Vaccination- is there anything I can do?

[Annie1919]

I'm a teacher, who is just under 50 years old, with underlying health conditions (which, I think, have just been removed from the Govt underlying health conditions list). I'm worried, as I'm not likely to get vaccinated in any of the top 9 groups but will be expected to spend many hours each day in confined spaces with multiple children (and their contacts) with no PPE. Is there anything I can do? Is anyone else in this position? How do we get ourselves heard? AIBU to be worried?

There are literally hundreds of threads about this

Did you get the flu jab?

@notevenat20

Did you get the flu jab?

Yes, I get my flu jab every year - but looking at Govt underlying conditions list yesterday, only those with severe conditions are now in grp 6.

@mollypuss1

There are literally hundreds of threads about this

Mollypus, can you point me in the right direction to find them please as I haven't seen any. Thanks

Get your vitamin d levels tested and supplement if required.

@JS87

Get your vitamin d levels tested and supplement if required.

Thanks, I've been taking vitamin D for a few years now on the advice of my hospital specialist.

I think there is every reason to think that after the 9 vulnerable categories have received their first dose the rest of the population will be offered it based on occupation. Teachers, retail, police etc.likely to be at the front of that queue. If all goes well it will be late April /early May.

What condition do you have?

SandyStarfish, I have a few but the only one that was on the list (but is no longer on the list) was asthma. Now, only severe asthma is on the underlying health conditions list (I looked yesterday).

@JuliesIpad

I think there is every reason to think that after the 9 vulnerable categories have received their first dose the rest of the population will be offered it based on occupation. Teachers, retail, police etc.likely to be at the front of that queue. If all goes well it will be late April /early May.

Thanks, May seems a long time to wait! It just seems a bit unfair that my husband (and many others) who is just a year older than me, fit and healthy and able to work from home will have his jab long before us vulnerable (nearly 50) key workers.

I do agree that teachers should be allowed protection in the form of PPE and measures that are compulsory in other workplaces.
Those who are more vulnerable due to age / health will be done in the priority groups.
My son is a teacher and I will be very relieved when he has his vaccine but realistically he is young and at lower risk of serious consequences than his colleagues who are clinically vulnerable.
At the start of the pandemic they thought all asthma might make people vulnerable but in fact it has proved not to be the case, only more severe cases.

This should help: confirmation from Asthma UK that people with asthma which is NOT severe WILL be in priority group 6.

The government have given this confirmation to asthma UK but not updated their own advice.

twitter.com/asthmauk/status/1341347824999538688?s=19

If you have severe asthma, are on the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ (CEV) list and under 70, you’ll be invited to get the COVID vaccine at the same time as those aged 70 and over. This is known as the fourth priority group.
Most other people with asthma aged 16 to 64 will be offered the vaccine in the sixth group. We understand that you would be invited in this group if you have been prescribed a steroid inhaler – this is the same way people are identified for a free flu vaccine each year.
We asked for this confirmation as some government materials made a reference to severe asthma in the sixth group. This is an unhelpful term because it’s actually describing anyone prescribed a steroid inhaler, rather than a severe diagnosis or someone who is CEV.
There isn’t a timescale yet for when the priority groups will be vaccinated, and the advice is to wait until you’re invited. Our website will be kept updated as this happens and as we find out more information.

This thread was dated 22 Dec. Asthma UK have reiterated the message on January 8th:
Hi The Department of Health have confirmed to us that people with asthma who aren’t clinically extremely vulnerable will be in priority group 6 for the COVID-19 vaccine. We have asked them to update their published information to make this clearer.

Hope that is reassuring.

There are so many people who think they should get the vaccine next. All we can do is wait. I'm waiting.

@Barracker

This should help: confirmation from Asthma UK that people with asthma which is NOT severe WILL be in priority group 6.

The government have given this confirmation to asthma UK but not updated their own advice.

twitter.com/asthmauk/status/1341347824999538688?s=19

If you have severe asthma, are on the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ (CEV) list and under 70, you’ll be invited to get the COVID vaccine at the same time as those aged 70 and over. This is known as the fourth priority group.
Most other people with asthma aged 16 to 64 will be offered the vaccine in the sixth group. We understand that you would be invited in this group if you have been prescribed a steroid inhaler – this is the same way people are identified for a free flu vaccine each year.
We asked for this confirmation as some government materials made a reference to severe asthma in the sixth group. This is an unhelpful term because it’s actually describing anyone prescribed a steroid inhaler, rather than a severe diagnosis or someone who is CEV.
There isn’t a timescale yet for when the priority groups will be vaccinated, and the advice is to wait until you’re invited. Our website will be kept updated as this happens and as we find out more information.

This thread was dated 22 Dec. Asthma UK have reiterated the message on January 8th:
Hi The Department of Health have confirmed to us that people with asthma who aren’t clinically extremely vulnerable will be in priority group 6 for the COVID-19 vaccine. We have asked them to update their published information to make this clearer.

Hope that is reassuring.

YES! Thank you! That is very reassuring. I looked on Asthma UK yesterday and I didn't see this- THANK YOU!x

@JuliesIpad I don't think JCVI and the government will run with occupational based vaccination as, for example, vaccinating all teachers will have little impact on community transmission/hospital admissions, whereas vaccinated all 40 to 49 year old would have a huge impact on hospital admission and hence deaths.

@Bilgepumper

There are so many people who think they should get the vaccine next. All we can do is wait. I'm waiting.

Do you work in a school?

Op, I sympathise. My suggestions are to make sure your bubble is as tight as possible at work, cut out anything and anyone you can. I eat lunch alone in a classroom.

Wear a mask. Approach your head with your concerns.

Try putting your details into the national booking system every so often. Ring your gp and ask to be on the standby list. Book your husband's appt at the end of the day and go with him

Those of us who have felt unable to breathe, like we're drowning, can't finish a sentence without taking a breath, are understandably anxious about a virus that does just that. It's hard to to feel especially vulnerable to it. Just a bog standard cold means serious reliever/steroid inhaler use. Scary to imagine what CV would do. Which is why I've been nowhere and seen no one- certainly not scores of snotty school children!

If you're on twitter it may be worth following AsthmaUK. They seem to be more up to date there and will also answer direct questions. I haven't seen a more recent update on this since Jan 8th but the vaccination programme is progressing rapidly so hang tight. Your turn should come.

You won't get a system that pleases everyone. I think the current one is reasonably sensible and fair.

At the very least I would be wearing a face mask if I was teaching whether allowed or not. I’m sure I’ve heard some teachers are.

The surgical (blue) face masks are the same as the ones that we would wear on wards, including providing care to covid patients. They must provide some protection.

It is difficult, I would prioritise teachers, but then I could understand retail and transport workers feeling aggrieved too.

[quote Rosehip10]@JuliesIpad I don't think JCVI and the government will run with occupational based vaccination as, for example, vaccinating all teachers will have little impact on community transmission/hospital admissions, whereas vaccinated all 40 to 49 year old would have a huge impact on hospital admission and hence deaths.[/quote]
Yes you’re right.

Vaccinating teachers, some in their 20’s is not going to be as effective as doing the 40+ age group.

OP (if she doesn’t get vaccinated in group 6) would be the next group, group 10, if they did age groups or profession specific groups anyway surely?

Thanks guys, Lots of great tips here- I'm feeling so much more positive about it and have lots of ideas to put in place if I'm not included in grp 6 (which hopefully I will be)! I'm so glad I asked. Thank you so much for all the supportive answers to my question- you've made me feel a lot less anxious.x

Also if it helps, groups 7-9 are relatively small. You’ll be in group 10 no matter how they do it, so even if you’re not in group 6 it shouldn’t be too long to wait anyway. Hopefully you’re in group 6 though.