To be gutted re vaccine groups and asthma?

[1starwars2]

I have been generally positive and very careful throughout, but I feel really thrown by the news that asthmatics have been removed from group 6 of the Covid vaccine schedule.
I have been literally checking my phone for a text invite as our local surgery announced they were starting vaccinating grp 6 and sending out text invites.
Now I will not be in any of the first 9 groups, and my asthma has been crap for the last year.
A lot of asthmatics have been voluntarily shielding, and looking forward to vaccination and it seems a bit unfair to kick us out of the vaccination schedule now.
I would like to be pleased that it looks like asthmatics might be at no more risk of dying, but I don't feel that would apply to me, and am surprised at those findings.
I generally develop a chest infection, (I have had pneumonia and pleurisy in the last few years) with any cold. I am scared of covid, and it's a genuine fear not anxiety.

Is it a late change in criteria or different areas using different criteria? An acquaintance of ours got hers a few weeks ago as part of group 6 in London. I don’t know exactly what inhaler she uses but she had a bad case of covid last November and has been struggling a bit since. But she’s young and not otherwise vulnerable I think - she’s been back at work since Jan for example and is not in a job she can do from home.

@NotFabulousDarling

YANBU. I've been waiting too. It's quite galling when you think that an asthma drug (dexamethasone) is one of the main covid treatments, therefore the two illnesses must have similar effects on the body. I think there's just too many asthmatics (8 million) for them to handle vaccinating them all.

I never knew there were as many as 8 million, but anecdotally, I do know a lot of people with asthma. I think you probably have a point, about the sheer number.

fwiw, not particularly to you, but others too, I did think I have read for a while that it was only severe asthmatics who were going to "qualify" for group 6.
But perhaps it is only now they have spelled out what the exact "qualification" is, that is causing the problem and anxiety.

LadyTiredWinterBottom2
I think the guidance has been clear that unless you have the brown inhaler you are no more at risk than anyone without asthma. I've had pneumonia and l don't have asthma; l don't see why you should be ahead of the queue because you've had it as well.

I thought everyone with asthma had a brown inhaler? No?

No. I've not had a brown inhaler for years. I've had a purple one and grey one in the past and now I'm on a grey round, powder inhaler with a yellow cap (Relvar Ellipta). There are many different steroid, preventer inhalers.

I was hospitalized a couple of times as a child, last time approx 25 years ago. So in theory that makes me group 6?

Yet I have a blue inhaler for emergencies only and haven't needed that for 8 years. Asthma nurse at GP surgery didn't have me on her list for 15 years so pretty sure they won't pick me out easily as "ever having been hospitalized with asthma." So there's a flaw right there with childhood asthma hospitalization criteria. I think that is too broad and should be "within last ten years." They are going to have to trawl through paper records to pick people like me up.

@PlanDeRaccordement I’m with you OP. The part that doesn’t make sense is saying those on oral steroids are at higher risk than those on inhaled steroids. Steroids are steroids, doesn’t matter how you ingest them, they will lower your immune system

As far as I know[from years ago], there is actually quite a big difference. Oral steroids are only used in extreme circumstances, when inhaled steroids fail to work. Oral steroids are a much stronger dose, and designed to be used as a short sharp shock.

I believe your GP can ask for you to be included in group 6 if they feel it’s needed so it’s well worth a conversation with them

I think it's dependant on location. I'm mid-20s and have mild asthma, brown & blue inhaler but never been hospitalised or had steroid tablets, yet I got my vaccine last week. I was told my area were on target and thus offering it to under 65s with health problems. Seems to be a bit of a postcode lottery

@Lancrelady80

I was hospitalized a couple of times as a child, last time approx 25 years ago. So in theory that makes me group 6?

Yet I have a blue inhaler for emergencies only and haven't needed that for 8 years. Asthma nurse at GP surgery didn't have me on her list for 15 years so pretty sure they won't pick me out easily as "ever having been hospitalized with asthma." So there's a flaw right there with childhood asthma hospitalization criteria. I think that is too broad and should be "within last ten years." They are going to have to trawl through paper records to pick people like me up.

Again, and only from what I can remember from years ago, asthma generally is worse when a child, and worse in older age. The fact you have it milder in say middle age, does not and will not stop you from being eligible for the vaccine, because of your childhood hospitalisation.

Totally up to you of course whether you choose to have the vaccine, but my guess is you will be contacted to have it.

@Womencanlift what inhalers are you on? Apparently that's what they're basing it on.

Oral steroids have systemic immunosuppressive effects that inhaled steroid do not, so the route of administration makes a big difference

I have well controlled asthma. It's been bad before but with a change in medication it's not a bother now. I think it's maybe because asthma is a very controllable condition. The likes of type 1 diabetes etc - you will never not have it and you'll never have a lesser version of it so I can see the logic. If you're that worried why not talk to your GP about it and see what they say.

I am disappointed too. I don't go to the GP, even when I'm quite bad with a cold. I use my brown inhaler heavily, sleep sitting up, sit still, avoid stress, wait it out,

When I was less able to sit still and manage my symptoms (small children, work etc) I was given oral steroids.

I am scared, frankly. Scared that if I struggle to breathe and feel like I'm drowning after a cold, then I am going to find Covid very hard.

I've also lost 2 stone and got out of the BMI 40+ category, which is a bit galling.

Fellow asthmatic here, under 40 who gets pneumonia (and steroids) every other year, thanks to my lungs. The worst-case scenario is getting the first vaccine in June, at the end of the Group 10 roll-out. After living with this for a year, I can do it for 4 more months.

I’m sort of pleased to hear it’s not considered too high a risk, as my Dd (under 16 so not on the schedule anyway) has asthma, and I’d like to be less worried about her. I think she’s had it once - and was pretty ill - back in March, as did the a and e doctor she saw, but obviously there’s the risk of reinfection which is a worry.

I can see why it’s disappointing to be bumped down the schedule.

Actually I was hospitalised as a child, but that was nearly 40 years ago. Will they even have that on record?

I am really unhappy about this. I have a brown steroid inhaler and caught Covid last year. I really struggled with breathing. I spent days wondering whether I would wake up the next day due to breathing problems. I was so low on Oxygen that I had cognitive problems and couldn't answer basic questions from medical professionals over phone. I work in an educational environment which puts me at further risk but we have not been prioritised for vaccination. So it's double blow !

I was a bit when a fit and otherwise healthy SIL who suffers with allergies has an inhaler which she says has only ever used once declared she would be vaccinated as part of this group. I suspect this will no longer be the case. There are a range of severities of asthma sufferers and those with more severe disease should be prioritised.

@1starwars2 hopefully your GP surgery will be able to help you out and everything crossed that you’re vaccinated soon. I guess it depends on area as well but my friend was vaccinated at the weekend and she’s asthmatic but isn’t at any higher risk than others and she just spoke to her GP about her concerns about waiting for it. Maybe they have some say in who gets vaccinated 🤞🏼

[quote yearinyearout]@Womencanlift what inhalers are you on? Apparently that's what they're basing it on.[/quote]
Standard brown and blue. I definitely think it is a bit of a postcode lottery from reading this thread and also others on this topic. Hopefully other groups are done just as quick as the first 4

Just contact your gp and ask if your health issues will allow you a vaccine now

Before the vaccine schedule was released my respiratory consultant told me they think taking inhalers actually offers protection against covid. I had to shield for other reasons but found that interesting (the context was another specialty wanted advice on whether they could operate safely in the middle of covid when I have breathing problems).

ICU Consultant here. I can understand how frustrating it is to be bumped down the list, particularly if there was an expectation that you wouldn’t be.
Hopefully people can understand that initially, with a virus that predominantly affects the respiratory system, asthmatics would have naturally been thought if as ‘at risk’.
I can only speak relatively anecdotally, but we have had very few asthmatics come to ICU. Only 1-2 spring to mind. And they were brittle asthmatics on montelukast, frequent flare ups and infections through the year etc.
Many of our patients actually don’t have respiratory disease, but have a triple whammy of hypertension, diabetes and central obesity.

If you have ever had an emergency hospital admission for your asthma,

Does this mean A&E treatment for asthma when you are put on a nebuliser? Because I’ve had that in the past, but not been admitted as an in patient for asthma.

I'm disappointed, but glad if I'm not at as much risk as originally thought. I hope this will mean there is more vaccine that could go to teachers/ police officers etc ASAP.

I'm a bit fed up with this news too. Whilst it's great we're not deemed to be at higher risk, like some of the previous posters I usually need a course of steroids with every single cold I get - due to lockdown I've not had a single cold in a year now - like most pps I've been very careful re social distancing - and haven't needed steroids, therefore don't think I'll be in group 6 despite the fact that if it were a normal year I would. Wondering how far back they'll go with the hospitalisation, if it is "ever" I should but not been for 20 years thankfully.