Confused about asthma and vaccine group

[FebFrosting]

As the Gp practice clearly states not to contact them with vaccine queries and my usual annual asthma check is not happening, does anyone know if :
Fostair inhaler (twice a day, two puffs but doubles when have chest infection or peak flow lowers)
Ventolin
Occasional use of prednisone ( once in last 8 months)

Have been in hospital for nebulisers and once in HDU with chest infection/ breathing issues abut thankfully not since started the fostair a few years ago. I also take antibiotics preventatively for a primary immune disorder but apparently that is not on category 6. It does help reduce chest infections ( only had 3 last winter) which helps my asthma.

Would the asthma medication put me in category 6? Am mid 40’s and a teacher in school teaching the vulnerable/KW children.

Wondered if anyone else had similar medication and knew?

I don't have any personal experience to help but found this page for a friend with similar questions earlier in the week and thought it had some helpful info on it -
www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/shielding-advice-high-risk/

One of the FAQs is about who is eligible for the vaccine in group 4 and they've said those identified as clinically extremely vulnerable would be.
"People with severe asthma who are in the clinically extremely vulnerable group and aged under 70 are in priority group 4 for the COVID-19 vaccine."

Under the what is shielding section on that weblink it explains how to identify if you are CEV -
"We are asking the Department of Health and Social Care for the criteria they are using to define severe asthma in terms of who is classed as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) and will update our website when we know more.

However, it’s worth noting that if you were classed as clinically extremely vulnerable earlier in the pandemic, you still are now, unless you have been told otherwise by your GP or hospital clinician. You’ll also be sent a new letter in the post outlining the advice for clinically extremely vulnerable people in your area of the country."

It may be worth asking your GP if you are not sure if you are CEV because of your asthma.

Your actual question was about group 6 sorry!
It lists severe asthma under there as well. Not sure if they've issued any further guidance on how those people would be identified. Your GP may well know, as it's a slightly broader question that you're asking than just about the vaccine, it's about your clinically vulnerability, I would say it's appropriate to speak to them. Can you get a phone call with the GP?

Hi OP there was a thread a few days ago with some info from (I think) Asthma UK saying that anyone using inhalers counts as group 6 - haven’t seen it officially though (haven’t looked to be fair!). Hope that helps.

Asthma uk think its group 6 but they also state they are seeking further guidance. Elsewhere it states "sever asthma" and people are being told flu jab group don't count.

Im similar (fostair etc..m) but have checked I'm registered as a carer as the asthma situation isnt clear.

Many thanks. I rang my Gp practice, and was basically told to go away by the receptionist and that they were not to be bothered about questions about vaccines and refused to give me a triage Gp appointment. Cannot book any appointments now - only phone and hope a Receptionist will pit you on a waiting list for whoever is triage Dr that day. If I could speak to my usual Gp I would. However, they are very busy and even if I got a triage appointment it would be with whoever was on phone duty that day.

I have a few other health issues - Factor V Leiden so had to take clexane all the way through pregnancies and 6 weeks post parfumerie. So am on aspirin daily etc. And have no IgA hence on azithromyocin, but that is not on any list and my immunologist said no IgA is not a big risk so that alone is not a category 6. Not that I have seen anyone for 13 months as apparently too high risk to go to clinics! The irony of that!!

@KinderWild many thanks for your posts. I would not think my asthma would put me in the CEV list. I am on the flu jab list and ironically so are all my household to prevent me catching it due to my higher risk with infections!

I think I would feel happier if I knew I was Category 6 or whether I was in the healthy under 50’s! Am not going anywhere except to my place of work, nor would that change if I knew,

Thanks @MiniMaxi I will have another look at Asthma UK. It all looked a bit confusing, so will see if there has been any further guidance.

@TryingNotToPanicOverCovid - like your name. How I feel really now. I was hopeful of a vaccine before schools return in full and I would be yet again at greater risk because of the age group I teach and number of contacts and potentially new, easier to spread/catch strains. But if I am in under 50’s, may not be until the autumn. And if school should back to normal as all health people vaccinated, I feel rather worried without a vaccine for Sept! As I have been in hospital enough to know how horrible it is to struggle to breathe.

Sorry for essay. Anxious and have insomnia!!

And awful typing errors there

Group 6 is thought to be 8.5m people without including anyone over 65. I don't see a good reason why GPs wouldn't include asthmatics, but they will each have their own order for people within group 6.

So can a Gp put someone on the vaccine list in a particular group or take them off?

If you are a ‘brittle’ asthmatic and have been told to sheild I believe you get it as CEV.

There's a thread here with info: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4153161-Can-someone-clarify-the-asthma-situation?pg=5

In summary it seems that:

• DHSC told Asthma UK that asthmatics aged 16-64 who are prescribed a preventer inhaler are in priority group 6, unless shielding in which case in priority group 4.

• Asthma UK said that when JCVI say 'severe asthma' in group 4 they mean actual severe asthma, and when they say 'severe asthma' in group 6 they mean 'anyone with a preventer inhaler'

• since then it seems that JCVI aren't including most asthmatics in group 6 after all so asthma UK are seeking urgent clarification and it seems they have been doing so for some time. A mumsnetter on the thread I linked to was told by JCVI that asthmatics aren't in group 6 unless on systemic steroids.

So basically it isn't at all clear yet but isn't looking good based on what JCVI have said. I assume asthma UK just saying 'we were told you were group 6 but are seeking clarity' means they are lobbying behind the scenes to have us included or to get firm clarity on which asthmatics are in group 6 and which asthmatics aren't.

I'm on Fostair 100/6 4x a day plus montelukast. I've been told my asthma is difficult to control. Like you I also have some complex health issues (I have a very rare genetic disorder and a rare genetic disorder) and worry about the combination of them making me more vulnerable.

Asthma has been good in lockdown as social distancing means I haven't caught the usual colds and flu which lead to chest infections and exacerbations/attacks and I'm not commuting to central London on dirty trains anymore so don't have as much exposure to pollution and my colleague's cigarette smoke covered clothes to act as triggers. So at least that's something, just hope I'm not brought back to the office before I'm vaccinated!

I really feel for you. We are similarly unclear about my DH who I also think should be group 6. You are quite vulnerable. It is right you pursue it.

I think exactly how group 6 pans out depends on vaccine availability and capacity to jab people. Both looking pretty hopeful currently

Thanks, am not CEV as had no letter to shield.

Ah so may not be group 6. Quite worried. Seems some may, some may not depending on if their Gp is proactive and also speaks to them.

I have a consultant appointment ( not asthma) in a month’s time - wonder if they will see anything on my records.

So confusing. I have a parent who is over 75 and not heard anything yet and some areas are zooming ahead ( which is great) and on over 70’s etc. Hope it continues at such a pace.

@FebFrosting - your parent can check online in case their letter is delayed in the post but already sent, just use NHS number from any other NHS letter or DOB etc. If they can't make the sites offered then wait for the local GP call, but for some people the hub sites work just as well. Check here: "Book a coronavirus vaccination - NHS" www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/.

Oh should have said we are in Wales - does that make a difference?

Not asthma related but relevant to how the system works - I contacted my GP via email to tell them my BMI is 39.9 and would this put me in category 6. The GP text me a couple days later to explain the system is automated and she entered my BMI and the computer isn't flagging me as a priority group. As my BMI is only 0.1 away from the vulnerable group I can only conclude the GP doesn't have much say in the matter and common sense can't be applied. It's literally just a case of 'computer says no'.

So for your asthma it may be solely down to whether the computer flags your medication combination as being one of the vulnerable categories. I think the whole 'dont contact us with vaccine queries' thing is to free up the phone lines and it wouldn't be hassle for them if you sent a polite email asking them to check.

I’ve had problems with my asthma this week so I’ve seen a GP in person and been given prednisolone. I asked the GP if I’m in Group 6 and she said she had no idea but thought that everyone who’s offered a flu jab will be in Grp 6. Maybe depends on different surgeries and maybe those decisions are made by practice managers or the managing GP?

@LurkingElle

I’ve had problems with my asthma this week so I’ve seen a GP in person and been given prednisolone. I asked the GP if I’m in Group 6 and she said she had no idea but thought that everyone who’s offered a flu jab will be in Grp 6. Maybe depends on different surgeries and maybe those decisions are made by practice managers or the managing GP?

Yes, some practices are operating in the spirit of the priority list and ensuring that as many eligible people get the vaccine as possible, whereas others are operating more on a rationing system from the opposite point of view and ensuring that no-one who isn't 100% eligible gets the vaccine. I think the GP practices trying to ensure people don't the vaccine should be reported to the CQC. That is not what the priority list is for.

I have a similar history and medication regime to you OP. My only difference is that I also take Montelukast.

My main trigger is viruses, so I haven't had any prednisolone for a year, because lockdown means that I haven't caught anything. I have no doubt that if I caught Covid, it would not be pretty, given the havoc that the common cold can wreak on my lungs.

My understanding was that, because of the lack of prednisolone in the last year (I think it was 2 or more doses that indicated cev), I was not in a higher priority category than my age group. There was a lot of uncertainty about asthmatics and shielding at the beginning of the pandemic, but the most up to date information came through the Asthma UK website.

@Fozzleyplum I think it was at least four doses. Like you I have not had any prescribed since the pandemic began. Prior to that I had three courses (one was 72 pills) all prescribed at the start of 2020. If not for lockdown and my own ability to isolate I’m sure I would have had even more flare ups. I did not qualify for shielding.

...everyone who’s offered a flu jab will be in Grp 6.

This is how I expect it will be - they'll probably use the same mailing list as they use for flu jabs.

Really? Have you seen that anywhere? From further up the thread it did look like asthmatics (who usually get the full jab) weren't included.

See this thread, where we have been discussing it.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4153161-Can-someone-clarify-the-asthma-situation

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

They 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. I note today they are backtracking on Twitter though.

Ah asthmachecker its your post I was thinking of. That very much suggests it isnt all the flh vaccine people doesn't it.

I cant see why this close to group 6 they aren't clarifying who is in group 6.

I know, it's not ideal. Asthma UK posted this yesterday:

Hi, we're aware of some confusion around who with asthma will be offered the vaccine in priority group six. We are actively working with the Deputy Chief Medical Officer’s office to resolve this confusion, and we hope to be able to share clear guidance next week.

Ah thanks. The old message was a bit misleading I didn't realise they'd updated it. Im so pleased they're actively campaigning for us .