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Original poster

Does NHS Flu jab mean you are in group 6?

123 replies

AtLastEarwax · 10/02/2021 13:41

Hey everyone

Ok I'm eligible for a free flu jab every year - they send me a text to remind me due to have epilepsy. I looked on the website and it classes neurology as a pre existing condition in group 6 but not sure if this means epilepsy??

Hubby seems to think that if you are eligible for a free flu jab - due to a health condition that's the target for group 6?

What's people opinions?

Thanks 😊

OP posts:
DangerousMutant · 11/02/2021 11:40

I thought I might be in group 6 but how do you find out? I do not want to bother GP

I get the flu jab, i am down as having chronic neurological condition but that is cerebral degeneration and small vessel disease, would that put me in group 6?

Akire · 11/02/2021 11:51

They have only named a handful of conditions in group 6 the rest are under broad “chronic neuro conditions”. Some medical Guy for the JMC said it was up to your GP or specialist to decide who’s in and out. Rather than giving a complete list.

While some hospital specialties may will fight your corner they are run off your feet. And as we don’t have numbers to show how much extra condition put you at risk. I think
Give it a month to roll out group 6 then we have to badger GP or wait it out.

spiralshell · 11/02/2021 12:51

Wow, the lack of clarity for this long is shocking.

I saw the article this morning which says that those taking a preventer steroid inhaler are in group 6. They’ve now changed that!

A family member takes a purple seretide inhaler a number of times a day here. Have no idea where they stand now.

Original poster
AtLastEarwax · 11/02/2021 14:25

@BlackeyedSusan

epilepsy is group 6 apparently. was surprised, because it is not immediately obvious to me why.

unpaid carers are too apparently too.

we don't seem to be on group six here though, yet.

Affects on medication, epileptics also are medically exempt

Asthmatics aren't always

OP posts:
Alakazam8 · 11/02/2021 16:05

If it’s not clear what group you are in how do you find out. I’d really like to know if possible. Have health conditions that don’t seem really fit in group 6, always have flu jab though and am Carer for a cev girl. GP hasn’t responded to an email about it. Is there anywhere where you can state your medical conditions and get some idea of group. I’m young (ish) so wouldn’t be in a priority group for age at all otherwise.
If you can’t work out your group, how do you know if you’ve been missed or when you can book your own appointment?

kimlo · 11/02/2021 16:09

carers are group 6 regardless of your own health condions.

WombatChocolate · 11/02/2021 16:10

Does anyone know if coeliac disease is a condition for being in Group 6. I have a relative with it who is in their 40s. They always get offered flu jab. Many thanks.

Kitewoman · 11/02/2021 16:14

it's not clear. I am a carer for a disabled child and get the flu jab. GP has me on the register as carer but that won't get me the covid jab as they are now requesting written evidence of my caring role. Need to track down there now to see what they accept as I don't get carers allowance.

WombatChocolate · 11/02/2021 16:20

You can now go the NHS book a vaccination appt if you are a carer. It asks various Qs and mentions which ID you need to take with you. Go on there and see if it will let you book....if you’re eligible it will no it’s specific about the ID that’s acceptable.

myvaccineisnotsurplus · 11/02/2021 16:26

@WombatChocolate

You can now go the NHS book a vaccination appt if you are a carer. It asks various Qs and mentions which ID you need to take with you. Go on there and see if it will let you book....if you’re eligible it will no it’s specific about the ID that’s acceptable.
I think that is only PAID carers.

Unpaid carers still having trouble getting a Carers code on their records.

What evidence is there? If you are on low income you might have a Carer's Allowance, which is evidence.

if you are not on low income and don't qualify financially for Carer's Allowance, there is seemingly nothing.

Since the vaccine is not means-tested, it is incorrect to say that only people in receipt of Carer's Allowance (means-tested low-income benefit) are Carers.

It is a mess. The priority lists are being used to reduce the number of people receiving the vaccine rather than ensuring everyone eligible can get it.

WombatChocolate · 11/02/2021 16:46

Okay thanks. The NHS site is pretty clear though about who can use it at the current time to book appointments. And it is being updated to include more groups as time passes and there is space for those beyond Priority Group 4.

I guess the reality for most groups from now on, is that they will book their own appointments (being tech savvy) and that saves a lot of work. I’m sure those who don’t use it to book will be followed up with phone calls/letters offering them it, but if they don’t need to call everyone it is more efficient.

It’s worth looking each day or two at the site to see when it expands the availability to more people.

myvaccineisnotsurplus · 11/02/2021 16:48

The problem is if you are eligbile but your GP has not put an eligible code on your records, you can check every day but it won't ever let you book!

The GP holds all the cards and many are currently not allowing patients to query or rectify their priority 6 codes.

So many people who should get a vaccine in group 6 won't be able to do so, even at a mass hub.

Akire · 11/02/2021 17:51

If the person you are caring for gets DLA PIP or Attendance allowance that should be prove enough. Anyone who has more than basic care needs should get one of these. If they do get those benefits and are not in receipt of payed care and a care plan from SS then it’s obviously an unpaid carer is doing it.

Kitewoman · 11/02/2021 18:01

if the person you are caring for gets DLA PIP or Attendance allowance that should be prove enough

according to my GP this proves that the person needs care but not that I am doing the caring so it's not accepted. I have been referred by GP to a local charity supporting carers. Apparently, they can provide written evidence (even though I never had dealings with them). I am working, home schooli g, caring. I am at breaking point. I really can do without this shit. GP knows me and DC and out circumstances (DC is severely disabled, on high rate dla, in a special school) and I am coded as carer and have been for a decade but nope, that will not get me the vaccine unless I run after a to me unbeknownst charity. as if I don't have anything else to do.

Akire · 11/02/2021 18:12

That’s crazy I’m so sorry. It’s just one more battle you don’t need Flowers

Kitewoman · 11/02/2021 18:14

if you get carers allowance it's easy but it completely ignores the fact that many cares do oodles of caring but don't qualify for all sorts of reasons. But the government has always treated carers with contempt so I am not surprised we are included in the priority group but cannot actually access it.

Covidcorvid · 11/02/2021 18:21

@WombatChocolate

Does anyone know if coeliac disease is a condition for being in Group 6. I have a relative with it who is in their 40s. They always get offered flu jab. Many thanks.
Yes. They’re listed in the govt green book as being in group 6. Due to possibility of spleen impairment.
WombatChocolate · 11/02/2021 18:23

Thanks v much. useful to know.

hoppityintobed · 11/02/2021 19:23

My gp said they have nothing to do with the process it's done from the main nhs database??

HSHorror · 11/02/2021 20:34

Even hospitalisation would have been vague. I was hospitalized with asthma age 7...
Dsis was at 20 when she had been smoking a year.

Livvygator · 11/02/2021 20:52

I called my doctors and they confirmed I am in Group 6. I have asthma use a steroid and blue inhaler twice a day and get the flu jab every year. I'm waiting for the text.... They are about to vaccinate the over 65's in this area and then its group 6 I think...

myvaccineisnotsurplus · 11/02/2021 20:54

@hoppityintobed

My gp said they have nothing to do with the process it's done from the main nhs database??
They don't have anything to do with the centralised letters, but who these letters are sent to is entirely based on the GP's records!

So the GP actually controls it all. If the GP doesn't think your condition qualifies you for priority 6, you cannot get a vaccine anywhere, not even a mass hub.

What makes it worse is that the GP's all have different policies. So one GP practice might code moderate disease as priority 6 while another might not.

Alakazam8 · 11/02/2021 20:54

Thanks for advice here. Just booked my vaccination! I’m prepared to take proof with me following reading this info based on caring for dd.

myvaccineisnotsurplus · 11/02/2021 20:57

I am coded as carer and have been for a decade but nope, that will not get me the vaccine

I thought being coded as a carer automatically put a person in priority 6?

Kitewoman · 11/02/2021 21:00

I thought being coded as a carer automatically put a person in priority 6?

nope - at least not in my area. easy to sort of you get carers allowance but shit If you work and don't qualify Sad

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