of oral steroids and antibiotics last year.

[Sunflower_28 in reply to Standoffmillsy]

Oh really?! I messaged my GP yesterday and they said that they’re getting through everyone as quickly as possible - I wasn’t aware of a list for any leftover vaccines! I’m so pleased that you got offered one shortly after! I hope that your asthma has settled down now x

[Kitty2823]

My mp fighting for this. I am getting mines next month