How to complain about vaccine grouping?

[Watchingbehindmyhands]

So, I am eligible for the vaccine in group 6 because of my BMI (over 40). I am fortunate to rarely be ill and have very little contact with my GP. I have in writing from my GP that the groupings come from NHS England and that they therefore can’t change my current grouping of 9 to 6 as a result.

Has anyone else had this experience? Is there a way through to challenge it?

Wow this thread!
Glad you got your vaccine booked.

@Watchingbehindmyhands

Not tried for an appointment. Receptionist said no. She told me to email. Response was ‘we can’t change your group’.

She is right they can't change your group but you can by making an appointment to get weighed. Ask for an app with the HCA.

@Watchingbehindmyhands

DP and I receive DLA for our son, high rate, so does that mean we should be able to have it?

It seems so. I couldn’t quite believe it but I read it carefully and you have to be in receipt of one of relevant benefits they list and be able to prove it. It was on my local hospital’s Facebook page.

It’s probably because they are vulnerable and as a parent of the child you will also be eligible because you are classed as unpaid carer .

The reception should be telling poor OP what to do about it not expect her to just go away and give up. Bet you a million dollars if I ring up and said I had something like MS they would find a way of adjusting my record. It’s just the OP fault for being fat so no help offered

You can't be anything but white, healthy and middle class on here lately.
Oh give over.
Weight problems affect all people of colour or background circumstances.

Lots of people whatever their colour. Should have read.

@Akire

The reception should be telling poor OP what to do about it not expect her to just go away and give up. Bet you a million dollars if I ring up and said I had something like MS they would find a way of adjusting my record. It’s just the OP fault for being fat so no help offered

I read something the other day written by a woman who had written about her struggles trying to get diagnosed with endometriosis and PCOS.

She was told that all of her problems were to do with weight. Doctors brushed her off and refused to see her and do any tests. Told her to lose weight and she would feel better.

So she lost a lot of weight. And didn't feel better but then she went back to the doctor with a health BMI and they suddenly ran all the tests needed... And she was diagnosed with PCOS... Extremely bad endo which required her to have huge amounts removed including a big chunk of her bowel it had spread so far....

So yes I totally believe you're right when you say weight influences things when it definitely shouldn't. ...

@likeamillpond

You can't be anything but white, healthy and middle class on here lately. Oh give over. Weight problems affect all people of colour or background circumstances.

I don't think you have understood the sentence you quoted there.

Gosh, whatever happened to #bekind? How dare all the fat people expect to be vaccinated as per the guidelines.

I am grateful for those who read carefully and tried to help. I hope the thread is useful for anyone else who believes they may be wrongly placed in the vaccine queue.

@Watchingbehindmyhands

Gosh, whatever happened to #bekind? How dare all the fat people expect to be vaccinated as per the guidelines.

I am grateful for those who read carefully and tried to help. I hope the thread is useful for anyone else who believes they may be wrongly placed in the vaccine queue.

I'm a similar bmi to you. And I really didn't realise how worthless and disgusting people thought we were until I started using mumsnet.

Ignore the dicks OP. Glad it looks like you are sorted for the vaccine 👍

Please ignore all the haters. After reading a mumsnet post I contacted my GP. Turns out they had not coded up a long term condition I have. They agreed to code it up and I moved to Group 6 a week or so ago because of the recoding. Got my vaccine invite today.
Please just ask to be weighed. Maybe ask for a nurse to call you to discuss. They might agree to do it - I have found all our GP nurses lovely and no fuss!

@likeamillpond

You can't be anything but white, healthy and middle class on here lately. Oh give over. Weight problems affect all people of colour or background circumstances.

Where did I say it doesn't?

@Fullofpudding

I've had the opposite. Had a BMI of over 40 at the beginning of the pandemic. Lost over 8 stone and I had my vaccine yesterday as the doctor said he couldn't change my weight without seeing me and the nurse's appointments are for things of a higher priority so no chance to weigh in.

Well done on your weight loss; that's an amazing achievement and so refreshing to hear of someone who has taken personal responsibility for their health rather than stay sat on their arse moaning

Ask for a doctor's appointment. Receptionist is out of order I'd say. Talk about Computer says no.

@Watchingbehindmyhands if you had a BMI of over 40 last time you were weighed, no matter how long ago that was, then there will be "morbidly obese" documented on your file somewhere. When you speak to the practice manager get them to check. Also make sure you have your current weight to hand so they can document it.

@ivfbeenbusy

Covid and risk to people with high BMI has been known for almost a year now - really Don't understand why people haven't used the last 12 months to get their BMI down.....

Take some responsibility for yourself like others have said

How do you know what their starting BMI was they may already be losing weight. High BMI very often has other factors attached to it and being in lockdown would not have helped with underlying causes.

@Tiktokersmiracle Yes you are a carer so are group six. You have to fill in the form on GP website or send email with your details and the details of who you care for and ask them to code you as a carer on your notes.