Asthmatic teacher who gets the flu jab

[winningwhilstlosing]

Can anyone at all in words of one syllable tell me what I am supposed to be doing as regards work etc. I don’t have a clue - lots of ‘strongly recommend’ advice but how do I follow it if I work in a school.

My reading of it means all adults with asthma who receive a flu jab should stay in. This would include my daughter’s teacher and I hope he does that.

Schools will shut within a week anyway. 4 months from now when millions are dead no-one will remember who called in sick today and who kept coming in for another week before calling sick. Stay at home now. Protect yourself.

Lolasmiles- government advice still allows going for a run

OP-Stay off.

At our college an email was sent saying anyone with underlying conditions like yours could work from home. I agree it is open to interpretation which makes it more challenging . Stay home. We will all close soon so don't put yourself at risk

I see nothing that suggests schools will be closed next week.
I think we’ll still be going in. I’ll be interested to see who I have in today. Yesterday I only had three away. Most of our children have at least one SAHM.
It’s madness that school isn’t included as a social gathering.

I spoke to a friend who’s a headteacher yesterday and he said he’s unofficially told all the parents to keep their kids away. He said he thinks most will but accepts as a,primary school some parents will need to,go to work and have no childcare and still send kids in.

But he thinks the fact that schools haven’t been closed is bonkers. I suspect your head might be quite sympathetic. If teachers ring in sick, self isol, etc the schools will have to close.

Exactly, Apples, that perspective is essential; who is going to care in a couple of weeks time? I am quite upset that many colleagues feel unable to trust their own judgement because of a toxic culture of presenteeism in schools. Let those of us who are not made vulnerable by underlying health condition keep the thing going for now, we'll do so happily in order for you to be safe.

"Lolasmiles- government advice still allows going for a run*
It does under social distancing, but not under self isolation.
I should have clarified, the thread was someone with symptoms (so should be self isolating) deciding that they wanted to go for a run because they like running.

Lolasmiles- government advice still allows going for a run
It does under social distancing, but not under self isolation.
I should have clarified, the thread was someone with symptoms (so should be self isolating) deciding that they wanted to go for a run because they like running.

Any hassle from your head, tell him straight that he has a duty of care to you as your employer and that if he worries you, you’ll be straight on the phone to your area union rep. Take care of yourself, op.

@Photosymphysis

*My asthma is quite mild normally, so I go from thinking "I'll probably be fine" to then panicking and thinking "but what if I'm not". I've got small children of my own. I don't want to catch it (or anything else) and be more likely to need treatment and cause more pressure on the NHS. But I probably will be fine, I'm probably overreacting, but...

Ad infinitum

I don't know what to do*

This is exactly what's happening in my head. Im in the same situation as you. I'm due to finish mat leave next week and haven't had any communication from school on what's happening. I'm trying to get info from a colleague but I'm torn on what I should be saying to school.

OP I think now is the time to put yourself first.

@waspfig @photosymphysis

Same here...mild asthma these days bit have had whooping cough twice and in one instance a collapsed lung with it (albeit a v. long time ago). Also v. overweight and had 2 elderly parents and no other family to plug the gap with them if I get ill.

But presenteeism is such a thing where I work. Colleague had a seriously ill child last year and ended up on absence procedure for the time they'd had off in that respect.

We're support staff so most of us aren't in any union (my previous experience of Unison was crap) and have no back up unless we are told to stay away.

This is as clear as mud re pregnancy.

schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-decision-to-allow-pregnant-teachers-to-work-from-home-up-to-heads/

Re: the Monday thing. I think there’s two parallel pieces of information being given.

The first is about the stringent social distancing which should start immediately for those with the conditions listed.

There’s then a second set of info for people with more severe conditions, including some people with asthma. This is expected to be self-isolation and will start within a few days/ next Monday. I think you will be contacted by the NHS or your GP if you fall into that category.

Just spoken to some Gp friends.

Yes the 12 week thing is going to be from advice given over the next few days, probably from Monday.

Thank you everyone. I am at home now - hopefully safe!

I am in the same position as the OP. I met with the headteacher first thing and told her under the new advice I would not be coming to school after today. She was very sympathetic and fully supports the decision. Other staff who are 'vulnerable' are doing the same. I'm filling my car with every text book and resource I can think of to attempt to work from home. We have nearly reached the tipping point of low staff numbers and will soon have to close anyway, regardless of national advice.

After reading asthma UK's advice I'm not actually certain that normal asthma controlled with preventers comes under the most severe "must stay in for 12 weeks" type. And it's washy with the NEU.

www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/

Avoid unnecessary interactions with other people. This means avoiding large gatherings, shaking hands with people or hugging them, and unnecessary travel, especially on public transport. You should also avoid going to public venues like bars, restaurants and cinemas. If it’s possible in your job, try to work from home. "if it's possible... "

If you have severe asthma
Severe asthma is asthma that is hard to treat, and often the symptoms are not well controlled, even with high doses of medicines.
Having severe asthma is likely to put you at higher risk of complications from COVID-19. The NHS will contact you from the 23rd March to tell you what to do if you are in this higher-risk group. For now, you should follow the advice above, and try to be extra careful about avoiding unnecessary contact with other people

I'm not sure if I'm severe asthma; now on Fostair as things weren't controlled on clenil but no hospital admissions.

https://neu.org.uk/advice/novel-coronavirus-faqs. Says to seek drs opinion.

@TackyTriceratops thanks for that info.

The NEU have said to get written confirmation from your GP that you should be off. Given my asthma is mild and well controlled, I'm not going to bother the GP for anything and just carry on.

I think I need to step away from the threads from people experiencing dramatic symptoms (and possibly the news as well!).

It's difficult PHoto. My particular weakness is viruses; some I'm fine with, others not.

If you read what BJ et al said, it is all
asthmatics who should where possible work from home. But obviously it's difficult for teachers. As it is for doctors and nurses too.

If we are socially distancing now, and headlines are that it may need to be for a year, when on earth might we go back to work? When schools open, it's just dawned on me I won't be going back in?! (Unless I've had it.)

Will pay dwindle? I'm ok with that but others may not be.

A year? I can imagine school not starting again till September. Do you mean the at-risk groups staying away through the next winter season too?

I eventually contacted my GP who said I should WFH. Passed it all on to school. And yesterday evening found out I'm rota'd on to go in one day next week. 🤔 Hopefully I'll get my duty out of the way before this gets really bad.

From what I can gather severe asthma sufferers will be contacted and advised to self isolate for 12 weeks.

Anyone with less serious asthma who qualifies for the flu jab should be taking the more stringent social distancing measure described by the government ie going out as little as possible and working from home if at all practical.

I'm going into work on Monday as it will be a tough day but after that am working from home for 2 weeks then have 2 weeks Easter holidays.

I'm hoping that in spite of what the media is saying it may be blowing over by then. Just can't get my head around it going on for months.

Updated list from asthma UK.

I'm surprised to see Fostair there. Trying to get my head around it.

www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/