Mumsnet Logo
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

NHS Coronavirus information. Information from gov.uk. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have health concerns, please seek medical attention.

Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.

Covid

What proof will you get that you need to distance for 12 weeks?

28 replies

DrMadelineMaxwell · 17/03/2020 21:15

If you are one of the more vulnerable.

I'm still trying to find info on how severe asthma needs to be to be classed as bad enough to qualify (teen dd has her fingers tightly crossed as the unions have today said kids of vulnerable people should also stay off) and it's got me wondering.
I'm sure I can't just rock up to work, declare that I'm qualifying and just not go in. So what will doctors provide for those who are advised to withdraw from work on that basis I wonder?

OP posts:
Please
or
to access all these features

lubeybooby · 17/03/2020 21:16

the NHS will contact those who need to do it - ask them when they call how you prove it

Please
or
to access all these features

HairsprayBabe · 17/03/2020 21:19

Can't help with asthma, I'm 22wks pregnant and I was told by work I need to be at home for the foreseeable future. I WFH apart from meetings though.

Do you declare your asthma to work for any reasonable adjustments? I would start by speaking to my line manager and seeing what they think. Depending on what your manager is like, if they àre caring and sensible then I would take there lead.

Please
or
to access all these features

BellatrixLeStrangest · 17/03/2020 21:20

I'm not sure but if also love to know! I have asthma too but I'm not sure what level mine is classed at. I've had 2 pretty bad episodes in the last 6 months which had to be managed with steroids and antibiotics. However I have been back to the Drs and changed my preventative and it's an absolute game changer. For the last 2 months I've had no symptoms whatsoever.
Even though I may not be as high risk as others I'm still self isolating and I'm keeping my two young children off school as of tomorrow. I'm not particularly looking forward to it if I'm brutally honest and my parents are practically begging to have my two but they're both in their late 50s. My dad is 60 next month. I'm worried they'd infect my parents 🤦🏻‍♀️

Please
or
to access all these features

SistemaAddict · 17/03/2020 21:24

I have asthma too and am on a combination inhaler (inhaled corticosteroids and long acting reliever). I've had to double my dose due to tight chest and slight cough the last 2 weeks nearly now. I have a rescue pack of steroids and antibiotics and have had at least two lots of oral steroids this winter. Dds are both asthmatic. We all get the flu vaccine due to asthma. I'm worried about the 12 weeks thing. Which union has said about children of vulnerable adults needing to isolate too? Although as a single parent with no help I'm not sure how me isolating would be beneficial.

Please
or
to access all these features

Bouncingbomb · 17/03/2020 21:25

Please
or
to access all these features

DrMadelineMaxwell · 17/03/2020 21:25

Mine needs more than just my (not the basic level) preventative and my reliever to be in control as I also need montelukast and an antihistamine. I don't require regular steroids but did have a bad chest infection at Christmas that needed 2 lots of steroids to clear.

I will await a call from my gp from Monday if they are and chase up if they don't.

OP posts:
Please
or
to access all these features

Bouncingbomb · 17/03/2020 21:28

The NHS is incredibly overstretched, GPs won't have the time to be contacting patients to tell them to self isolate.

Being on the flu jab list seems to be a trigger.

Please
or
to access all these features

DrMadelineMaxwell · 17/03/2020 21:29

I've read that guidance. But it doesn't clarify what "be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures." will mean in terms of staying away from work and how severe asthma should be to warrant it.

My boss would try to argue that it will be severe asthma. She's not really behind people working from home, as we can't, and is looking at those who are off due to SI as a bit of an inconvenience and, frankly, seems to roll her eyes and make out that people are putting it on if they have declared they need to SI.

OP posts:
Please
or
to access all these features

DrMadelineMaxwell · 17/03/2020 21:32

On the NHS guidance page it says

If you are in this category, next week the NHS in England will directly contact you with advice the more stringent measures you should take in order to keep yourself and others safe. For now, you should rigorously follow the social distancing advice in full,.

OP posts:
Please
or
to access all these features

fairynick · 17/03/2020 21:35

I’m wondering whether I am classed in this group of people. I had a pulmonary embolism two years ago and am otherwise young and healthy. I don’t class myself as vulnerable, and have no breathing problems at all. However, I am on the flu jab list because of this. Do we just have to wait and see if we’re contacted? I’ve found the advice fairly confusing.

Please
or
to access all these features

DrMadelineMaxwell · 17/03/2020 21:36

Seems to say only those who are even more vulnerable will be directly contacted.
But that those who qualify for the flu jab should be social distancing.

We are advising those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures.

This group includes those who are:

aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (ie anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):
chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma,

OP posts:
Please
or
to access all these features

fezzesarecool · 17/03/2020 21:36

I’ve got a Kidney problem (37) and get offered the flu jab

I had a phone appointment and explained my concerns and want my job is etc and they have signed me off saying I’m at risk and will review it every couple of weeks

Please
or
to access all these features

covetingthepreciousthings · 17/03/2020 21:42

unions have today said kids of vulnerable people should also stay off)

Can anyone link to more info on this please?

Please
or
to access all these features

itsgettingweird · 17/03/2020 21:44

It's says under 70 and instructed to get flu jab as an adult.

What about the children who have a flu jab?

Please
or
to access all these features

Dontjudgeme101 · 17/03/2020 22:01

Children with flu jab too are classsed as vulnerable.

Please
or
to access all these features

DrMadelineMaxwell · 17/03/2020 22:11

@covetingthepreciousthings

OP posts:
Please
or
to access all these features

DrMadelineMaxwell · 17/03/2020 22:12

It has repeated in a few places, it's adults who get the flu jab. Not children. Due to their incidences of symptoms/infection seemingly being lower and their risk being very low for complications.

OP posts:
Please
or
to access all these features

Sparrowlegs248 · 17/03/2020 22:18

I'm always offered a flu jab by my gp. I usually get it at work though. I have a hole in my heart (No issues though) and another condition which causes me to randomly pass out. No medication. I'm not sure I ally can be classed as vulnerable?

Please
or
to access all these features

Menopauseandteensdontmix100 · 17/03/2020 22:22

I emailed my hospital Dr as I also have another health condition as well as asthma (although it is well controlled). He emailed back saying I am vulnerable so I’m working from home tomorrow.

Please
or
to access all these features

Dontjudgeme101 · 18/03/2020 06:47

I disagree, it’s children too. I have ring 111 and spoken to my DC school and they agreed, that it includes them too.

Please
or
to access all these features

EmeraldsAtDawn · 18/03/2020 06:50

Seems to say only those who are even more vulnerable will be directly contacted.
But that those who qualify for the flu jab should be social distancing


This is how I read it.

That vulnerable people should take extra care to socially distance themselves and there is an example list to say who that is. Eg people without spleens. It's this group that is contains anyone invited for a flu jab normally.

Especially vulnerable people will be contacted and asked to isolate for 12 weeks and there is a shorter list of who that might contain. Eg some cancer patients.

Please
or
to access all these features

ClientQueen · 18/03/2020 06:54

My doctor never even contacts me for a flu jab so I'm not hopeful I'll be contacted about this! I get one every year as I need/should have one

Please
or
to access all these features

Oysterbabe · 18/03/2020 06:54

I'm waiting to see if DD gets a letter. She has a congenital heart defect.

Please
or
to access all these features

FthisS · 18/03/2020 06:56

Severe asthma is the difficult to control type usually brittle asthma which requires more than inhalers. My son has brittle asthma he takes montelukast and long term azythromycin on top of inhalers. He also has regular doses of steroids. So if your asthma falls under this category where it's severe and you are either hospitalized with it or take steroid tablets often you will need to isolate for 12 weeks. If it's asthma which is managed with the usual 2 inhalers you just need to be extra cautious.
We went into complete isolation yesterday as a family, we are so worried for our son he is currently on steroid tablets his asthma goes from fine to a flare up without any build up.

Please
or
to access all these features

iVampire · 18/03/2020 07:04

‘ It has repeated in a few places, it's adults who get the flu jab. Not children.’

Some DC get the injectable version for medical reasons, either because sniff (live attenuated) is unsafe or because they are outside the ‘all children’ age range and dead injectable is better option

My DC receive the injectable on NHS

Please
or
to access all these features
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Sign up to continue reading

Mumsnet's better when you're logged in. You can customise your experience and access way more features like messaging, watch and hide threads, voting and much more.

Already signed up?