Asthma and Covid Vaccine

[Peakedin1997]

Does anyone know which priority group someone with asthma would be in for the Covid vaccine? I'm not shielding, but I take inhaled steroids (seretide) and am on the flu jab list. I'm in my 40's so not in any kind of age related priority group.

My partner works in frontline health care and has already had his vaccine, but I've read that the vaccine doesn't prevent transmission so I'm still worried that he could bring the virus home.

I’m same as you - I don’t think we’re any type of priority, we’ll just be done in our age groups

No higher priority, just age groups

Ah thanks, I suspected as much, asthma seems to have been quietly dropped from the list of health conditions that class someone as vulnerable (which is a good thing obviously!).

At least if/when I catch the virus, my DP will be able to nurse me

.

You will be in group 6 as asthma is one of the underlying health conditions included.

Locally we are vaccinating our 70-74yr olds and CEV patients. After these have been vaccinated we will start 65-69. Then it's your group. Not able to stay how long that will take though as so many variables factors at play.

There is a priority, we are in group 6, see government JCVI advice

6 all individuals aged 16 years[footnote 2] to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality[footnote 3]

This explains it well from asthma UK
www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/what-should-people-with-asthma-do-now/#Vaccine

I wish they would provide some clarity on this as I am keen to know too. I initially thought group 6 but I think it has been changed to 'severe asthma' which I don't think would cover those of us who don't need oral steroids regularly.

I thought the same as pp, that only severe asthma is in group 6 not just those on daily steroid inhaler and on flu jab list

Hmmm, so some sources are saying group 6, others that we will be done with the rest of the under 50 age group.

@Yorkshirepuddingforever

I wish they would provide some clarity on this as I am keen to know too. I initially thought group 6 but I think it has been changed to 'severe asthma' which I don't think would cover those of us who don't need oral steroids regularly.

Severe asthma is also mentioned in group 4 so I assume those who take oral steroids continously will be in this group. Others who are on a preventative will be in group 6.

As far as I'm aware you will be in group 6. I am in a similar position and I'm sure it is group 6 as an underlying health condition as opposed to group 4 who are CEV.

@Peakedin1997

Hmmm, so some sources are saying group 6, others that we will be done with the rest of the under 50 age group.

I haven't seen any sources claiming asthmatics under 50 will be vaccinated according to age. Do you have any links at all? Genuinely curious.

I am mildly asthmatic (with steroid inhalers) and in 40s.

When I put my details into a likelihood of death from Covid calculation I had 1 in 100,000 with asthma and 1 in 88,000 without.

I assumed we were in the "everyone else under 50s" group but I always get the flu jab for free every year. 🤷🏼‍♀️

@PutneyHill some of the first responses to my post seemed to be saying that asthmatics would be done by age along with the rest of the population. And also this gov.uk list here of the priority groups only mention 'severe asthma' (which I thought was defined as needing oral steroids and/or regular hospitalisation):

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-care-home-and-healthcare-settings-posters/covid-19-vaccination-first-phase-priority-groups

Seretide is an oral steroid though, and those on high doses were included in the shielding group so I'm pretty sure that those of us taking it at lower doses should be in group 6. I take it and am late 40s so I really hope so.

My dh is severely asthmatic, on a trial drug which causes immunosupression and in the shielding group so I am banking on him having some kind of priority.

@woodandsky I took oral steroid to mean tablets, not inhaled. I could be wrong though.

@Babyroobs I think those who were shielding are in an even higher priority group and rightly so

@Woodandsky

Seretide is an oral steroid though, and those on high doses were included in the shielding group so I'm pretty sure that those of us taking it at lower doses should be in group 6. I take it and am late 40s so I really hope so.

OK sorry oral steroid means tablets rather than inhaled but the rest is still correct, everyone on the max dose of Seretide should be shielding so surely if you are on a lower dose that's enough to qualify for the vaccine as a priority

[quote Peakedin1997]@PutneyHill some of the first responses to my post seemed to be saying that asthmatics would be done by age along with the rest of the population. And also this gov.uk list here of the priority groups only mention 'severe asthma' (which I thought was defined as needing oral steroids and/or regular hospitalisation):

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-care-home-and-healthcare-settings-posters/covid-19-vaccination-first-phase-priority-groups[/quote]
I think the confusion comes from 'severe asthma' being mentioned in both group 4 and 6 however Asthma UK has clarified and tweeted that a continous oral tablet prescription along with frequent hospitiastions are group 4, while the use of oral inhalers, annual invitation for flu jab will be group 4.

I had thought severe asthma was group 4 and that other asthma sufferers still requiring a flu jab group were 6. I hope so as I’m asthmatic and a teacher so would feel a lot more confident being back at school if vaccinated!

Reading the guidance here assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/955548/Greenbook_chapter_14a_v6.pdf

I read it as

Group 4: Sufferers of severe asthma who are on the shielding list

Group 6: asthmatics prescribed inhaled steroids.

How do you classify severe asthma though? I am on steroids, ventolin, antihistamine spray and tablet sin Feb/March every year as certain tree pollen triggers my asthma so badly I can't walk upstairs wihtout coughing, wheezing and getting breathless, even with all the meds. But the rest of the year I occasionally need a puff of ventolin and that's all. If I catch Covid next month, I'll be so scared.

@Labobo

How do you classify severe asthma though? I am on steroids, ventolin, antihistamine spray and tablet sin Feb/March every year as certain tree pollen triggers my asthma so badly I can't walk upstairs wihtout coughing, wheezing and getting breathless, even with all the meds. But the rest of the year I occasionally need a puff of ventolin and that's all. If I catch Covid next month, I'll be so scared.

My dh is on oral steroid tablets constantly. The trial drug he is currently receiving each month (injection) is aiming to reduce his reliance on steroids. I think he is down to about 15mg a day now. He can't exert himself really without being breathless and currently is coughing constantly as he has just reduced the steroids. It has bene a year of huge anxiety trying to keep him safe and minimise the risk whilst letting our 3 teenagers go to college etc when able.

People with severe asthma would have received a shielding letter last year and they are in group 4. Ds, who received the shielding letter, is having his first vaccine tomorrow.

Thanks @PutneyHill I must have got group 4 and group 6 confused.