Late 40s - when do you think you’ll have the jab?

[Adirondack]

Late 40s, no underlying conditions. I’m assuming we will be the next group to be called once the 50s have been done... but when do you think that will be?

@Theforest

They haven't decided who is next after 50 yet. I agree that parents are at risk if the kids go back and many fall in this age category. I hope they decide soon.

The leaks over the last few days have pointed to it continuing down in age order.

Once those with known underlying conditions have been vaccinated, age seems the fairest way of doing this. It gets very messy if you say yes to teachers, but no to plumbers. No one can argue with age - it takes all the choice and therefore possible resentment out of who goes next.

As DH is 48 (also BAME and slightly overweight) and I’m 45 I’m glad to hear about vaccinations happening in 5 year bands.

I'm mid forties and healthy so won't be taking up an offer for the jab. Just had covid, which is basically the same protection from the disease as having the jab anyway because my immune system will recognise it if I come into contact with it again - which is how the vaccine works. Barely more than a cold with a mild cough and some loss of taste and smell for me. DC had it same time as me, mild cold and sore throat.

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

Once those with known underlying conditions have been vaccinated, age seems the fairest way of doing this. It gets very messy if you say yes to teachers, but no to plumbers. No one can argue with age - it takes all the choice and therefore possible resentment out of who goes next.

But you could surely argue that teaching staff are in a crowded room with no masks and no social distancing. Whereas a plumber should be able to socially distanced and be wearing a mask. Very few plumps, using your example, will be working in a crowded room with 30 odd other people with no SD and no mask surely??

Hexwitch - at the very minimum the first vaccine would act as your booster, so would up any naturally occurring immunity, like having the second vaccine does.

My consultant also told me that I shouldn't rely on having had Covid as any protection. It's not a guarantee you've definitely got immunity nor for how long.

Yes that's true. Maybe plumbing is a bad example. I guess maybe supermarket workers might be a better one. I think if we vaccinate by age, it will encompass a lot of people who work in crowded places anyway.
Most people could probably make a case for why they should get it before someone else - I'm a bit chubby for example so should I go ahead of a slimmer person the same age? Probably not. I think doing it by age (after those with known illnesses) would be the only way to avoid argument and value judgements about who is most deserving. It also strikes me as the most efficient way - the less the govt gets to tinker with a procedure that seems to be working, the better.

Late 40s secondary teachers here (DH and I). I think they will continue with age rather than profession/kw role. Hoping by Easter but probably May.

@MirandaWest

As DH is 48 (also BAME and slightly overweight) and I’m 45 I’m glad to hear about vaccinations happening in 5 year bands.

Me too - 49yrs, overweight, managed autoimmune condition but not one recognised in the groupings, work in a school as admin so do have contact with children and other staff, but I'm not a teacher.

I think if it comes to priorities g certain professions it will get really messy. If you vaccinate teachers, are you going to prioritise all school staff? And nursery staff? And what about bus drivers? I haven't even heard mention of them at all but it's one of the riskiest professions in terms of picking up covid.

I find it a bit disconcerting that there doesn't seem to be a timetable for people under 50. Yes, less people from that age group die of covid but they still do. I know a 40 year old who is in and out of hospital with long covid. She was otherwise healthy but it's caused her some pretty horrific neurological problems.

Thanks for all the replies. I do think it’s important that the 40s get jabbed- I know several people who have had covid badly in this age group. 4 (previously fit and healthy) now have long covid with significant problems with organs including lungs and heart. A mum at my children’s school very sadly died of covid, leaving her children without a mother. Most of the 40s I know who’ve had it caught it from their school age kids, so reopening schools is a worry. I was hoping I might be able to get jabbed sooner than May. The kids need to get back to school but I fear the new variants are going to mean a lot more poorly parents. Long covid is a real and significant risk.

If you start including occupations after group 6 where does it end? You could end up with a situation where people in the 60-64 year age group are hanging on for months and months while 30 year old teachers, police, plumbers and supermarket workers get vaccinated first.

I think vaccinating on risk of dying (age) rather than risk of exposure (profession) makes more sense. I have incredible sympathy for teachers, but parents may also have 2/3/4 children in different classes or schools who are also being exposed to multiple families. It’s also going to be a lot quicker to sort by age as the NHS already has that information.

@StarcourtMall

I think vaccinating on risk of dying (age) rather than risk of exposure (profession) makes more sense. I have incredible sympathy for teachers, but parents may also have 2/3/4 children in different classes or schools who are also being exposed to multiple families. It’s also going to be a lot quicker to sort by age as the NHS already has that information.

I agree with this. Definitely should be done by risk of dying / suffering rather than risk of catching. Which is exactly what has happened so far so I’m hoping they will continue down the age groups

Not sure if we’ll be next

Might still be by age or by occupation

@User27aw

There are articles in The Times and Telegraph over the last couple of days that its been decided that the under 50s with by done in age order in 5 year age bands.

Ok interesting.

I'm glad if it is in age order as that just seems the quickest way for everyone. GP surgeries and the NHS in general don't know people's occupations so it would get really messy if booking was based on the kind of work you do.

I'm 48 with a BMI of 30. One of my teens caught Covid at a school rife with cases. There were also five other self isolations for him, which was a worry. We managed to avoid it.
My other teen is at a school also rife with cases. He had three self isolations before Christmas and the school closed early.
It feels like a matter of time before he will bring it home and I'm worried. DH is 47.

There are a few mid 40s posters on here who seem confident they will brush Covid off.

When I was 37 with a BMI of 24 I caught the flu. I'd never really been ill before then and was very healthy too, but the Flu hit me so hard. So hard that I worry about Covid.

I think continuing by age is the quickest way to do it (although maybe 18 year olds who plan to attend Uni should get some priority, especially if the vaccines reduce transmission). There are only 21 million in this group and not all of them will want it- it won't take long to get through everyone.

GP surgeries will not have any record of people's professions unless there is a state benefit involved, or if they have the record for other reasons eg carer.

Even if they did have some people's profession recorded, they would not be up-to-date. They need to use parameters that they have a record of, so that they can vaccinate QUICKLY and EFFICIENTLY. That means essentially health and age.

I am amazed that people are still whinging 'not fair' without seeming embarrassed about themselves.

@Haffiana

GP surgeries will not have any record of people's professions unless there is a state benefit involved, or if they have the record for other reasons eg carer.

Even if they did have some people's profession recorded, they would not be up-to-date. They need to use parameters that they have a record of, so that they can vaccinate QUICKLY and EFFICIENTLY. That means essentially health and age.

I am amazed that people are still whinging 'not fair' without seeming embarrassed about themselves.

Very fair point re records and ease

Considering how contentious these threads get about what groups should go ahead of others it makes perfect
sense to keep it as simple and quick as possible and go in age order

The speed we're going by the time any other ordering system is worked out you could have jabbed half the population anyway.