2025 Spring -Information only - NHS England notification of contingent liability - COVID-19 spring 2025 vaccination programme

[DorsetLady]

Please note this covers NHS England - and is information only at this time -

gov.uk/government/publicati...

Salient points -

3. Vaccination will therefore be offered in England in spring 2025 to:

• adults aged 75 years and over

• residents in a care home for older adults

• individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed, as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Green Book on Immunisation against infectious disease

For those not aware, this is

Table 3: Clinical risk groups for individuals aged 16 years and over.

Immunosuppression Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including patients undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression, patients undergoing radical radiotherapy, solid organ transplant recipients, bone marrow or stem cell transplant recipients, HIV infection at all stages, multiple myeloma or genetic disorders affecting the immune system (e.g. IRAK-4, NEMO, complement disorder, SCID).

Individuals who are receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating biological therapy including, but not limited to, anti-TNF, alemtuzumab, ofatumumab, rituximab, patients receiving protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors, and individuals treated with steroid sparing agents such as cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil.

Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for more than a month at a dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or more per day for adults.

Anyone with a history of haematological malignancy, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.

Those who require long term immunosuppressive treatment for conditions including, but not limited to, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, scleroderma and psoriasis.

Will update as necessary..

[Kendrew]

Hi DL,

Thanks for the heads up.

As I'm sure you'll remember from a post I wrote last year, I have been told by my GP practice that I don't meet any criteria that makes me eligible for this spring vaccination program, not even the one listed in your final paragraph!.... despite now having been on prednisolone for 6yrs.

They said because I'm currently only on 1½mgs, I don't need it. Is this actually correct. If so, then happy days, but if I should still be offered it then how do I persuade them otherwise. More importantly, how do I persuade them to source Pfizer for me and not Moderna? (The one time I was given moderna, it triggered severe palpitations)

Last time I requested this, it resulted in me being asked, on who's say-so did I need an alternative vaccine to moderna. Because I couldn't produce any written evidence to this effect, I ended up paying for a private Pfizer, which cost me £100!

I put in an official complaint to NHS England regarding this whole matter, and it's still under investigation.

Life shouldn't be do difficult!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Kendrew]

Yes I did think of you [and others] when I posted it... and no it shouldn't be be so difficult - especially when NHS wants to keep people out of hospital by urging them to have vaccines..

[123-go in reply to Kendrew]

Some (many) of us have “Make things difficult for me.” stamped on our foreheads.😤

[Kendrew in reply to 123-go]

It really does feel like that at times.

[123-go]

Thank you 👍.

[Indigo2417]

Hi DL. I wasn’t eligible last year in Wales. Under 75 and on 8mg at the time. I did get the Autumn one. Haven’t heard anything this year. Hubby got both last year being over 75. I don’t expect to be eligible for the Spring one this year either.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Indigo2417]

Looks to be same criteria as linked above - see this -

gov.wales/sites/default/fil...

[Indigo2417 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you. Hubby hasn’t been called yet. As I didn’t qualify last year I wasn’t expecting anything different this year.

[pigeonCl-HU]

Thank you DL🙂

[Positive__]

Thank You for this DorsetLady . I'm on 9mg (tapering to 8mg on your slow (5 week) taper) so was really pleased to read that I'm no longer counted as immunosuppressed! Although my doctors surgery has invited me for the jab on the basis of that and am booked in to have it next week. I feel happier having the extra protection. 🙂

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Positive__]

Well done your surgery for looking you at you as an individual - and not dismissing out of hand as some would have. Actually being on Pred you are still immunocompromised - but not to same degree as at a higher doses.

[Positive__ in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you. That feels like progress.

My lovely doctor at the surgery left (I think she may have been in training hence why she was so amazing) and I was very worried about the one I had to see for a follow up but luckily she seemed fine and happy to let me do my own thing. So I'm following your taper plan. So far so good. Fingers crossed.

As always thanks for all the help and advice.

[Groggrim]

'dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or more per day for adults.'

I have been contacted and offered a covid jab due to immune suppression, but I am only on 6.75mg now and reducing. They wouldn't have known that. Should I still go or cancel the appointment? Thanks.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Groggrim]

Who invited you? Double check beforehand if you want…

[Groggrim in reply to DorsetLady]

I had an email from NHS England I think it was ( I'm terrible for deleting things and then wishing I hadn't, it drives hubby mad 🙄

I'll check on Monday