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.

@Babyroobs - that must be so stressful and scary. I am already dreading next month and making plans to barely leave the house, even for walks. To have that all year long must be so tough.

I think there isnt clairty on this. When I last looked asthma uk said they were seeking clairty.

It doesn't seem the whole flu jab group in group 6.

I know initially the inhaler I'm on (fostair) and at my dose were thought to be shielding - but then that changed. So we shielded anyway.

[quote Labobo]@Babyroobs - that must be so stressful and scary. I am already dreading next month and making plans to barely leave the house, even for walks. To have that all year long must be so tough.[/quote]
I have just managed to book dh the vaccine for tuesday. A few appointments were released after midnight.

I asked about this the other day at my doctors and was told no, asthmatics on inhaled steroids (I'm on seretide) aren't group 6 even if eligible for a flu jab.

They said I might get priority once my age group was reached (I'm 40s).

Most asthmatics are in priority group 6 @Peakedin1997

Asthma UK have explained that when JCVI say 'severe asthma' in priority group 6 they mean anyone prescribed a steroid preventer inhaler I.e. the vast majority of asthmatics.

Asthma UK have also pointed out that this use of the term 'severe asthma' is unhelpful as severe asthma has a particular meaning medically which doesn't align with who JCVI are describing as severe asthmatics.

This is what Asthma UK said in December: mobile.twitter.com/asthmauk/status/1341347829374197761

"Most other people with asthma aged 16 to 64 will be offered the vaccine in the sixth group. We understand that you would be invited in this group if you have been prescribed a steroid inhaler – this is the same way people are identified for a free flu vaccine each year.

We asked for this confirmation as some government materials made a reference to severe asthma in the sixth group. This is an unhelpful term because it’s actually describing anyone prescribed a steroid inhaler, rather than a severe diagnosis or someone who is CEV."

If the position has since changed, I can't see reference to it on their twitter feed.

I hope I'm priority group 6, at one point people taking 5 puffs of Fostair 100/6 a day were advised to shield- I take 4 puffs a day plus Montelukast. The montelukast is the only reason I'm not on more puffs a day or on 200/6 is

Thanks @CaffiSaliMali and everyone else who has replied. I'm on 4 puffs of seretide a day and my asthma is usually well controlled, but I do get very wheezy and need my reliever inhaler a lot when I get a cold (thankfully I haven't had any this winter).

I checked a screenshot I took of the asthma UK advise on 18 January and it said: "People with asthma who aren't extremely clinically vulnerable will be in priority group 6 for the vaccine. This is anyone who isn't on the ECV list, but is on the flu vaccination list and has been prescribed a preventer inhaler".

The advice today says: "We have been told that people with asthma who aren’t clinically extremely vulnerable and aged 16-64 will be in priority group 6 for the COVID-19 vaccine, but we are urgently seeking clarity on this."

I hate the uncertainty of this and wish they would stop fucking with people's mental health. Since March every remote medical appointment I have had (none for asthma) has involved the GP reminding me that although I'm not clinically extremely vulnerable my asthma means I'm clinically vulnerable and need to take extra care. So if that's the case, surely I fall under priority group 6 i.e. for those with underlying conditions. Fucks sake.

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

Group 6. It says for us

@cuckooflowers sadly this list states severe asthma. This is defined by the JCVI as needing continuous oral steroids (more than 4 courses in 6 months) or having had a hospital admission for asthma in the last 12 months.

No other asthma is included at all.

But, my surgery has advised that as the notification for each priority group comes in, specific guidelines for whom to include in that group are given.

We can only hope for clarification as how can severe asthma be in group 4 and then again in group 6? I think group 4 definition is above and group 6 definition will be altered nearer the time.

Something isn't quite adding up.

I think it's going to be a grey area until we get to list 6.

I would love some clarity as I've been asked to take on a piece of work in the spring which involves being face to face with a large number of people (assuming lockdown is relaxed by then). I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it unless I've had at least one dose of vaccine by then. And I need to let the client know within the next week or so. Unfortunately I'll probably turn it down due to the uncertainty.

Also for general mental health reasons it would be nice to have a (rough) date in mind when I might get the vaccine. I have a partner who works in frontline health care and school age children so my chances of exposure to the virus feel quite high.

Thank you for this thread.

I do hope the vaccination order is adjusted after the clinically vulnerable people have had their injections. My daughter aged 21 with asthma and is always hospitalised if she gets a chest infection (thankfully usually only once a year), also with two small septal heart defects is, at this moment in time, eligible for a vaccine at the same time as other healthy 21 yr olds. Just doesn’t seem sensible.

I think at some point within the list if should include all people who are eligible for the flu vaccine, that would be the simplest way.

@Iamdobby63 is she under an asthma nurse at your GP surgery?

If she is they can assess her. If she's been admitted to hospital for asthma within the last 12 months she will be in category 4.

They can change her status on the system and she'll be notified in the next few weeks to get the vaccine.

[quote purplebagladylovesgin]@Iamdobby63 is she under an asthma nurse at your GP surgery?

If she is they can assess her. If she's been admitted to hospital for asthma within the last 12 months she will be in category 4.

They can change her status on the system and she'll be notified in the next few weeks to get the vaccine. [/quote]
Thank you x

Not in the last 12 months, usually happens in October and end of last year she was home and didn’t leave the house, so didn’t catch anything. I think it’s worth her discussing her situation with the GP especially as we don’t seem to know the potential effect on her heart condition that covid could cause. Will update if she has any joy. Thanks again

Ps. Yes she is under GP for asthma reviews and has cardiology reviews at St Barts.

[quote purplebagladylovesgin]@cuckooflowers sadly this list states severe asthma. This is defined by the JCVI as needing continuous oral steroids (more than 4 courses in 6 months) or having had a hospital admission for asthma in the last 12 months.

No other asthma is included at all.

But, my surgery has advised that as the notification for each priority group comes in, specific guidelines for whom to include in that group are given.

We can only hope for clarification as how can severe asthma be in group 4 and then again in group 6? I think group 4 definition is above and group 6 definition will be altered nearer the time.

Something isn't quite adding up.

I think it's going to be a grey area until we get to list 6.

[/quote]
You are right! Sorry!
Something doesn't seem right that we aren't in a higher category.
Last year I'd had quite a few doses that of prednisolone and I wasn't asked to shield. (I did & have been since. Albeit the walks and very odd trips to the supermarket) I've been lucky enough to work from home too.
I really hope we get all get it soon!

I have asthma which currently isn't well controlled and repeated doses of oral steroids last as well as fostair so have now been referred and I am on the ecv list , group 4 .