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?

So can anyone clarify if they're looking at how long ago the inhalers were prescribed? It seemed to me that it was put across that unless you needed regular medication,you didn't have to worry about Covid..But now the message seems a little mixed. I couldn't volunteer with SJA due to my asthma,despite it not being classes as severe. I only tend to use my ventolin in hayfever season and whilst I have been prescribed a clenil in the past,my doctor's surger still call me for a flu jab? In fact,when I went 2 years ago,they queried why I was there when they had sent me the text telling me to come in for one!

So on the one hand,it seems only people on certain types of medication/severe asthma will need the vaccine sooner than others....but because I'm on the flu jab list and I have asthma that isn't severe enough to warrant me needing the vaccine early,I can't volunteer as Covid vaccine helper?!

I would imagine its regular prescribed medication-so a regular steroid inhaler that you take daily but as you've found yourself in the flu jab category you may well fall into group 6. It's to do with how things are coded on your medical record. The information is just pulled and generates lists so will never me 100%

@kimlo

and symbicort is a step up from clenil/qvar. There are 3 people in this house on steroid inhalers, they are all different and only one is brown.

Not any more, it's actually first line treatment for adults who need preventers now. It has a steroid and a long acting version of the reliever (a bronchodilator). Many recently diagnosed asthmatics or people who have GPs who read the update stuff, are on it now.

We did have a lot of confusion with asthma, for both the flu jab and covid risk, especially now the inhalers are changing. Glad asthma UK have managed to get clarification.

I emailed the JCVI about this and got a reply last week from a Senior Scientist there.

They have confirmed that the wider, clinically vulnerable moderate asthmatics are not in Group 6 but will hopefully be in the second tranche of vaccinations.

I emailed Asthma U.K. to ask their policy department to get in touch with me/the JCVI about this, as they’re telling people on Twitter that the Dept for Health is saying the CV asthmatics should be in Group 6.

Asthma U.K. haven’t got back to me yet.

This thread has reminded me to email the JCVI back and suggest they let the Dept for Health know they have got it wrong!

@AsthmaChecker

I emailed the JCVI about this and got a reply last week from a Senior Scientist there.

They have confirmed that the wider, clinically vulnerable moderate asthmatics are not in Group 6 but will hopefully be in the second tranche of vaccinations.

I emailed Asthma U.K. to ask their policy department to get in touch with me/the JCVI about this, as they’re telling people on Twitter that the Dept for Health is saying the CV asthmatics should be in Group 6.

Asthma U.K. haven’t got back to me yet.

This thread has reminded me to email the JCVI back and suggest they let the Dept for Health know they have got it wrong!

That's really confusing then if asthma uk are sharing inaccurate information.

I agree. I even offered to contact their contact at the DfH (I am the type of person who likes to get things sorted!) but it has been four days and no reply.

Its definitely been a confusing picture for asthmatics, its obviously such a wide ranging diagnosis from people who need a dose of ventolin once a year to people with brittle asthma and the evidence has obviously developed that people with asthma are less likely to die than had been assumed very early on which is good news, but would certainly help people to have some clarity re vaccine group at this point, it's just more work for GPs otherwise as people will just start ringing their surgeries.

God knows which group I'll be in then! I have a brown Qvar inhaler but rarely use it, only if I get a bad cold etc.
But I do get a yearly flu jab, though that was a battle some years to the point were I was stood in the flu jab clinic, the nurse administering questioning my validity, called a dr over from doing someone else's jab, he took one look at my notes & said 'yes of course I should have it!' Or the year I was asked was I entitled & had to point out yes, as a) I have asthma & b) I'm pregnant!

Gosh it didn't even occur to me to look into this until I saw this thread tonight - DH is on fostair 100 and his asthma is relatively well controlled. He gets a free flu jab as do I after a very bad bout of pneumonia a few years ago (weeks in hospital on oxygen). I wonder if either of us are in priority vaccination groups - neither of us have ever been told to shield.

I'm asthmatic and in group 4 and had my vaccine last week. GP said it was because I was on 3 steroid inhalers per day (I asked why I'd got a shielding letter).

I am on Fostair and having to use ventolin as the Mart system isn't working for me so I have been referred as I have tried other I halers to no avail .My asthma wasn't well controlled last year and I had to have 4 lots of prednisone. I had the shielding letter for this lockdown .

I'm watching this keenly as I'm a teacher, and it's only the hope of being in group 6 that makes me feel confident to return to the classroom after Easter...
On Montelukast and Fostair 100.

@AsthmaChecker

I emailed the JCVI about this and got a reply last week from a Senior Scientist there.

They have confirmed that the wider, clinically vulnerable moderate asthmatics are not in Group 6 but will hopefully be in the second tranche of vaccinations.

I emailed Asthma U.K. to ask their policy department to get in touch with me/the JCVI about this, as they’re telling people on Twitter that the Dept for Health is saying the CV asthmatics should be in Group 6.

Asthma U.K. haven’t got back to me yet.

This thread has reminded me to email the JCVI back and suggest they let the Dept for Health know they have got it wrong!

I am reposting this as otherwise it may get lost in the thread.

@asthmachecker So does that mean we aren't actually clinically vulnerable?

I think you’re only in group 6 if you have “severe” asthma according to the vaccine calculators.
I’m assuming severe means you have needed to be hospitalised at some point due to your asthma or it isn’t controlled.
I’ve had asthma since I was 2 years old and take symbicort morning and night. I don’t think I will be in group 6 though as I wouldn’t class it as severe

Sorry exactly what @AsthmaChecker said. Those with moderate asthma would not be included in group 6.
That was my understanding

Also - doesn’t everyone with asthma get called for a flu jab? I didn’t think it mattered the severity

This is really confusing! I read the priority document and severe asthma is in both group 4 and group 6. Same wording. 🤷‍♀️

@SingSweetNightingale

Also - doesn’t everyone with asthma get called for a flu jab? I didn’t think it mattered the severity

I think you only qualify for the flu jab if you are on a steroid inhaler rather than just ventolin

Asthmachecker and Horace23 can you clarify what you mean by "moderate" asthma?

Theres some reference to systemic steroids from the JCVI but I cant tell by googling if they mean steroid tablets or combined inhalers.

This has really really upset me. I'd been hanging on for a vaccine, and the thought of having to wait many more months is devastating

I think the JCVI are in the process of issuing guidelines.

I understand their definition of severe asthma is 4 doses of oral steroids in 6 months and/or a hospital admission within 12 months.

But the put this definition in group four and again in group 6. This priority can't be in both so clarity is required as the definition for group 6 must differ from group 4.

My Surgery advised me I'm not in either group despite needing 3 courses of oral steroids, in the last 6 months, montelukast, tiotropium (spiriva), Seritide 250 and daily ventolin. They also advised that guidelines are issued as and when each category is called forward and they only know once this happens.

I'm really hoping for clarity soon, it's making me very anxious as I was told by my doctor 12 months ago to do everything in my power not to get covid.

I was not asked to shield.

It's incredibly anxiety causing isn't it purplebaglady! I am another one who would have met the shielding guidelines 18 months ago, but not now. My asthma is more controlled now with 200/6 fostair, but I've been so wary and careful about everything. Feels as if the light at the end of the tunnel has been taken away

DC on fostair 200 and was on shield list last lockdown as was on oral steroid medicine as well. This lockdown no letter or text, only for the flu jab.

Feeling depressed after seeing the replies on the Asthma UK tweet. I had thought we would be in Group 6 which now seems unlikely.