What vaccine group am I in?

[mikefox]

I'm 54 and am on methotrexate and etanercept. No other health issues besides RA. I therefore didn't get a shielding letter. According to NHS website I'm in group 4 because I'm on immunosuppresants, but government website seems to indicate I'm in group 6. Government website says people shielding are in group 4. Can anyone shed any light on this. I'm sure that there's lots of us who are confused.

[Eiram50]

My understanding is that you would fall into the over 50s with underlying conditions- whatever group this is

[helixhelix]

Two immune suppressants, no comorbdities and under 65 is strict social distancing not shielding in most of the descriptions. So you would be vaccinated with your age group.

[bpeal1 in reply to helixhelix]

If over 65 that is true but under 65 according to the gov.uk website we have been added to group 6. gov.uk/government/publicati...

[runningbracken]

Hi Mike, i had the pneumonia jab today and asked when i might be getting the vaccine.The nurse explained the stages to me saying there just going into stage 4 and am next being stage 5. As long as the supply of vaccine is available and they carry on the progress there making it should be around the end of Feb. Am on the the Wirral so probably slightly different in other areas depending on supply and population. Just turned 50

[Hidden in reply to runningbracken]

I think the the nurse misspoke: the current JCVI recommendations stipulate that group 5 is 65 and over. Group 6 is anyone aged 16 to 64 with an underlying health condition, which is the group a lot of adults with RD fall into. This is the same throughout England, although timing of groups being vaccinated may vary by population size and vaccine supply as you say.

[runningbracken in reply to Hidden]

Looking at the other post Charlie she must of. Saying that its probably me miss-hearing. Apologies if i confused anyone. Hopefully we'll all get it shortly. They seem to be moving along really quickly.

[BoneyC]

With no shielding letter you are likely to be in Cohort 6.

[bubblyalex]

Hi Mike. Check with your gp. If you haven’t had the shielding letter you may not be on their list at all apart from age related.

[Esmereld]

Very strange. I’m 63, low dose steroids, methotrexate, and benapali. I’ve had several letters. I’m in group 4 which must be based on “underlying health condition” as not over 70. This was confirmed by GP list about a month ago. Not that I asked. Husband asked when having his flu jab. He’s 63 and in group 7.

[Hidden in reply to Esmereld]

Have you been on the pred for more than 4 weeks? If so, that’s what puts you into the CEV bracket and vaccine priority group 4.

[Esmereld in reply to Hidden]

Yes. Well over six weeks. It’s all clear now. Thanks for that. Very helpful.

[Hidden]

Based on what you’ve said, you’re in group 6. The BSR actually produced a table that stipulates under what circumstances patients with RD are required to shield, along with a scoring system to help when patients don’t clearly fit into one of the three categories. This link is to a NICE document regarding covid and RDs generally, and is actually a really good read, but the table mentioned is on page 10:

nice.org.uk/Media/Default/A...

Anyone receiving treatment for RD that’s under the age of 65 and has no grounds on which they need to shield will be in priority group 6. Those aged 65 to 69 and not advised to shield will be in group 5. Anyone over the age of 70, and those with RD that are classed as CEV and have been advised to shield, will be in group 4.

[Jillyanne]

Spoke to my Rheumatologist yesterday and she said that I am in group 6

[Shelley1701]

I'm confused. I'm 51. Only have RA. I'm only on methotrexate and Imraldi yet ever since first lock down I've been getting letters saying I'm clinically extremely vulnerable and should shield. I don't know who's deciding these things. Don't think its my GP as they always forget my flu jab and I was 2 years overdue for the pneumonia one. Some of my letters have been from NHS and others, like the latest one, from Department of Health and Social Care.

[bubblyalex in reply to Shelley1701]

I believe it is correct you are on the shielding list. That makes you group 4.

[Hidden]

Sometimes it makes you wonder what the point of CEV is. I was recently admitted to hospital but before I was admitted I was taken to the A & E dept and placed in with lots of other people, some of whom were coughing a lot. I told the nurse that I was CEV and supposed to be shielding. She said "Well there is nothing we can do about that, there are too many people here for you to be kept separated. Eventually when I was put into a ward, I was given a room to myself which was good, but the fact that I had sat with so many obviously ill people was a big worry to me.

[dawkin_S in reply to Hidden]

Blimey - I totally understand they are under a huge amount of pressure, but that nurse's attitude was not great. You must have been worried sick - I'm glad nothing bad came of it.

[bubblyalex in reply to Hidden]

That’s terrible on so many levels 😟

[Jaxine]

Seems like a minefield of formation. I'm 57 one health condition RA I'm only on one biologic but taking prednisone 10 mg and have done for one week. My consultant said I'm moderate risk and take precautions as everyone else. It depends on the dosage of prednisone too. I've been told not to take any higher than 10 mg!