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?

@Horace23 i have been told I have “moderate” asthma as it is usually well controlled using my steroid symbicort morning and night. There are times it flares up and I need more doses of my steroid inhaler however on the whole I would fall under the moderate category.
Those who struggle more day to day with their asthma may fall into a higher priority vaccine group

The NHS clearly classes those who "have a lung condition that's not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)" in the Clinically Vulnerable group.

NHS Page

This page was last reviewed on 21st January, so up to date. Worth keeping an eye out to see if it changes on its next review date (4th Feb).

DH and I and DD (16) are all asthmatics on steroid inhalers (standard brown for DD, Symbicort for DH and Spiromax for me) so hopefully we'll be in Group 6 (not sure about DD as under 18).

Just received clarity! At last.

Yes, asthmatics are being called for list 6. Our area is in two weeks time.

My GP just called to review my asthma and confirmed this. They wouldn't confirm recently so I'm guessing they have now had notification from the JCVI.

It sounds like it might depend regionally? That sucks if it's basically a postcode lottery. Pleased for anyone who's being called though!

I wouldn't imagine that eligibility would vary regionally? The same criteria will surely apply across the board. I think that some areas are much quicker than others though, I'm pretty sure that down here in the SE that we'll be waiting quite a bit longer than 2 weeks for the group 6 to be called - I know people in their 80s who still haven't been done yet - so quite a few groups to get through first.

@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!

Moderate asthmatics are defined as those who are clinically vulnerable not clinically extremely vulnerable.

The JCVI told me last week that CV asthmatics will not be in Group 6.

So we've been told all along that we're at significantly higher risk but don't get a vaccine?

This whole situation is ridiculous and we need clarity, it's unfair to not let us know what is happening.

Back on 22 December asthma UK said they understood that asthmatics who weren't asked to shield (aka those not ECV) would be in group 6 and that JCVI's wording of 'severe asthma' for group 6 actually meant those prescribed a preventer inhaler. (Severe asthma also listed for group 4 aka ECV and actually meaning people who have actual severe asthma).

Now it seems that confusion just reigns. I find it galling that as someone who was told by a number of different Drs and HCP to be 'extra careful' due to my asthma that I am suddenly no longer considered clinically vulnerable without an explanation of why. If it's now clear I'm not at increased risk at least tell me so I can relax a little whilst still taking sensible precautions against Covid

Asthmatics are still listed as clinically vulnerable on NHS website.

Exactly CaffiSaliMali! Surely there can be some clarity on either why we're no longer at risk or that we will in fact get the vaccine?

In the strange position of suddenly hoping the Day Mail will pick up this thread and get clarity on our behalf

That's exactly it.
Without being told, we seem to no longer be clinically vulnerable. Having been told to work from home where possible, take extra precautions etc, suddenly we don't need to be vaccinated along with other cv people.
Does anyone know of any other groups were classed as cv but aren't eligible for the vaccine?

I wonder what will happen to me. I have asthma and use a steroid inhaler, but my GP surgery have been notoriously bad at remembering that I have asthma. Whenever I need a new inhaler, it always seems a complete surprise to them that I have ever had one despite me having been using one for over 12 years, and being registered with this specific surgery for about 6 years. I have spoken to them about it, repeatedly, but I don't trust them!

Very interesting, will keep up with this thread. I use seretide (purple one) daily and ventolin. I get the flu vaccine privately (for convenience) so have never asked the GP about it, they’ve never offered it so probably don’t have me on a list. Will follow for updates but might have to ask at the GP

mobile.twitter.com/GregBroadhurst/status/1352938103791562753 This twitter thread is interesting. think I will also contact my MP.

I am also minded to write to my MP as well after reading that thread. Someone I know with asthma (otherwise fit and healthy) got very ill with Covid last year, spent a week in hospital in oxygen. Their asthma is mild too, they just take a preventer only inhaler, no add ons like Montelukast.

I wish asthma UK would be more open over the nature of the confusion instead of saying they think we're group 6 but are seeking urgent clarification.

Randomly I've just had a scam email offering me to book my NHS vaccine online, said my medical records show I'm in a priority group and need to book. It was well done and quite convincing looking so I suspect it will catch a lot of people out.

My GP has asked for a medicine review so will be asking them for clarity as well

Asthma UK are really good at answering questions. They have nurses who can speak to you via WhatsApp (might do phone calls as well, I never tried that option). Or alternatively ring the surgery and ask for the email address to send general enquiries to? I would think the practice manager would be able to pass it on to the doctor for a decision.

Seems there’s a lot of confusion! I’ve never been under the impression I will be getting the vaccine in group 6. This has never been mentioned at my surgery and the vaccine calculators say only those with “severe” asthma will be higher priority.
I have a steroid inhaler and have had “moderate” asthma for 26 years which has flared and got worse on a number of occasions but I’ve never been hospitalised. I am called each year for the flu jab and have had the pneumonia jab when I was called for that.
Surprises me that some have been told they are group 6!

My niece has brittle asthma and has been told she will get the jab feb/March.
I only have mild asthma used to take brown inhaler but apart from a chest infection last year that knocked me sideways I have barely needed my ventolin inhaler and was told that because I don't need becotide I don't need the flu jab.i got one being over 50.So confused tbh so I will follow with interest.

@whatisforteamum - sounds like your niece has severe asthma and the timescale sounds right for higher priority.
I really don’t think all asthmatics can be put in group 6 surely? It’s very common and there is a wide ranging severity level!

Just googled - there are 5.4 million asthmatics in the UK! We can’t all be group 6?!

Placemarking, v confusing.

This isn't hugely helpful but a friend who is a Gp was pretty adamant at Xmas that me being on Fostair 200 I'd get it fairly quickly as I'd be the flu jab group.

His opinion was that it would definitely before Easter.

We are friends with his area nhs manager too (they work together) and when I mentioned patchy Sen staff vaccinations, he said there was lots of hidden guidance in place that distinguished if a setting qualified as a healthcare setting or not. (My own sen school colleagues aren't getting the jab, but some settings did last week.)

So it's highly possible that some groups are not publicly listed.

With a highly volatile situation, with new variants etc, it's possible that they can't commit to some groups as yet if they need to send some to target areas.

Eg group 6 might get it and include asthma in the really out of control areas sooner.

(This is a guess. I have no idea if they're likely to do that.)

So does everyone who is going to contact their GP think they can get them to overrule the fact that mild and moderate asthmatics aren’t in Group 6?

I think people are going to contact their GP's just to clarify not to get them to overrule

Do you not see that its confusing to be told that you're vulnerable and at increased risk for nearly a year but that you won't get the vaccine Asthmachecker?

Do you agree with the decision? Are you aware of any research that supports asthmatics not being at increased risk?

I think part of the confusion is that you can be very close to CEV (in my case highest dose of symbicort, montelukast and 3 courses of steroids in 6 months) so 1 steroid course away from being told to shield but then suddenly be told that you have no vulnerability. In my case I've already been vaccinated as am a hcp so it makes no personal difference but I can understand its v unclear.