Can someone clarify the asthma situation?

[Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady]

At first people with asthma were in group 6

Then they weren't

Now apparently people who use a brown preventer inhaler are back in group 6.

I used to use a brown inhaler but was using my blue one too much (asthma was not controlled) so they moved me to symbicort which is a combined inhaler.

So am I on the list for group 6 or not, as I don't use a brown inhaler anymore.

Does anyone know or could link to the guidance?

I have just got off the phone from my doctors for a asthma check up and they have stated that if you take a steroid inhaler then you will be included in group 6.

I was doing asthma reviews on Monday and some patients were coded as group 6 and others not. I couldn't work out the reasons based on medication alone, it seemed almost random as some with brown inhalers had no priority group listed.

Sorry, I am a little bit late to this discussion.

I assumed that as a daily QVar user I would be in group 6. I was invited by my surgery to book a covid vacc just over a week ago, and so I went and had it. I felt like a fraud, but I didn't want to miss out by ignoring the request at this stage.

It did seem odd to me that I had suddenly been put into a higher group, but I suspect the categorisation of patients has been done within the surgery and that this was either a mistake, or political.

That said, I am in an area which seems to be racing though the 1-4 groups and they're already well on with moving through the cohort of over 65s (group 5).

I wonder how long we'll have to wait for Asthma UK to clarify who gets to be in group 6 and who doesn't.

I hope they get it right this time so we know for sure.

@RagzReturnsRebooted

I was doing asthma reviews on Monday and some patients were coded as group 6 and others not. I couldn't work out the reasons based on medication alone, it seemed almost random as some with brown inhalers had no priority group listed.

Did you query this with the practice manager?

Could it just be that those coded had called and reminded the manager to make sure their coding was correct and the others had not?

I was told by my GP that my DC could not be coded for asthma in Group 6 (despite daily inhaled steroid at higher level than a brown inhaller) because he was under 18 - even though the priority group listing 6 clearly starts from 16 years old.

I think GP practices outside the catchment area of a mass hub are really feeling the strain.

it would be much better if that 45 minute journey restriction on access to a mass hub were removed so that patients further away can have improved access and their GP practices can stop being so restrictive on coding patients correctly.

I suppose I should be happy that I am apparently not at higher risk from COVID but I would have appreciated knowing that before now to be honest, have spent nearly a year being really scared about it. As with others on here I've not had any steroid tablets in the last 12 months due to not picking up any of the usual colds because I haven't been anywhere. Also it's hard to find much clear evidence out there about the risk to asthmatics.

Being just under 50 and with all the talk of the next set of priorities being based on your occupation I feel like I may have a very long wait...

“JCVI formulated its advice based on a review of UK epidemiological data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic so far, data on demographic and clinical risk factors for mortality and hospitalisation from COVID-19. For example, for asthma In a large review of primary care records pseudonymously linked with SARSCoV-2 status, comorbidities including diabetes, cancer and severe asthma (recent OCS use) were associated with increased risk of death (Williamson et al, 2020). Asthma with no recent OCS use was not associated with an increased risk.

These findings were also supported by the clinical risk prediction model (QCOVID) using the QResearch database comprising 1205 general practices in England with linkage to covid-19 test results, Hospital Episode Statistics, and death registry data. This showed that in the adjusted analysis the use of oral steroids was associated with an increased risk of death, but asthma was not, hence the inclusion of severe asthma (≥3 prescribed courses of steroids in preceding 12 months) in the CEV list. In this analysis asthma was associated with an increased risk of hospital admission.“

Thanks @AsthmaChecker. Sounds like good news for those of us with well controlled asthma (pre-covid). Nice to have some good news.

Thought I’d leave this here in case of interest. Looks promising, obviously they need to do larger trials.

www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.04.21251134v1

I’m not asthmatic but the drug mentioned I believe is in some inhalers.

I hope we are in group 6. I take the higher dose Fostair, Montelukast at night and Ventolin as required.

*Here's some good news on treatments: Inhaled steroid Budesonide reduced risk of patients needing hospital care by 90% when given in the first 7 days of symptoms.

www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.04.21251134v1.article-info*

Just seen this on the good news thread!
Anyone on symbicort inhaler, this is great news!

That's interesting. I'm on high dose symbicort, was nearly admitted in march last year as was really unwell, oxygen low and v breathless so looks like it might have saved my bacon..although have long covid now so didnt protect from that. Generally looks like risks for asthmatics are much lower than predicted at beginning of pandemic which is good news.

Does anyone know if they tested other steroid inhalers or was it just this particular type?
I agree, it's good news. I too wish we had been informed of findings sooner than the weeks before our covid vaccine would have been due.

I've spent a very anxious year shielding as I was told in the first wave. Second wave I was told not to go into public spaces, shops or undercover areas.

I feel more hopeful with this news but am still hoping to get the vaccine in group 6. My doctor said asthma was through but reading on here I'm not sure that's 100% correct.

I have a feeling this thread will continue to try to work out if we qualify sooner or not till we actually do get the vaccine.

Good point made by pp, all teachers with asthma wfh in the first wave, as did some other professions, and I was definitely especially cautious going back in Sept.

There probably needs to be reanalysis of data from the last 3 months especially with the new variants.

I've never felt as risk of death but do fear a worsening of my lung function and post viral syndrome/ long Covid, which I think can be an added risk in middle aged and older women especially.

Without hassling our GP surgeries will there be any way to know if we are flagged as group 6 or not? Just wondering since someone said some asthmatics in their surgery are showing as group 6 for no obvious reason?

For example, once group 6 is definitely eligible for a jab, if we go onto the NHS booking site for the mass vaccination clinics will they know if our surgery has flagged us as a 6? Or do we just have to wait to see if we are called for a local jab, if you see what I mean.

It seems very area dependant.

Some Sen school staff have been vaccinated because there's some guidance somewhere that outlines places that are also health care setting like due to tube feeding etc.

In some parts of the country the MLD staff (so not severe needs) seem to have been included. (That may be because of v high rates however and the fact that sen schools are open to all.)

This is ridiculous. Devastating

Yup. Absolutely ridiculous.

I contacted my MP who said only CEX asthmatics will get it in group 6.

I had a call from my practice nurse to do my asthma review last week but when I said I'd had covid in the last four weeks she said let's not do it now, she'll call in two weeks. When she does I will ask what the practice are doing as it seems to be so variable.

@NoKingDingaLingTitsInAbsentia

I had a call from my practice nurse to do my asthma review last week but when I said I'd had covid in the last four weeks she said let's not do it now, she'll call in two weeks. When she does I will ask what the practice are doing as it seems to be so variable.

See I had a call from someone at my GP recently asking me how well controlled my asthma is and so now I wonder if that was linked to this

I did wonder if it was just routine (can't recall when the last one was to work that out) or if they were 'checking'.

I notice now on the online booking system (I check regularly for my DH who is in a different category to me - we get post once a week so can't rely on a letter arriving), and notice they have added this step in - may help some carers who are left wondering....

Are you an eligible frontline health or social care worker in England?
This means you have direct contact with patients, clients or service users at higher risk from coronavirus (COVID-19).

Health workers, for example:

you work in a clinical role (such as a doctor or nurse)
you have contact in a non-clinical role (such as a receptionist or porter)
you work in a hospital laboratory, mortuary or a funeral home
Social care workers, for example:

you are a registered professional in social care (such as a social worker or nurse)
you work in residential care, nursing care or in supported living
you provide personal care for people in their homes
You'll be offered the vaccination at a later date if you provide home help, such as shopping or cleaning, or you’re an unpaid carer.

You need to bring official proof with you to have your vaccination. For example, a work ID card, wage slip or letter from your employer dated within the last 3 months.

If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, speak to your employer.

@Incrediblytired - sorry I can’t work it out (which presumably means I would be in group 6!) what does CEX stand for?

Sorry that should say won’t be in group 6!