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Original poster

Plan for people who are CEV?

162 replies

Curiousmouse · 05/01/2022 16:22

What is it?

Most of us had our boosters in September and early October.

We know that protection from Omicron is significantly reduced after 10-12 weeks, from a variety of studies.

The government now appears to have decided not to give fourth doses. Surely that means that the most vulnerable people are now ironically the least protected, given most others were vaccinated so much more recently. It's hard to see how we are going to avoid a deluge of CEV people hitting the hospitals. I don't feel confident at all.

(Yes I realise the small number of severely immunosuppressed will get fourth doses, but that isn't the same thing).

OP posts:
TheLovelinessOfBaublyDemons · 06/01/2022 06:29

Yes hooray, DS1 gets to stay in his house indefinitely. This is no way to live.

herecomesthsun · 06/01/2022 06:30

@treeflowercat

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/05/why-living-with-covid-would-not-be-the-same-as-flu

Why living with Covid would not be the same as flu

www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm

CDC -comparison of covid and flu, which explains the difference

www.osfhealthcare.org/blog/covid-19-and-the-flu-are-not-the-same/

COVID-19 and the flu are not the same

It's not ticket science, really.

herecomesthsun · 06/01/2022 06:30

lol rocket science

herecomesthsun · 06/01/2022 06:37

@Madhairday

So frustrating to see the minimisers on this thread. Unhelpful and insensitive.

I'm CEV and really confused about the antivirals/PCR. Are all CEV supposed to get that? I've heard nothing but as far as I know haven't been removed, was getting letters up to November I think when they 'stopped' shielding advice. I've had a booster but I'm not immunosuppressed, my vulnerability is due to a lung condition. Anyone know anything about how to qualify for the antivirals or is it yet another list??!

It's another list, see on link below.

We can call 119 on 10th Jan if they haven't written to us and ask about it

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/treatments-for-coronavirus/

nether · 06/01/2022 06:54

Are all CEV supposed to get that?

Not necessarily

The last two pages of

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/12/C1530_Interim-clinical-commissioning-policy-neutralising-monoclonal-antibodies-or-antivirals-for-non-hospitali.pdf

give a list of who is likely to be eligible for monoclonal antibodies. It doesn't say if the same list applies for the new retrovirals

Mickarooni · 06/01/2022 08:39

@Madhairday

So frustrating to see the minimisers on this thread. Unhelpful and insensitive.

I'm CEV and really confused about the antivirals/PCR. Are all CEV supposed to get that? I've heard nothing but as far as I know haven't been removed, was getting letters up to November I think when they 'stopped' shielding advice. I've had a booster but I'm not immunosuppressed, my vulnerability is due to a lung condition. Anyone know anything about how to qualify for the antivirals or is it yet another list??!

@Madhairday

The criteria for the anti-viral treatment are different so it’s not all CEV people. Have you spoken to your consultant?

Madhairday · 06/01/2022 09:07

Thanks everyone. It does seem like a different list to the initial one. I might come under the 'gets infections' categories but not sure. I've not spoken to my consultant since December but will chase up and see if I can find out. If there's limited numbers I'm quite happy to be off the list so people in more need can get the medication.

herecomesthsun · 06/01/2022 09:37

Well, I'm very happy for people with severe immunosuppression to get priority, if they are more likely to get very ill with covid. That is the right thing to happen.

At the same time, a bit of thoughtful enquiry is often helpful, in a situation where parameters are changing rapidly, and the HCPs are challenged, with the best will in the world, to keep up with it all.

SpindleyCrow · 06/01/2022 10:17

It would be very reassuring to have some more clarity on what would happen if I get covid and how I would access support/ getting antivirals etc.

I agree with this, @herecomesthsun. My GP practice admits to be absolutely clueless about what's going on. As for my consultant, well I'm not due to see her till July. I saw the biologics nurse at the hospital recently who didn't know either, and she must be in regular team meetings with the consultants.

I have now emailed my CCG to see if they shed any light on who's supposed to (a) know what stuff, and (b) do what stuff.

Because I haven't got a scooby.

I still can't even get a bloody booster booked.

(I'm CEV, 'CV'; immune-suppressed/B-cell suppressed, with underlying health issues)

shortterm · 06/01/2022 10:25

You are right OP.

Ironically, those who got their boosters first, the elderly/CEV/healthcare staff are now the least protected in society (apart from those who chose to decline).

So the people treating the Covid patients in hospital have less vaccine protection (booster were back in September 2021) than those they are treating.

Some the JCVI seem good and decent people, but may now be more suited to a role with Vaccaid - nothing wrong with that, but it's not great for a rich developed country to be choosing to leave people vulnerable to infection. Germany and Israel (and others?) are already giving these 4 doses to the elderly and healthcare workers.

shortterm · 06/01/2022 10:27

By the way, in the UK, there is no shortage of vaccines.

As Boris said, this week there are 2 million appointments available, with probably only a fraction being taken up (100,000 a day?).

This not a case of prioritisation. At this stage, it would be easy to invite those who had their booster in September back for a fourth dose without anyone else missing out.

As to the rest of the world, these Pfizer boosters (frozen) are unlikely to be put on a place anywhere else this week (last time Boris Johnson gave away Pfizer doses, it was 4 million to Australia)

herecomesthsun · 06/01/2022 10:42

I am thinking, maybe writing to my (actually pretty helpful and supportive) MP might be an idea about this.

SpindleyCrow · 06/01/2022 11:07

@herecomesthsun

I am thinking, maybe writing to my (actually pretty helpful and supportive) MP might be an idea about this.
I was thinking the same. I know my MP, have known them for the best part of 20 years. I might try and get a telephone appointment or at least send them a nice hand-written personal letter (I'm not entirely convinced that most MPs see their email inbox, but rather rely on their staff to report anything 'trending').
herecomesthsun · 06/01/2022 11:24

I also think a letter not an email

herecomesthsun · 06/01/2022 11:24

can you ask 119 about the booster?

Infracat · 06/01/2022 17:18

For those who may not have noticed, you can now book your third primary vaccine and booster vaccine on the national booking sysytem, if eligible.

Toddlerteaplease · 06/01/2022 17:26

I'm CEV and a nurse. Omicron is so mild and I've already had covid so don't care anymore! Life has to go on.

Mickarooni · 06/01/2022 17:52

@Toddlerteaplease

I'm CEV and a nurse. Omicron is so mild and I've already had covid so don't care anymore! Life has to go on.
It’s become apparent over the last 22 months that CEV patients are not one and the same. The initial list was based on prediction but it’s since come to light that some groups are far more vulnerable than others.
Original poster
Curiousmouse · 06/01/2022 19:09

Ironically, those who got their boosters first, the elderly/CEV/healthcare staff are now the least protected in society (apart from those who chose to decline).

Exactly this. And we have no answers about it, one way or the other.

OP posts:
PrincessNutNuts · 06/01/2022 22:05

My dad got his priority PCR test for access to antivirals today.

He's over 75 and not currently under any hospital team, if that helps anyone work out what's going on with those.

Original poster
Curiousmouse · 07/01/2022 22:30

Thank you. I also saw this, and expect many of you did. That's pretty good news for now:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/07/fourth-covid-jab-not-yet-needed-jcvi-says-as-booster-protecting-older-people?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

OP posts:
MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 07/01/2022 22:45

That is good news

nether · 08/01/2022 07:39

The red box priority PCR arrived in our household today as well.

I linked the 'who's eligible' earlier in the thread - the system does depend on GPs identifying which patients meet the criteria, and I suspect there might be errors both in missing people who should be included, and also including people who should not. It's better to err on the side of including too many, because there is a further screening for suitability for the advanced drugs before they are used.

RachC2021 · 08/01/2022 10:49

@Infracat

For those who may not have noticed, you can now book your third primary vaccine and booster vaccine on the national booking sysytem, if eligible.
You can book a third primary dose, but can’t book a booster if you’ve had a third primary dose.

The text on the website still states that, plus I’ve just tried to book my booster and can’t. (I’ll be 91 days in about two weeks.)

Geom372 · 08/01/2022 15:08

Dinosaurwoman I'm on Humira for crohns and had my 4th vaccine this week.