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Original poster

Household members of immunosuppressed prioritised

84 replies

Orangesandlemons77 · 29/03/2021 17:02

Just seen this in the news, might be of use to others

Those who live with someone who has a weakened immune system are to be prioritised for coronavirus vaccines.

It is hoped that the move will help to limit infections in immunosuppressed adults, such as those with blood cancer, HIV or patients receiving chemotherapy, who are less able to fight infections naturally.

Independent experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said that people over the age of 16 who are living with an adult with a weakened immune system should be prioritised for their vaccine.

OP posts:
Thatwentbadly · 01/04/2021 08:53

@FigDate I just tried that but it wouldn’t let me book as soon as I put in my age. I will ring 119 when the little one is napping and will update everyone on what they said.

@alpenguin we have a 1 year old and a 4 year old in the house. It is a worry.

FigDate · 01/04/2021 12:42

Update. They gave me the vaccine. But it wasn’t straightforward. Had to speak to vaccinator, then nurse, then doctor. Then he looked at all the evidence I took and went off and discussed with someone. Then said I could have it. The confusion is ticking the ‘carer’ option. They are being very careful about only giving it to the eligible, as they should. The doctors surgery saying that’s what they’ve been advised but vaccination centre unaware of that. I’m probably one of the first people they’ve dealt with in this scenario. In a few days they’ll have had more and maybe markers will go on records. But not on my record due to being at different doctors to DH. Glad I’ve had it anyway. Good luck folks.

Thatwentbadly · 01/04/2021 12:58

@FigDate can I ask how you managed to book the appointment in the first place?

FigDate · 01/04/2021 13:03

Yes as per previous post...

“So spoke to DH’s doctors today. They have been advised that those living with an immunosuppressed person should book by ticking the option for ‘carer of clinically vulnerable person’. Then take evidence of the immunosuppressed person.

So booked online via swiftqueue using that option.

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 01/04/2021 13:37

@FigDate that is really useful information thank you so much!!! Our 18yr old ds is very immunocompromised and I got really excited on Monday that DH, eldest Dd, younger Ds and I could get vaccinated to protect him but couldn't then find anymore information!!

FigDate · 01/04/2021 13:41

@onlyreadingneverposting8

Note that this was not a straightforward process for me as above. If you are all registered at same GP it should be more straightforward for you. I recommend you contact your doctors to see if they are putting markers on your record. I know doctors are saying don’t call about vaccines but in these scenarios you need to.

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 01/04/2021 13:42

Ah ok - will ring the GP. It really would help if what is announced on the TV is actually sorted out properly!!

FigDate · 01/04/2021 13:48

Yes agree totally @onlyreadingneverposting8

Thatwentbadly · 01/04/2021 13:56

@FigDate

Yes as per previous post...

“So spoke to DH’s doctors today. They have been advised that those living with an immunosuppressed person should book by ticking the option for ‘carer of clinically vulnerable person’. Then take evidence of the immunosuppressed person.

So booked online via swiftqueue using that option.

I can’t even get that far on the website. As soon as I put in my date of birth it rejects me.
Schulte · 03/04/2021 16:27

So I had a chat with someone who works at a vaccination centre. They have been told to not give any first jabs in April (in line with what we’ve seen in the news). So while we’re now meant to be prioritised because our partners or children are immunosuppressed, at the same time we’re being told we cannot have the jab this month? Seems like a huge mess.

Schulte · 07/04/2021 21:44

Just wondering, has ANYONE been invited yet to have their jab because they live with an immunosuppressed person? I’m still waiting for a reply from my GP, it’s been ten days now...

OhYouBadBadKitten · 07/04/2021 23:02

dd has emailed but I fear she will be confounded on the AZ ban for under 30s.

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 09/04/2021 12:41

@Schulte I rang our GP - the receptionist said they didn't know anything about it. I rang the vaccination hotline and they said the NHS hasn't caught up with the announcement and just to wait! So annoying!!

Butterflytown · 09/04/2021 13:54

So after a lot of being passed back and forth between GP and 119 my husband is booked to have his tomorrow. 119 are fully aware of the ‘permanent household members of immunosuppressed’ category but have been told to refer to GPs. GP surgery agreed my husband qualified based on that and updated his record to say needs it ASAP but then said they weren’t able to book any 1st jabs at their centre and don’t have access to any others. It was very frustrating especially as 119 told me there were loads of unfilled appointments at the local centre (which the GP can’t access).

Anyway after a lot of calling they’ve finally said he can go tomorrow so fingers crossed he actually gets it.

Interestingly it was suggested at one point that the GP designate him as my unpaid carer on his records so he could book an appointment. It’s frustrating as this group qualify in group 6 but the system hasn’t caught up. It’s likely to be a very small group that qualify in this category as it’s only those who haven’t already qualified themselves ie under 50s, non clinically vulnerable, not healthcare/ care hone/ social care worker and living with severely immunocompromised person. So I reckon a few thousand only.

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 09/04/2021 14:18

So @Butterflytown do you think I should do? Our situation is our 18yr old ds is severely immunocompromised due to immunosuppressants and steroids for his colitis. He's also about to start a further immunosuppressant drug. We have 4 other adults in the family, one of which is myself. As above the GP receptionist said they knew nothing about it! Should I ask for a GP telephone appointment?

Butterflytown · 09/04/2021 15:44

I would ask the GP for an appointment, yes. It’s not good enough that they don’t know about it. Might be worthwhile you going online and getting the info that they should have been sent (nhs England telling them to identify immunocompromised patients and write to all household members inviting them for a jab). I’ll see if I can find you the link. Otherwise can you be designated as carers so you can book in that way? Might only work for 1 of you though I guess. Don’t give up. I’ve spent hours this week but hopefully got there in the end.

iVampire · 09/04/2021 15:44

I’ve just been through this - GP receptionist knew nothing about it (had vaguely heard of the announcement but had not yet received admin instructions), so booked a call with GP who agreed that DD should have it, but couldn’t just fix it as DD is under 18 and Pfizer is the only jab licensed for that age group - that has always been the case, it’s not a clots issue).

GP practice is one of a group locally who have created a shared hub for their patients. GP was kind and rang the doctor in charge of the hub who sorted that end.

Hub gets both vaccines and no one knows far in advance which and when, so we are awaiting an admin call to offer the appointment, and she should be included next time they have Pfizer

GP has also said that when my DS returns from university at the end of the academic year, they can get him done too if he registers as a temp patient

So yes, took some phone calls, but brilliant service once it starts happening.

Fingers crossed it’s not too long a wait - DD going to school is easily the biggest risk to me

Butterflytown · 09/04/2021 15:48

This is what your GP practice should have received. Maybe email it to them and then they have it for when you have a telephone appointment. Or does you GP practice have a vaccination lead (not a doctor)? Mine does so I spoke with her a couple of times which was much quicker than speaking to a GP (once the Gp had confirmed my husband in this category). www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/03/C1228-Vaccination-of-adult-household-contacts-of-severely-immunosuppressed_31mar.pdf

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 09/04/2021 15:55

Thank you @Butterflytown that's really helpful! Will get onto them Monday morning as I can't see anything meaningful happen if I phone the receptionist now - last time I did that on a Friday afternoon for my then 3 week old baby she just said there was nothing they could do and I'd have to ring out of hours! Utterly unhelpful!

Butterflytown · 09/04/2021 16:03

You’re welcome. I’d call now if it was my practice as there’s no way you’re getting through to them on a Monday!

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 09/04/2021 16:15

What is the Green Book definition for ‘severely immunocompromised’ does anyone know? DH is immunocompromised due to illness and treatment but, as all his medications are dealt with directly with his consultant, though the GP has records of them they didn’t have current dosing records and therefore wouldn’t have included him in the vulnerable category. This didn’t actually matter as his age group came up first anyway. But now I’m wondering if he should be recorded as severely immunocompromised somewhere as we have adult DDs living at home who should presumably now fall in to group 6? I can’t actually find the Green Book definition.

nether · 09/04/2021 16:20

Firstly a person in the household need to be officially CEV - did he get the shielding letter?

It sounds as if he didn't (he'd have been group 4, so unless over 70 that would have come before age) so he is not at the level of severity for which this prioritisation was provided (households of those in group 6 fall outwith)

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 09/04/2021 16:34

Ah thanks, that’s helpful. So his level of systemic steroids would have put him in group 6 I think, based on the green book info I can find. But as his age group was group 5 it didn’t really matter that the GP records weren’t up to date as he’d already been invited for his vaccination. I’ll still make sure their records are correct but it’s obviously not so urgent now then.

Schulte · 09/04/2021 16:48

I believe the advice includes household members of immunosuppressed people in group 6, too. DH is directly under the consultant at the hospital and had to push the GP to put him in the correct category. I can’t be bothered to chase the GP again so I’ll just wait until it’s my turn by age now.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 09/04/2021 17:14

Schulte
That’s why I was wondering what the definition was for severely immunocompromised. I’ve been vaccinated in group 6 for a different reason but this guidance is quite recent it seems.