Offered a vaccination because of mental health issues.

[User5768]

Without going into too much detail, I have a lifelong mental health disorder. It is well controlled with medication and I am otherwise fit and healthy.

I was very surprised to get a text from my GP inviting me to book a vaccination. I did phone them up to check it was correct and they confirmed it is.

Has anyone else had this? I’m interested in the thinking behind it.

@manicinsomniac ignore the reason upthread. The vaccine decision is based on risk and if want to google you’ll see that people with severe mental illness are more at risk of severe illness from covid. Obviously there’s going to be a variety of reasons for this but please don’t see it in anyway an assumption that it’s because people with mental illnesses are less able/ willing to follow guidelines. If that was the case we’d be prioritising all people with learning difficulties (currently only some), people with conditions such as adhd, and all people with a criminal record. We’re not.

The choice has been made to protect people and the nhs.

Ok, thanks, Busygoingblah . Maybe I am over reacting/being too sensitive. Sorry.

DH has been asked to go in for his vaccine but he doesn’t understand how he qualifies either.

He does have depression so maybe that although it’s not severe.

Or it could be because he had skin cancer 5 years ago and he is still being seen regularly for check ups. 🤔

I think it does need to be severe mental illness. I have bipolar disorder which I think is why I qualify

I would also counter that something is clearly going on this week. I'm 41 with no long term conditions for anything and no risk factors and I recieved my invite this morning. Upon checking I know several people in the same circumstance who have been invited for vaccine.

Some areas seem to be doing mass invites today which is including huge amounts of people with seemingly no risk factors. So it may not be related to mental health at all.