Spring booster for severe asthma

[Pootle1973]

Wondering if anyone knows if I can access the spring booster? I am 48, have severe asthma and barely left the house or seen any people in over 2 years. I was group 4 but due to not seeing anyone and picking up the usual infections that led to prednisone use I think I have fallen out of the criteria. Now being forced back to the office and tube (and regular air travel) and worried as it’s over 6 months since autumn booster. Not looking forward to the return of severe asthma episodes but also really dont want bad covid effects having dodged it for so long. I do have to start seeing people and living my life not just working from the corner of my living room but am worried. Can I pay for a booster if the govt don’t think I qualify anymore?

[Bevvy]

I don’t think there is any facility to purchase booster. I am in the same situation as you. Was classed as CEV and shielded but not eligible for booster or (despite being sent a priority PCR) unlikely to be eligible for antivirals if I contract Covid! Situation is horrible for people like us and how 1 minute I am extremely vulnerable and the next not is beyond me. In my situation I can become extremely unwell from an initial cold and have been known to be seriously ill for months afterwards. Originally I was pleased that I had been sent pcr test but subsequently from anecdotal reports I won’t be eligible for antivirals which is ludicrous.

[Chance21 in reply to Bevvy]

Yes you can book it yourself. Go online to the below, select the option to book a booster and input your NHS number. It should then allow you to book one. I had a Spring booster a couple of weeks ago, it was moderna which made me a bit poorly for 2 days.

nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir...

[Bevvy in reply to Chance21]

You can only book if you meet the criteria / are in the categories. IE due to age or weak immune system - which is extremely specific as to what that means. Usually you will have had notification from NHS to book.

[Chance21 in reply to Bevvy]

Yes if you have acute asthma then you have a weak immunity - the NHS number holds your medical history which you input and then if applicable allows you to book.

[Bevvy in reply to Chance21]

Sorry but not necessarily and I HAVE checked. Lots of people including myself despite not only asthma but also COPD (and other things leading to weak immune system) are not able to access spring booster. Lots of discussion about this on other lung conditions site. This is despite being SO at risk I had to shield for almost 2 years plus having priority PCR test sent to me…... It is nonsense and annoying but no point in myself getting agitated about it. It is what it is.

[Snickers72 in reply to Bevvy]

Ask the nurse or doctor to override it - they can actually do it. Any kind of respiratory/cardiac issue makes one higher risk - age, history of exacerbations, hospitalizations, frequency and types of treatments you have had to receive for exacerbations, that takes a toll on the health system - are all things that should be considered. It is cheaper to let you have the booster, than to pay for a case of Covid. Stay double PAPER MASKED - as numerous studies show cloth masks to be quite inferior - and be extremely careful about who you are around.

[Itswonderful in reply to Bevvy]

Same.

[Mark-f]

Hi ... funny enough I had my 5th covid shot yesterday.. moderna ..... it’s really made me quite poorly ...

previously to this I had two doses of Astra Zeneca and two doses of phizer ... no issues .

I would go on the nhs vaccine web site and try to book your vaccine ... if your eligible it will let you book if your not it won’t ...

P.s.... I’ve identified as severely immune suppressed...

[Anselm198]

I would contact the GP, they can override it all.

[chillymaid in reply to Anselm198]

I tried to get a vaccine appointment, and was refused. Phoned my GP and he wrote me a letter to hand in at one of the walk in centres.

[ccccc]

Hi Pootle

Do you take a daily steroid tablet? I do and that's what made me eligible for the booster (actually I've had 4 vaccine doses now and been invited for a 5th...)

This is the NHS criteria for boosters if you haven't seen it:

nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir...

It does mention "if you are at very high risk of infection" which I would've thought you fit into having severe asthma as I do. I was unsure myself and when I tried to book online it just asked if I had a letter from GP. So I contacted them and they sent me a text to show as proof I was eligible and that let me book it. At the vaccine clinic they didn't even ask to see it. So it's worth asking the GP if they will do this, after all I'm sure you fit the criteria one way or another. I think they are being a bit more flexible than before when there was more of a fight for vaccines.

[Pootle1973 in reply to ccccc]

Twice daily steroid inhalers (fostair 200/4) , steroid nose sprays and a whole bunch of other tablets. Much less pred than normal but I have seen practically nobody in the past two years and I was mainly triggered by cold and flu bugs which I have been shielded from but won’t be when back in the office/ tube in close proximity. Will try the GP. Thanks for advice all - it’s very frustrating

[ccccc in reply to Pootle1973]

definitely worth asking as it sounds like you need the extra protection.

[Itswonderful]

Hi Pootle. I think there are many of us on here and not on here in the same position. I wonder if we all wrote to our MPs and asked the question that you have, what would the answer be? I have already written to my MP today, would you also do the same?

[Pootle1973 in reply to Itswonderful]

Done

[Itswonderful in reply to Pootle1973]

Hi. I had a reply. My MPs office is investigating. Let us know what happens with yours ? 👍

[Tre]

I got invited for mine so I guess if you’re eligible you’ll get a text, they did want proof when I got there, the only thing I had was my text message from the gp. I am with a wonderful practice though. Hope you get sorted xx