Is asthma on the 'clinically vulnerable' list?

[Russell19]

I'm not talking about shielding, I'm talking about the government list of people who should follow extra precautions. This is for work purposes mainly.

I have seen it on government advice dated 11th May but I have been told advice has changed since then.

AIBU to think asthma is classed as clinically vulnerable?

IV asthma, no letter, I'm essential staff so told I must work. I'm seeing patients everyday, no social distancing but do have PPE.

A friend is asthmatic and had a letter to isolate for 12 weeks. He has no other issues.
My husband has not had any letter. He has slight medical issues.

My brother has a brain tumour and he voluntarily isolated and had to chase up a letter to be able to access online services.

My elderly friend gets a free weekly box of food delivered by the Council. My neighbour is housebound does not.

Seems to be some variation with how quickly and if a letter is sent out?

I queried my son returning to school as a key worker child as suffers with asthma and an undiagnosed kidney condition. Left a message with gp receptionist, got sent a shielding letter

Depend what inhaler and how often you use the inhaler.

DH has asthma and takes his inhaler morning and night, qualifies for a flu jab but isn't considered vulnerable. Could be worth checking with the doctor but if no text or letter has been sent it's likely that you're not on the vulnerable list and can carry on as normal.

I thought there was a list of medications plus whether you had needed steroids and/or hospital admission recently. My inhaler was listed , but not in the same dosage nor did I fulfil the other conditions. I have not had a letter. Dbro on the other hand is off work (food retail) for his vulnerability due to asthma.

@LIZS yes for the extremely vulnerable list. The vulnerable list is asthma regardless of medication.

DH has asthma and takes his inhaler morning and night, qualifies for a flu jab but isn't considered vulnerable.
You dh is vulnerable , he isn’t extremely vulnerable/shielding.

I'm a teacher.
I'm clinically vulnerable as diabetic and asthmatic.

The advice in the reopening school guidance is if you are clinically vulnerable you should request to work from home. If that is not possible you should to request a slight change in role so that you can safely social distance.

My mum has COPD. She is clinically extremely vulnerable and has to shield. She has now been shielding for 11 weeks as she had treatment for other medical conditions in February.

clinically vulnerable - social distance as much as possible - if you get a flu jab, diabetic, asthma etc
clinically extremely vulnerable - shield with letter - if you have serious medical conditions - COPD, some cancer or transplant patients, some asthmatics etc

@sarkyone and @toothfairy thank you so much for understanding what I am asking. Was starting to lose the will a little bit or think I wasn't explaining myself. Hopefully I'll know more tomorrow and will keep you all updated.

I think you will find it's to due to the medication you are taking for the asthma I.e strength of inhaler
This is told via government guidelines!!

@Riv12345 that's for shielding

Severe asthmatics who take high dose steroids are told to shield as 'extremely vulnerable' but I'm fairly sure that everyone who takes a steroid inhaler (preventer) is supposed to be taking extra precautions.

You're very patient OP, your posts have been very clear - indeed the very first words of your OP! - that you're not asking about shielding.

I hope you can sort out a scenario you're happy with.

But yes, all asthmatics are vulnerable and should be taking extra care. Some asthmatics are severe enough to be extremely vulnerable and thus be shielding.

(Not for you OP, you clearly know that. )

Good to see that people still haven't got the hang of the shielding list and clinically vulnerable list

If you're asthmatic and qualify for the free flu jab, you are considered clinically vulnerable. I haven't heard anything about asthma being taken off the list. I've been receiving the occasional texts from NHS so I would like to think they would let people know if the guidance had changed

Oh dear that was hard work OP! I understand I am in the same boat as you not shielding and feel like I need to say that every single time as there is so much confusion with the two lists! Glad you found the info you needed and hope you get sorted at work

I was confused before this thread as I expected dh and I to get letters and we didn't, then I heard the guidance had changed for asthmatics and so he's been food shopping and I'm walking the dog. I am only assuming my asthma is mild, I don't know but what I do know was when I was ill I had serious enough problems breathing to be taken to hospital. Maybe I am being clueless but I would hate to think I am breaking the guidelines and putting anyone at risk.

@MindyStClaire @MinkowskisButterfly thank you for the nice messages and understanding! I'll hopefully speak to work today and will update the thread incase anyone else is in the same situation.

Best of luck OP.

I guess the problem with the vulnerable list is that it applies to do many people. Some employers would probably struggle to make adjustments for all affected members of staff. I hope you do reach an agreement you're happy with though.

SunshineCake there isn't any difference in the advice to asthmatics who are mild and moderate - don't think there's formal definitions of those anyway. We actually have the same guidelines as the general population, we're just advised to be particularly strict about distancing.

So, for example, I'm asthmatic (I'd say moderate, but who knows) and pregnant and DH is healthy, so he's doing all the shopping. I'm still going for walks though and definitely not shielding.

However, that's easy for us because we can both wfh. There will be asthmatics more severely affected than me working on the frontline.

Hi OP,

I’m on your list.

Impossible to practice social distancing in my part time job (supermarket) so they have given me 12 weeks off (which is a nationwide policy) on full pay. That is coming to an end next month. I’m not looking for it to be extended as I’m actually happy at the thought of going back to work for the few hours a week I do. (I’m mainly self employed).

Some medication that people take for asthma also makes them clinically vulnerable.
My relatives inhaler had a warning about increasing vulnerability to covid as well as the impact of his actual asthma

So work called me and said they are not having anyone with underlying conditions in yet until after June 30th. They are actually being great about it.

Thank you *@MindyStClaire.

I've been fretting about shopping so dh is doing it but he has been poorly with something else, though is fine now, so I'm not sure if he has to stay in or not. I think he is allowed out with a mask. I'm so tired I had forgotten we had spoken to the GP the other day .