COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk

[piglette]

I thought some of you may be interested.

gov.uk/government/publicati...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hope we were all doing it anyway ...

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

I have been asked a couple of times, what mg of steroids are we not vulnerable...how low are we ok. It says RA is included but my sister has it and has never been contacted, she is on Sulphasalazine, which is a DMARD and doesn't seem to be included either......she is puzzled that I get contacted and not her....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

I suppose it is the way it works - not all DMARDs are the same.

[dmart7 in reply to Longtimer]

The JCVI gave a definition in September:

Individuals with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease who were receiving or had received immunosuppressive therapy prior to vaccination including:

• high-dose corticosteroids (equivalent to ≥ 20mg prednisolone per day) for more than 10 days in the previous month

• long-term moderate dose corticosteroids (equivalent to ≥10mg prednisolone per day for more than 4 weeks) in the previous 3 months

• non-biological oral immune modulating drugs, such as methotrexate >20mg per week (oral and subcutaneous), azathioprine >3.0mg/kg/day, 6-mercaptopurine >1.5mg/kg/day, mycophenolate >1g/day in the previous 3 months

• certain combination therapies at individual doses lower than above, including those on ≥7.5mg prednisolone per day in combination with other immunosuppressants (other than hydroxychloroquine or sulfasalazine) and those receiving methotrexate (any dose) with leflunomide in the previous 3 months

[Longtimer in reply to dmart7]

Thank you for that....

[Charlie1boy]

Thanks piglette. Paddy

[whitefishbay]

I was never put in the vulnerable group before but suddenly was sent an email and have received my PCR test. Back in school (work).....fingers crossed I don't get CV19 again.

[piglette in reply to whitefishbay]

I received a PCR test and no email or letter!!

[9lives]

Yes I received a letter and a PCR kit , all very efficient, fingers crossed I don’t have to use it 🤞.I’m down to 1mg after 5 1/2 years, guess I’m still vulnerable though x