Is Cerebellar Ataxia considered to be an underlying condition when looking at vulnerability for the virus Covid-19?
I am old, very healthy but vulnerable due to age. I have also advanced Cerebellar Ataxia but do not see this as an illness, just like the loss of a limb, eyesight or hearing are not illnesses. So is Ataxia an affliction but not a illness or what?
🤔 I’ve looked at the gov’ info ... precedence for receiving the vaccine seems to be.
1)Elderly in Care Homes
2) Care Home Staff, and front line medical staff
3) The elderly in general, and people with certain underlying health conditions. Neurological conditions are mentioned, but nothing specifically other than Epilepsy. Personally I’d assume Cerebellar Ataxia would be included.
I’m 70, I have CA, I assume I’ll be allocated ‘category 3’..and sometime early next year.
My daughter was put on shielding list and I phoned her consultant to find out why. She said that it was those who's mobility had deteriorated to a point of requiring constant aids that were at increased risk because it indicated a level of progression that increased vulnerability to neurological complications of covid!?! She stressed that Beth was of no greater risk of contraction and her immune system is healthy it's just that she is of increased risk of getting neurological complications if she does get it. Beth also has a significant learning disability as part of her SCA so that in itself makes her more vulnerable I suspect someone with Beth's level of mobility but no learning disability would be less vulnerable to neurological complications. Hope this makes sense x
Thank you
I found this information on gov.uk..searching for ‘priority given to specific conditions for Covid 19 vaccination . ( no direct link)
Individuals considered extremely clinically vulnerable have been shielding for much of the pandemic (24). This means that available data are likely to underestimate the risk in this group. Many of those who are clinically extremely vulnerable are in the oldest age groups and will be among the first to receive vaccine. Considering data from the first wave in the UK, the overall risk of mortality for clinically extremely vulnerable younger adults is estimated to be roughly the same as the risk to persons aged 70 – 74 years. Given the level of risk seen in this group as a whole, JCVI advises that persons aged less than 70 years who are clinically extremely vulnerable should be offered vaccine alongside those aged 70- 74 years of age. There are two key exceptions to this, pregnant women with heart disease and children (see below).
Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (Shielding patients)
Many individuals who are clinically extremely vulnerable will have some degree of immunosuppression or be immunocompromised and may not respond as well to the vaccine. Therefore, those who are clinically extremely vulnerable should continue to follow Government advice on reducing their risk of infection. Consideration has been given to vaccination of household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals. However, at this time there are no data on the size of the effect of COVID- 19 vaccines on transmission. Evidence is expected to accrue during the course of the vaccine programme, and until that time the committee is not in a position to advise vaccination solely on the basis of indirect protection. Once sufficient evidence becomes available the committee will consider optIons.
I can only say what I did.
No neurological disease is on their list and we should be to be registered so we were told by AtaxiaUK to lie and say we were.
I think you need to be on the list to get vaccine x
We are in scotland so it may be slightly different!
I also got sent the below at time tho it may have been updated ( I did google search and cant see update) but this was risk assessment that Beth was shielded on
Association of British Neurologists Guidance on COVID-19 for people with neurological conditions, their doctors and carers
Thank you
Neuroligist 
Ataxia to Atrophy
Should I take the Covid 19 vaccine?
Ataxia and stress
