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Does having coeliac disease put you into group 6?

137 replies

MyBossIsATwat · 03/02/2021 14:22

About 1/3 of people who have coeliac disease have reduced spleen function but most coeliacs don’t know if they do or don’t as it’s not routinely tested.

On the gov website it says ‘a problem with your spleen, example sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed’ would put you into group 6, but does anyone have access to more information to know if they’re including coeliacs in this or not?

Thanks.

OP posts:
doireallyneedaname · 03/02/2021 14:27

If you have a problem with your spleen, then I’d say so. But just coeliac, I doubt it. Ask your GP.

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 03/02/2021 14:38

I think it may do.

My friend has been told by GP she is CV. Has no other health conditions. I think you need to speak to your GP

JamesAnderson · 03/02/2021 14:42

Group 6 is the under 65 flu jab people mainly

ExpulsoCorona · 03/02/2021 14:50

Yes, coeliac is in group 6, as shown here in the green book

Does having coeliac disease put you into group 6?
ittakes2 · 03/02/2021 14:54

I have ceoliac's disease. This is what the ceoliac societies website says - I think best to contact your GP.
People with coeliac disease may have reduced spleen function and this is the reason why certain vaccinations (including the flu vaccination) may be offered to people with coeliac disease. As the clinically vulnerable group has been based on who is offered the flu vaccine, people with coeliac disease may fall into this category.

Having reduced spleen function is not the same as having your spleen removed (also called splenectomy). People who have had their spleen removed are considered clinically extremely vulnerable in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland but are not explicitly mentioned in the guidance from Wales. In England, the guidance on who is considered clinically extremely vulnerable says “people with problems with your spleen, e.g. splenectomy (having your spleen removed)” and so is less clear than in the other nations where splenectomy is the only spleen condition mentioned.

We have been in contact with Public Health England who earlier this year agreed with the position of our Health Advisory Council, that people with coeliac disease should assess their level of risk on an individual basis with the support of their local healthcare team. People with coeliac disease could consider themselves to be clinically vulnerable due to the risk of reduced spleen function and follow the associated advice.

The risk of hyposplenism to children with coeliac disease is very low and the risk for adults is likely to be low, particularly for individuals who have had the recommended pneumococcal vaccination, have been diagnosed and following a strict gluten free diet for several years and are otherwise healthy.

www.coeliac.org.uk/information-and-support/coronavirus-information-hub/coeliac-disease-and-coronavirus-covid-19/

Springersrock · 03/02/2021 14:54

My daughter is coeliac and we haven’t been told she’s CV or anything like that.

Haven’t had anything at all from our GP the whole time

ExpulsoCorona · 03/02/2021 14:59

@Springersrock the GP didn't contact you because they don't need to. Only the ECV (extremely clinically vulnerable) group got contacted and asked to shield and are group 4 for the vaccine, not the CV (clinically vulnerable) group who didn't have to shield, the conditions are shown in the attachment above. This group were just told to 'practice careful social distancing'.

cadburyegg · 03/02/2021 15:09

@ExpulsoCorona

Yes, coeliac is in group 6, as shown here in the green book
Wow, I didn't know this (I have coeliac) Grin Thanks for sharing!
Covidcorvid · 03/02/2021 15:11

@ExpulsoCorona can you link to where you got that image from please? I can't zoom in and read it. I really hope dd gets some form of priority. She's really quite ill with various conditions, but none of which seem to place her in a risk group. But she does have coeliac disease.

Covidcorvid · 03/02/2021 15:14

Oh I've found the green book but can't see it mentions coeliac disease.

Chronic respiratory
disease
Individuals with a severe lung condition, including those with asthma that
requires continuous or repeated use of systemic steroids or with previous
exacerbations requiring hospital admission, and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and emphysema;
bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and
bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
Chronic heart
disease and vascular
disease
Congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronic
heart failure, individuals requiring regular medication and/or follow-up for
ischaemic heart disease. This includes individuals with atrial fibrillation,
peripheral vascular disease or a history of venous thromboembolism.
Chronic kidney
disease
Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5, chronic kidney failure, nephrotic
syndrome, kidney transplantation.
Chronic liver disease Cirrhosis, biliary atresia, chronic hepatitis.
Chronic neurological
disease
Stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Conditions in which respiratory
function may be compromised due to neurological disease (e.g. polio
syndrome sufferers). This includes individuals with cerebral palsy, severe or
profound learning disabilities, Down’s Syndrome, multiple sclerosis,
epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease and related
or similar conditions; or hereditary and degenerative disease of the
nervous system or muscles; or severe neurological disability.
Diabetes mellitus Any diabetes, including diet-controlled diabetes
Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including patients
undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression, patients
undergoing radical radiotherapy, solid organ transplant recipients, bone
marrow or stem cell transplant recipients, HIV infection at all stages,
multiple myeloma or genetic disorders affecting the immune system (e.g.
IRAK-4, NEMO, complement disorder, SCID).
Individuals who are receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating
biological therapy including, but not limited to, anti-TNF, alemtuzumab,
ofatumumab, rituximab, patients receiving protein kinase inhibitors or
PARP inhibitors, and individuals treated with steroid sparing agents such as
cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil.
Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for
more than a month at a dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or more
per day for adults.
Anyone with a history of haematological malignancy, including leukaemia,
lymphoma, and myeloma and those with systemic lupus erythematosus
and rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis who may require long term
immunosuppressive treatments.
Most of the more severely immunosuppressed individuals in this group
should already be flagged as CEV. Individuals who are not yet on the CEV
list but who are about to receive highly immunosuppressive interventions
or those whose level of immunosuppression is about to increase may be
therefore be offered vaccine alongside the CEV group, if therapy can be
safely delayed or there is sufficient time (ideally two weeks) before therapy
commences.
Some immunosuppressed patients may have a suboptimal immunological
response to the vaccine (see Immunosuppression and HIV).
Asplenia or
dysfunction of the
spleen
This also includes conditions that may lead to splenic dysfunction, such as
homozygous sickle cell disease, thalassemia major and coeliac syndrome.
Morbid obesity Adults with a Body Mass Index ≥40 kg/m².
Severe mental illness Individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or any mental illness that
causes severe functional impairment.
Adult carers Those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main
carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the
carer falls ill.
Younger adults in
long-stay nursing
and residential care
settings
Many younger adults in residential care settings will be eligible for
vaccination because they fall into one of the clinical risk groups above (for
example learning disabilities). Given the likely high risk of exposure in
these settings, where a high proportion of the population would be
considered eligible, vaccination of the whole resident population is
recommended.
Younger residents in care homes for the elderly will be at high risk of
exposure, and although they may be at lower risk of mortality than older
residents should not be excluded from vaccination programmes (see
priority 1 above).
For consideration of children under 16 see below

cadburyegg · 03/02/2021 15:16

Link to green book assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/955548/Greenbook_chapter_14a_v6.pdf

Its mentioned on page 10

Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen / This also includes conditions that may lead to splenic dysfunction, such as homozygous sickle cell disease, thalassemia major and coeliac syndrome.

ExpulsoCorona · 03/02/2021 15:17

@covidcorvid it's in your list below sickle cell and above morbid obesity

Wejustdontknow · 03/02/2021 15:42

This is interesting to know as a coeliac, thank you

ittakes2 · 03/02/2021 15:56

Thanks - the link to the green book is really helpful.

Covidcorvid · 03/02/2021 16:23

Oh found it;

Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
This also includes conditions that may lead to splenic dysfunction, such as
homozygous sickle cell disease, thalassemia major and coeliac syndrome.

So not sure if that just means if coeliac has caused spleen issues?????

BraxtonChic · 03/02/2021 17:00

This also includes conditions that may lead to splenic dysfunction, such as.... coeliac syndrome

To me that reads everyone with coeliac disease.

Pleased about this because several members of my family have it.

NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 03/02/2021 17:24

My 30 year old ds was diagnosed Coeliac as a toddler, he has got an appoinment for Covid vaccination next week, he has no other health issues.

NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 03/02/2021 17:27

I thought he was in group 6 with me and his teen sister as we both have a CHD but we have not been called yet, we are all same GP practice.

MyBossIsATwat · 03/02/2021 17:34

Thank you so so much!

And I’m pleased this has made other people aware too Smile

Now I just need to somehow find out what group my area is up to!

OP posts:
FinallyGotAnIPhone · 03/02/2021 22:34

I was looking at this the other day. I have coeliac disease but equally don’t class myself as CV. I do get called up for the flu jab though, I presume due to the coeliac disease. So maybe am in group 6/ would get called for the jab. Will wait and see.

trulydelicious · 03/02/2021 23:09

Useful information, thanks all

Mumski45 · 03/02/2021 23:22

I was researching this last night as I am also coeliac. I'm not sure I found a conclusive answer and decided against trying to speak to GP about it as they have enough to do. I do get invited for the flu jab so it that is the list which is used for go I will hopefully be on it. DH is type 2 diabetic so we are both hoping we might get called before the end of Feb. If not we are happy to wait as life won't change very much for us immediately anyway.

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 04/02/2021 08:37

On a practical front surely they are just going to do everyone on the winter flu list as part of group 6?

I’m not sure the NHS patients database will be able to separate people out that easily?

Ammygrahams · 04/02/2021 12:09

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