Last week I got a letter from the local NHS commissioning group confirming that abatacept drops me into the severely immune suppressed group which gave me a real wobble.Today my amazingly efficient GP surgery texted offering me a 3rd covid vaccination on 23rd September with a booster to follow 6 months later. Thought I'd just share to confirm that it's happening. I could have had it today but wasn't at home when the message arrived.
Getting the initial letter at least helped me to realise that I was right to continue to be extremely cautious in being around other people. Somehow I have to find the confidence to mix more again, but for now caution continues to be the watchword!!
Hope those of you who need it get the call soon too.
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They are wonderful. It's still telephone triage for appointments, but I have had several telephone appointments and a couple of face to face during the pandemic. I know how much they want to go back to all face to face so I have nothing but praise for them.
I live in Wolverhampton. I know that we are very lucky. In normal times they have a daily walk in clinic every morning alongside overbooked appointments morning and evening, with alternate Saturdays too.
Sorry you had a wobble I was exactly the same when I received the CEV letters. But this is such good news and its finally happening. My surgery though was pretty slow last time I'm hoping its quicker this time. Thank you for sharing xxx
Thats great news! I need to ring my doctors today as I recieved a letter stating they no longer class me ad vunerable but I take mexothetrate and benepali injection 🙄 I'm not sure wether it's a mistake but I would think I would be classed as vunerable. I hope its not long until you recieve your 3rd vaccine. X
There's an article in the paper saying that various NHS surgeries are starting to make appointments for the booster jabs although the decision hasn't yet been made by the JCVI that they will actually go ahead; the decision is expected to be made in the next few days.
That’s good news. I’m interested as I’m also on Abatacept but was told at the beginning by Rheumy that I was not CEV even though I had Rituximab in Nov 19 then started Abatacept in March 2020. My GP wasn’t sure if I was or not then I started getting all the many shielding letters etc. I wonder where I will be classed this time & with 2 lung conditions will I be offered further vaccine. Our GP’s must be one of the slowest in the country I’m still waiting for a call back from photos of an infected toe I sent in 4 weeks ago! I keep getting texts saying we have not forgotten you & will contact you when a suitable appointment becomes available. I’m not holding my breath.
I'm really sorry that you're not getting the care you need. Maybe a politely worded email to the practice managed would expedite an appointment.I also have asthma and bronchiectasis which means I take meds for those daily, but I think it's the abatacept that triggers the severely immuno suppressed classification because it suppressed the production of t cells which help the body attack infections when we encounter them. Maybe worth querying with your rheumy team?
I also have Asthma & diagnosed with Bronchiectasis last year I take Carbocistine. I’ve not seen the consultant yet though. Plus Asthma inhalers. I think your the only person I know on same meds & has same conditions. I also have Epilepsy also diagnosed last year. I have an appointment in October with Rheumy for an ultrasound outstanding from 2019 so will ask then.
Hope you get some good advice from rheumatology, and get to see a respiratory consultant. My bronchiectasis is well controlled so I don't see the respiratory consultant any more, but my GP is very responsive when I do have a chest infection. I keep rescue antibiotics at home. I take carbocistine too along with a daily low dose antibiotic, and of course inhalers. Take good care of yourself. Xx
Pleased to hear you have an appointment rounder, that’s great. Do you mind me asking if they have given you any advice about stopping your abatacept for a period before/after your vaccine?
They haven't, but I intend to miss at least 1 dose either side to give the vaccine chance to work. I was reading some American research (sadly I can't remember where) that recommended missing 2 doses of abatacept before and one after, it came from one of the well known university medical institutions . I haven't had any meaningful contact with rheumatology in almost 2 years, I have tried 3 times via the helpline to get help and been fobbed off or not had a call returned, so I feel rather abandoned by them. I do have concerns about the third vaccination having had a huge flare after my 2nd Pfizer jab, but it's worth it for the potential protection going forward. I have had a letter offering a telephone consultation with a rheumy nurse in October, but the last 2 of these were cancelled so not holding my breath for any help soon.
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3rd primary Covid vaccine
Employer asking me to prove I am still in the clinically extremely vulnerable group 
Pneumonia Vaccination 
Vaccination -chase if no date
Waste of time!
