I wonder if anyone else has had this experience. I've always been on the CEV list and eligible for boosters. However, my GP surgery are telling me I am not eligible this time round.
I have Lupus/APS and take prednisolone. On both counts I seem to qualify on the grounds of having a weakened immune system.
Does anyone know what is going on? I've challenged it and asked for a doctor to review. But with a school aged child it seems insane to put my life at risk like this.
UPDATE: Got a call from the GP. I am eligible but the system didn't pick it up. My advice is be aware and challenge!
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Treetop33
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have a look at these links -and if you are on NHS App use that - and try and book yourself a test - if you are eligible it will let you - more reliable than some GP surgeries -
Thanks. I will obviously try if everything else fails, but the nearest one is an hour away by car. I'm also worried about my GP constantly assuming I'm somehow in better shape than I am.
If you’re immune suppressed you need one - I don’t have LUPUS but did have GCA - and still on PMRGCAuk forum -and there’s a lot of talk about them at the moment
Obviously it would be easier if GP surgery gave vaccine-but an hour’s journey is better than catching covid.
Yes agreed. Thing is, it's occurred to me now that if the GP has recoded me (erroneously) then I also may not be eligible for treatment if I do get it. So dangerous. So I'm going to challenge the GP and CCG and book one if I can't get any joy there.
Obviously I have a partner who can drive me some days, but many people won't have this option.
I do know general practitioners on the whole haven’t covered themselves in glory during the recent Covid pandemic. But I really do think they’ve got enough to do trying to deal with patients who are already ill….without now having to organise booster Covid vaccination clinics.
If anyone really wants this Spring booster, they can look on line for “NHS- Covid vaccination Booster” ….& by entering your Post Code find where the nearest vaccination clinic is.
As you say, if you are wanting to have this Spring booster….you may have a bit of a drive, but if it sets your mind at rest it will be worth it.
Having had Covid over Christmas, I’m elderly & on .Rituximab, but because it was a holiday ….nothing was working at full strength so I didn’t get the anti virals, but I survived fine, & I’m sure most people will these days..as although they might not have been diagnosed with Covid, they will most likely have come into contact with it by now.
”The success of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme has meant that the requirement for shielding and identifying people as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) is no longer necessary…” from the Gov.uk website.
Really?🧐 True/false?🧐
I’m not sure about this statement. A complete contradiction.
Not sure it’s a complete contradiction- the covid vaccine programme has been successful….and the government obviously thinks the shielding programme is no longer necessary on the scale it was at the beginning of the covid outbreak.
Whether individuals decide to continue to shield is a personal choice. But I think previously it did cause mental issues for many.
But as in most things in life, everyone has weigh up the situation- and decide what best for them.
Now we all have to make up our own minds how we are going to live our lives. Government didn’t do too well first time round…it’s our chance now.
Do we want to continue leading whatever it is we regarded as a normal life, or do we decide to hide away frightened to mix with friends & family ”just in case” ?
It’s a personal choice….there is no right or wrong decision…but I would rather be happy than continuing to think staying away from everything & everyone I enjoy will protect me…cos I don’t think it works like that!
I do feel the vaccines and shielding etc are not as urgent as they were 2 years ago.
I called my gp re this springs vaccinations and they're not giving them told me to call 119. I did and got one recorded message after another, I gave it up. I know one lady who got a text message from the NHS to say she was booked in for her jab so I don't know whats going on. Have decided to sit tight and see if the NHS notifies us, if they don't then we probably won't bother and hope the vaccinations we've had are sufficient.
In England, the notification from the NHS came out a couple of weeks ago….they sent an email to all those still on the list recommended to have the booster…..explaining that the criteria has changed.
I have been wondering why I haven’t heard from our surgery as yet and time is rolling on. Have just recovered from a bout of sinusitis that had me horizontal for a few days - def would not want the dreaded. Had it before and I was 8 weeks before feeling anything like able. Would hate to miss out .
Good to hear you are hopefully going to be sorted at some point .
Thanks Spanielmad, I need to put the app on my phone.👍 I went to a webpage on my PC which after giving NHS number and DOB didn't then say I was eligible.
The language is worth noting. The government/NHS info says 'weakened immune system' but the booking system says immunosuppressed. All of us have weakened immune systems!
I’ve used the nhs app and it asks the 3 questions, I put, wasn’t sure need to speak to someone and next page said bring medical letter showing condition. I then read up on lupus uk and gov website and decided I wasn’t eligible, so cancelled the appt. Then 2 days later I got a flag up inviting me for vaccine! When I went through the pages, I still had to say if I was immunosuppressed, this time I said I was, next page still says bring evidence. This time my evidence will be the nhs invite. I don’t know what I have that makes me now eligible 🤷♀️😂
Can you be sure that the booster vaccines listed by the NHS are effective against the latest Arcturus covid 19 variant that’s currently ravaging INDIA?
I didn't really start this thread to allow someone to spread anxiety about vaccinations. I haven't seen one person in this group who hasn't benefitted from them, myself included. So please stop.
This whole thing seems to be a bit of a mess. I had a letter saying I might be eligible for treatment for Covid and they sent me the tests. Then I got a message from the NHS app saying I should book an appointment for a booster, so I’ve done that but then they want me to bring a letter giving proof of being imunosuppressed, which I’m not!
I was prescribed methotrexate by a consultant, but never actually even picked up the prescription, because the promised blood tests and phone calls from the rheumatology nurse didn’t happen.
Maybe there is confusion about what meds we’re actually taking and who has prescribed them. Certainly my GP knows but as we rarely if ever see rheumatologists, if that’s where they got the data from it will be wrong?
I had an invitation to book through a text message. I used their link but the days offered were not convenient so I closed the message. I went on GOV.UK , entered my NHS number, which confirmed my need and clicked the yes button, (I have lupus as well as other autoimmune conditions).
Again unfortunately the same dates came up as on the phone so I came out of the website. I had to have a blood test and asked the GP receptionist if she could book me in for my Covid jab. She was very kind and looked through the dates and said my problem was the May dates had not yet been released. She put a message on my records and told me she would text when a May date became available.
On both the text and the GOV.UK there were instructions to bring confirmation of my conditions. There was also the proviso that if I didn't or couldn't I would be questioned by the doctor giving the jab before being accepted.
This has happened before and the doctor was satisfied by my answers. If you have no letter confirming your illness you could always take your repeat prescription note.
Our gp surgery isn't giving the vaccinations this time, reception told me to call 119 which I did and got a load of recorded messages. I gave it up as it went on too long, felt I was getting nowhere.
I know of a lady who received a text from the NHS for her vaccination so have decided to sit tight and wait...
COVID jab I would not even go their again after having it after being fully jabbed. To much of a risk on my immune system. I thought I had turned 90 when I got it for 2 weeks.Doesnt half mess you up. But everyone to their own choices.
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