Vaccines and priority groups

[heythereiamback]

I got an email which seems to be legit (or a very elaborate scam) that says I am now in the extremely vulnerable group and will be called for vaccination at some point, but should be careful etc.

I am a bit baffled as the only condition I have is an under active thyroid and I couldn't find this under any priority groups categories. My GP's secretary didn't know anything about it but they said with the recent algorithm change in calculating who is vulnerable, it might be due to that as they are still getting info on the new people.

Did anybody else with a thyroid condition got a similar letter, and did it arrive by email or post? I am trying to work out if it's legit or spam as it has worried me

Have you previously had gestational diabetes?

Our local council is an advert running on Facebook at the meant saying the NHS will not email you. Only phone, text or letter.

Loads of people have received emails. I think they mean they NHS won't email you to book a vaccine, they have been emailing shielding letters though there's threads full of people who've received one all because they had gestational diabetes, some combined with other risk factors and some not. Everyone is confused as it doesn't really make much sense. Even the doctors are scratching their heads a bit.

@WreckTangled ah really, I didn't know gestational diabetes counts. i did have it, yes, years ago, but I am checking blood sugar levels regularly and exercise etc and I am fine, I don't have diabetes now.

Perhaps gestational diabetes alone is a risk factor then. interesting. I guess I was confused as, for example, my BIL has epilepsy and he still hasn't got a letter. It's all a bit confusing.

If you look at the other threads lots of people are just as confused. There doesn’t appear to have been any evidence released to say a history of gestational diabetes puts you at a higher risk but that added with BMI, ethnicity, postcode and various other factors has added a lot of people to the shielding list. I’m type 1 and have never been told to shield. A top diabetes consultant who’s on Twitter has said he helped give data to NHS England when they were developing the algorithm but didn’t give any data on gestation diabetes so he’s not sure what’s going on either but is trying to find out. His bottom line was basically to use this to get your vaccine ASAP (which is great) and make your own decision as to whether or not you feel the need to shield.

I had the same. I double checked with the surgery - they don't know why I've been called either but advised to go anyway. They said the if I did not the computer might not pick me up when it's the right time.

@WreckTangled ha I wouldn't have thought about it, I sort of assumed it was down to my thyroid condition, as that is, like, permanent. Whereas GD was just for 2 months - if that. but now that you said it, indeed there's a lot online about it and the confusion caused.

I am definitely taking the vaccine if offered early! But I am 42, healthy BMI, exercise regularly, no other conditions... so I couldn't work it out. Perhaps it's down to the combination of GD and thyroid. Or my London postcode. I guess it freaked me out a bit as I was wondering whether I should have been shielding all this time.

@Ginandtonic4all my GP had no idea either but they were going to look into it. I might call them to let them know. Apparently I didn't show up as "red flagged" on their lists but perhaps it's a different system.

Just have to wait for the text message inviting me to the vaccination centre then I guess

You don't have to to wait you can book online here https://www.nhs.uk/book-a-coronavirus-vaccination/do-you-have-an-nhs-number

It must have been a shock for you and very worrying, I think that's the worst thing about this. Would it have been so hard for them to put a section at the bottom stating what is is that put you in this category? maybe it would have but it's still very unfair on people who've received them.

If they don't have a record of your BMI they use a default which is 31. This coupled with previous GD puts you in the shielding category.

I received the same and my only problem has ever been GD which I had last year. I spent a long while working out where irs come from but if you Google qcovid calculator nhs or something similar there is a section about GD and then at rhe bottom of the page or explains the defaults and that they have used 31 as high risk if coupled with something else.

Pregnant with GD until September last year didn't put me in shielding category then! I'm having my vaccine tomorrow but don't think I'll be shielding given I had a clear HBA1C in December.

My BMI would put me in category 6 but I haven’t been weighed at the doctors for years so I won’t be contacted. There is probably lots of people in my position.

And as far as I understand from this info from NHS England, they have included GD as I think they are assuming many women with previous GD haven't had yearly checks and may have undiagnosed type 2.

I had to book it via the app as the surgery could not amend any entires. I would just go and get it done. One more person vaccinated is a good thing.

Oh wow I didn't know any of this, big thank you to everyone, I feel so much calmer!

And it would never have occurred to me that I could book my own vaccine, making that booking tomorrow woohoo thanks @WreckTangled
Hope you've had yours? I am quite surprised you weren't advised to shield with diabetes. I guess we are in the same priority group then? 6?

@heythereiamback I had mine back in January as I'm NHS. I don't personally know anyone with diabetes who's been told to shield (go figure) but there's a few on the fb groups, some have other issues and some don't. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.