I feel envy at mate with no clinical vulnerabilities called for covid jab

[priorityconfusion]

She is on the shielding list because of autism and her mental health, but doesn't shield. Called to say her vaccine is next week. We don't live in the same place anymore but I'm in group 6 and won't have my vaccine for a long time. I'm not shielding as I don't need to, but apart from one very stressful trip to an ill family member who needed me, am very cautious and limiting trips out to medical appointments and groceries like most people with my condition because we are over represented in the hospital admissions and deaths.

Logically I'm glad that she is getting vaccinated because the more needles in arms the better and she is out and about a lot on trains and having takeaway coffees and cake outside (within guidelines so that's all good, that's not the point) so hopefully this means she won't get it and transmit it.

But I am a little envious. I want her to be vaccinated but I want it too. And also think somebody like a shop assistant with a clinical vulnerability should be higher up the priority list, to be blunt.

I know I'm being a dick, slap some sense into me here.

@bitheby

I'm autistic and not on any shielding or priority list but you are in phase 1 of the vaccination priorities if you have a serious mental illness.

I hadn't seen that people with mental illnesses were added to phase 1 but that makes sense then, thank you.

It may well be purely regional. I work in the Midlands. We are only just inviting the 75 to 79 age group to make an appointment. We are nowhere starting on the younger age groups - not even CEV.

I am aware that some parts of the country are now vaccinating the 18-64 with underlying health issues group.

It varies hugely.

Also group 6 here and impatient for a jab but I doubt that someone would be group 4 just for mental health issues - unless they are on some medication which seriously affects their immunity? There must be something else going on.

@priorityconfusion

She is on the shielding list because of autism and her mental health, but doesn't shield. Called to say her vaccine is next week. We don't live in the same place anymore but I'm in group 6 and won't have my vaccine for a long time. I'm not shielding as I don't need to, but apart from one very stressful trip to an ill family member who needed me, am very cautious and limiting trips out to medical appointments and groceries like most people with my condition because we are over represented in the hospital admissions and deaths.

Logically I'm glad that she is getting vaccinated because the more needles in arms the better and she is out and about a lot on trains and having takeaway coffees and cake outside (within guidelines so that's all good, that's not the point) so hopefully this means she won't get it and transmit it.

But I am a little envious. I want her to be vaccinated but I want it too. And also think somebody like a shop assistant with a clinical vulnerability should be higher up the priority list, to be blunt.

I know I'm being a dick, slap some sense into me here.

She needs the vaccine because she doesn’t have the capability, I assume, to shield or take care of herself once she gets it. So it’s for the best.

she is not supposed to be more clinically vulnerable.
Anyone with significant mental illness has more of a struggle with life than you.

One of the reasons why those with mental need vaccination is that it can be harder to treat them and the treatment more traumatic and triggering.

Yes a massive dose of empathy may be required.

This is interesting as it is going to become apparent that different need groups are going to get the vaccine at different times, in different areas- with some lagging behind- and I very strongly suspect some high need (government definition) may only get it way behind other "lower" need people due to omission from priority lists or the sheer inefficiency almost inherent in this huge operation.

There is also the matter of "left over" vaccines being give out possibly on some old boy network- which is I suppose better than wasting them, but could be very unfair. I know of at least one such case where perfectly healthy young-ish people have been given it.

Ah, just saw pp's posts that really serious mental health issues do put you in the higher category; that would make sense

I imagine when they get down to vaccinating healthy people under 50 BAME, carers, and those working with the public will get priority in any vaccine shortage. It’s just how it is.

I can't get upset about people being called for a vaccine - the NHS are working on the 8rder and I'm happy to accept their decisions. It's the queue jumping buggers I'm pissed off with - the ones who have shared the access links to appointments and the unscrupulous buggersxwho have used them, knowing Gilwern ut's not their turn.

Your friend has legitmately been called for a vaccine, you don't need to worry about the whys.

It is odd but that's the way it is. My lovely friend had hers before my 85 year old dad - because she works for an NHS company that offer care to vulnerable adults in the community - however she is admin and has worked from home since March. She was very apologetic but unless you are daft you are not going to turn it down!

Anyone with significant mental illness has more of a struggle with life than you.

Really? You know nothing about my life with chronic illness, the trauma from medical procedures I deal with, and the subsequent affect on my mental health.

It's not a race to the bottom and it's not a hierarchy about who is suffering more.

It is a difficult time for everyone and when you read guidelines about who will be getting the vaccine and the timeline for rolling it out it is hard to see apparent discrepancies. It makes sense though to add people with certain mental illness to an urgent priority group.

You could do with a dose of empathy yourself.

It's the queue jumping buggers I'm pissed off with - the ones who have shared the access links to appointments and the unscrupulous buggersxwho have used them

Wow @Chienloup I didn't know that was happening, that's pretty shocking! Who does that?!

I think I get how you feel, my sister has an underlying condition her DH is CEV, neither have had an invite. I work in children’s safeguarding and work will give us the vaccine in the next few weeks. I feel a bit sad for her and a bit guilty like I’m jumping the queue. She feels pissed off about it.

@Hazelnutlatteplease

"I want a vaccine too, and why is she first?"

Actually this really wouldn't be my first reaction. Because I do try not to be a dick.

You might want to rethink your attitudes, especially to those with greater struggles than yourself.

This. And you're not shielding, you've said yourself. So having the vaccine in your case wouldn't mean an end to shielding, as you aren't shielding

Maybe her conditions are caused/linked to a chromosomal abnormality or something similar that puts her at higher risk or at least is enough of a concern for her GP to put her on the list.

Friend isn't shielding either though.

I wasn't thinking a vaccine will mean an end to shielding when I get it. I am looking forward to less worry about becoming seriously ill.

A friend in her 50s, fit and healthy, tennis several times a week, runs etc, has been working at home since March and will be for the foreseeable future, has her first vaccine. The place she works for is a distant part of the NHS.

I am also trying to see this as a good thing in the overall scheme of things, while concerned for my neighbour's 90 year old Dad with COPD who has not had his first yet.

People with autism, and I assume other needs, who live in homes with carers are being vaccinated, as are the carers.
I also know of a funeral director who has had it through work. Quite right too as half his ‘customers’ last week died of Covid.

Could be @Snowisfallinghere. I think when it's your mate telling you something you tend to just believe them (I mean if you have never had any reason to doubt them) and it can be easy to forget there can be other stuff going on.

No matter how well we might think we know somebody, there can be other elements we don't know about. Might sound daft to some on this thread but it honestly hadn't really occurred to me that my mate could have another issue, because she's honestly so chatty and cheerful and tells you everything.

Cheers MNetters for pointing out the obvious when I was being quite dense

This pandemic really has brought out the best in everyone, hasn't it?

@whatwedontknow

I think I get how you feel, my sister has an underlying condition her DH is CEV, neither have had an invite. I work in children’s safeguarding and work will give us the vaccine in the next few weeks. I feel a bit sad for her and a bit guilty like I’m jumping the queue. She feels pissed off about it.

But you're really not jumping the queue - you work in an environment where you're at risk I'm sorry your sister is annoyed.

It was like ww3 had broken out at my work (hospital) when staff started getting vaccinated mid December. Lots of 'why are they before me' type comments and stress levels soaring. Also people emailing and ringing the vaccine hub and being quite aggressive

I am trying to excuse much of the unpleasantness on the grounds that people are so stressed and exhausted and it all gets a bit animalistic!

@Paapa

This pandemic really has brought out the best in everyone, hasn't it?

Presumably you're a lot more saintly than I am and have never felt one single jolt of an unedifying emotion.

My lovely friend had hers before my 85 year old dad - because she works for an NHS company that offer care to vulnerable adults in the community - however she is admin and has worked from home since March. She was very apologetic but unless you are daft you are not going to turn it down!

I've heard that uptake amongst NHS frontline staff wasn't as high as expected, so rather than let the vaccines expire, they offered it to admin and other staff.
I heard this on Twitter though, so it could be garbage - but if it makes people feel less envious/outraged it's a good thing to know.
Wasted vaccines would be a travesty.

Do you know she’s 100% telling the truth?
Is it definitely the Covid jab she’s had and not the flu jab?

Otherwise;

You mention mental health. Some anti psychotic drugs have an immunosuppressant effect or cause neutropenia such as Clozapine/Clozaril. So much that those on those drugs need to have their bloods done every two weeks and be strictly monitored for signs of infection.

Still, my patients on those drugs were not put on the shielding list.

If she’s definitely been identified as CEV there’s a likelihood of another physical illness. Could she be diabetic? HIV positive? Cardiac outpatient? Hepatitis?

Do carers go in to visit her? Could she be working in care?

If she’s been invited it’s because she’s a priority and is considered by medical professionals to be more vulnerable than you. OR she’s working with the more vulnerable.