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?

All the talk of clarity from Asthma UK and this journalist is misleading. It has now been made clear that the vast majority of people with asthma will not be in a priority group for the vaccine. It is unfortunate that the very people who should be advocating for us have done so much damage to people’s mental health.

The classification according to use of oral steroids is also really inaccurate. I normally end up having at least a few courses a year after having colds. During the past year, due to not really going anywhere, I didn’t catch any colds and hence didn’t need oral steroids for the first time in many years. However, this could mean that I’m not entitled to the vaccination because my asthma is now judged to be less serious, although the effect of Covid on me wouldn’t be any different.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/health/coronavirus/when-will-asthmatics-get-covid-vaccine-timeline-explained-and-what-classed-severe-asthma-3124515%3famp

This article was published a couple of hours ago and states that those with inhalers that are entitled to a flu jab will now be in category 6 for the vaccine. Whether this is accurate or they change their mind in the next few hours is anyone's guess though

@nothingpunny it sounds like that article was based on the original version of the BBC one

www.change.org/p/jcvi-please-cover-all-clinically-vulnerable-asthmatics-in-covid-vaccine-groups-1-9/psf/promote_or_share?guest=existing&short_display_name=Victoria&recruiter=46348910&source_location=react-fe

Petition if anyone's interested

Oh ffs someone seriously needs to pull their finger out on this!

Bbc article has been changed but still refers to regular steroid use. Doesn't state whether tablets or inhaled.

Clear as fucking mud.

Group 6 vaccinations will have been and gone by the time they make a bloody decision.

@HowLongTo2022 sorry for the delayed reply. CEX means clinically extremely vulnerable which is those who were officially told to shield.

The gov website says only severe asthma is high priority and not moderate asthma.

It’s ridiculous

A new twitter thread from Asthma UK on this:
mobile.twitter.com/asthmauk/status/1359840126038405127

No answers yet as to which of us get to be in group 6 and which of us don't.

Only a very occasional course of steroids here, so going to work on the assumption I won't be in group six and be glad that means I don't have any increased risk.

Thank you @Eccle80. I did wonder if that was the case.

It is such a ridiculous situation that we are all in now. Someone needs to make a decision about it as the waiting is awful.

Wow, the lack of clarity for this long is shocking.

I saw the article this morning which says that those taking a preventer steroid inhaler are in group 6. They’ve now changed that!

A family member takes a purple seretide inhaler a number of times a day here. Have no idea where they stand now.

Asthma sufferers' 'confusion' over Covid vaccine

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56012530

[quote Bluebelle41]Asthma sufferers' 'confusion' over Covid vaccine

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56012530[/quote]
Thanks for sharing that, I hadn't seen that the BBC had updated the article again.

The journalist has been saying on Twitter that she had been given 'slightly contradictory' messages from govt and had been given 'background understanding' that inhaled steroids did count but that this didn't tally with Asthma UK's understanding which is why the article was updated earlier today.

I’m glad to see the BBC journalist has picked up the comments on Twitter and written a new article on the confusion.

Unfortunately I feel this is all happening too late, I already know people elsewhere about to be vaccinated in group 6, and my area is close to starting it

If our risks of death, hospitalisation and long covid are no greater than our age related risk then that would be great, but I don’t feel I have seen data demonstrating that yet.

@CaffiSaliMali I thought the original article was fairly poor reporting considering she had seen the confusion on the Asthma UK thread. It was obvious that there had already been some confusion and Asthma UK had recently put out an update contradicting what she wrote.

I’m not at all convinced that asthmatics are low risk, especially with all the new strains.

Read four or more couses of oral steroids were required to qualify for group 6. As someone who has taken three courses during the year I will be bloody fuming if I'm no longer eligible.

If our risks of death, hospitalisation and long covid are no greater than our age related risk then that would be great, but I don’t feel I have seen data demonstrating that yet
I do find it almost impossible to believe that, as an asthmatic, I’m considered more at risk from, the respiratory illness, influenza than my age group peers, and therefore require - indeed am strongly advised to have - a yearly vaccine, and yet, at the same time, I’m regarded as no more at risk from the much more deadly respiratory illness COVID-19 than the same age group peers. It beggars belief tbh.

@Incrediblytired

I’m not at all convinced that asthmatics are low risk, especially with all the new strains.

Agreed. I know two people with asthma who caught Covid.

One managed at home and now has long Covid. The other ended up in hospital on oxygen but fortunately survived.

My understanding is that one of the risk factors for long Covid is being asthmatic, that people with asthma are more likely to be hospitalised with Covid and, if intubated, are intubated for longer.

Doesn't fill me with confidence.

Just returning to thread; OH FFS!

The BBC article has changed so many times

My Gp friend texted us this evening to say even mild asthma qualified from next week. I will believe it when I see it!

@WarriorN oh really, did they get told that today? So much uncertainty!

He told us at Xmas but I'd thought it was wrong. I'll still believe it when I see it!

I'm assuming he means "mild on basic steroid inhaler" rather than "mild uses a ventolin in Hay fever season?"