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.

My G.P confirmed to me today that I'm in group 6 and they expect to arrange my vaccination appointment very soon (they are just finishing the group 5's).

I had to triple-check they were absolutely sure. I've got epilepsy. I have quite regular tonic clonic seizures but haven't needed to go to hospital in the last 18 months. When I do, it's because I've injured myself when falling.

I've never had breathing difficulties. I'm not 50 for a few years yet. Epilepsy falls under the 'neurological problems' bracket which are included in group 6. I don't understand how this trumps anyone with breathing problems/asthma. It makes me feel really guilty.

@goldierocks because epilepsy medication can lower your immune response and affect other organs as well (ie kidneys / liver etc).

@goldierocks
You should be in group 6. Don’t feel guilty. The government can make group 6 add asthmatics on any steroids back in if they wanted to. It’s not like there is a # limit for each group. Why they’ve reduced the group 6 at the last minute is beyond me. The clinical evidence does support asthma as an underlying condition that increases ICU risk.

Sorry @PlanDeRaccordement that is what you seemed to be saying - and to be fair, unpaid carers have been part of group 6 for ages. I agree that it is appalling that those who ate extremely vulnerable to Covid, e.g. so many people with Learning Disabilities, are not being prioritised.

@HazeyJaneII

I’m sorry also as I’ve re-read and I can see how you might think I had implied that as I did jump from talking about asthmatics to talking in general terms with no warning or disclaimer.

On the unpaid carers, I thought they were not added until 30 Dec 2020, so not what I would consider ages myself. And it seems odd to have expanded group 6 to then turn around and reduce it by excluding asthmatics at the 11th hour after almost a year of telling them they were in group 6.

www.cause.org.uk/news/carers-now-priority-group-6-for-covid-vaccinations

@goldierocks

My G.P confirmed to me today that I'm in group 6 and they expect to arrange my vaccination appointment very soon (they are just finishing the group 5's).

I had to triple-check they were absolutely sure. I've got epilepsy. I have quite regular tonic clonic seizures but haven't needed to go to hospital in the last 18 months. When I do, it's because I've injured myself when falling.

I've never had breathing difficulties. I'm not 50 for a few years yet. Epilepsy falls under the 'neurological problems' bracket which are included in group 6. I don't understand how this trumps anyone with breathing problems/asthma. It makes me feel really guilty.

Me too I was shocked to be in a priority group although understand why

Yes, it was the end of December carers were added (which tbh feels like ages!!)
I thought the list was only drawn up in November, so not sure how asthma could have been in group 6 all year?
As far as I was aware it was (and is) severe asthma, as this were the group who had been on the shielding list.
I'm just not sure why you seem to be implying that unpaid carers are somehow unworthy and have squeezed out extremely vulnerable people.

@goldierocks

My G.P confirmed to me today that I'm in group 6 and they expect to arrange my vaccination appointment very soon (they are just finishing the group 5's).

I had to triple-check they were absolutely sure. I've got epilepsy. I have quite regular tonic clonic seizures but haven't needed to go to hospital in the last 18 months. When I do, it's because I've injured myself when falling.

I've never had breathing difficulties. I'm not 50 for a few years yet. Epilepsy falls under the 'neurological problems' bracket which are included in group 6. I don't understand how this trumps anyone with breathing problems/asthma. It makes me feel really guilty.

For a lot of people a high temperature can be a real trigger for epilepsy. Dont feel guilty at all!

@HazeyJaneII

Yes, it was the end of December carers were added (which tbh feels like ages!!) I thought the list was only drawn up in November, so not sure how asthma could have been in group 6 all year? As far as I was aware it was (and is) severe asthma, as this were the group who had been on the shielding list. I'm just not sure why you seem to be implying that unpaid carers are somehow unworthy and have squeezed out extremely vulnerable people.

I said “almost a year”. The list was first drawn up and published in June 2020. www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi/interim-advice-on-priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination. So that is 9 months or 3/4ths of a year if you want to be exact about it.

And yes, it was always “severe asthma” but up until 15 Feb, the definition of “severe asthma” included needing any daily steroids to include inhaled steroids. The Asthma U.K. webpage has a clear documentation of these facts. It was only after 15 Feb, that the government decided that those who depend on daily inhaled steroids to breathe were no longer “severe asthma” sufferers but at zero added risk to Covid despite clinical data showing they are at additional risk compared to their peers in age and ethnicity but no underlying health conditions.

Unpaid carers were not added until 30 Dec 2020....or 47 days ago....

I’m not implying that unpaid carers are unworthy. I am actually implying that the government has prioritised their lives over the lives of asthmatics who are in fact more vulnerable to long term damage or death from Covid because unpaid carers are more “useful” to society than those with a disability of asthma. I think there is an element of ableism in the decision. I think they chose not to simply add unpaid carers and make group 6 bigger because their announced “x groups all done by May” is a target they didn’t want to miss. In short asthmatics were kicked out to preserve the more able AND protect the governments announced schedule.

The most severe asthmatics are in group 4.

At least it means you have much less risk of death than them..

The June advice was the top 4 most vulnerable groups - which, yes included severe asthma (ie those advised to shield...which is not any asthmatic who took inhaled steroids)
Anyway, you clearly resent unpaid carers being included, which I find bizarre, but as I said earlier, I find it utterly bizarre that people who have such a high risk of death (ie people with mild/moderate Learning Disabilities) are not included in priority groups....so I guess we all have our bugbears on this, especially when it affects us or people we love.
I hope that you and your loved ones stay well, and that the vaccine rollout is quick.

On a related tangent, have you had a pneumonia vaccine OP? Boots offer it. I had it a few years ago and went from at least one severe chest infection per year (lasting weeks, sometimes requiring hospitalisation) to completely normal (the odd cough/cold but nothing serious). My GP said he doesn't understand why the NHS doesn't offer it to patients like us who would clearly benefit. At the moment it's only for the elderly.

I agree it’s bullshit. While I’m pleased to be at lower risk according to stats, in reality I am really susceptible to lung infections and can’t quite believe that asthmatics are genuinely at lower risk

It’s also the fact that asthmatics were told they’d be in this group and there was light ahead and now that’s been taken away. Really gutting.

I’m asthmatic, age 49 and was invited 3 weeks ago to book in for my jab. My sister, who has much more severe asthma is still waiting. I haven’t been worried about COVID and incidentally won’t be having the jab. With asthma it seems like it is a postcode lottery as to who is offered it and who isn’t.

@HavelockVetinari No it's not - I've had the pneumonia vaccine in my late twenties (on the NHS) - your CCG has chosen not to offer it maybe but other NHS CCGs do.

I understand the reasoning behind it, but I think it's the back and forth, changing the guidelines and the uncertainty that makes it feel disappointing. I've suffered from asthma all my life and it was well-controlled until I hit my forties. I was in A&E with it last year and would have been admitted, but due to Covid was told I would be better off at home, sent home with oral steroids on top of my 2 inhalers.

@NellePorter

I understand the reasoning behind it, but I think it's the back and forth, changing the guidelines and the uncertainty that makes it feel disappointing. I've suffered from asthma all my life and it was well-controlled until I hit my forties. I was in A&E with it last year and would have been admitted, but due to Covid was told I would be better off at home, sent home with oral steroids on top of my 2 inhalers.

It sounds like you should be in the priority group. I would email your GP about it.

Thanks Belladonna I will do, although I'm not sure I have had the oral steroids often to qualify, there's no harm in asking