People previously admitted to hospital or needing "continuous or repeated" steroid use because of asthma are to be prioritised for the Covid vaccine.
The most severe cases will fall into priority-group four, the "clinically extremely vulnerable", who should have received a letter advising they shield.
And the government has now confirmed the remainder will be included in group six, the clinically "at risk", those usually eligible for a free flu jab.
It follows patients' calls for clarity.
The government said it was following independent experts' advice.
Its nine priority groups are based on preventing deaths and protecting health and care staff.
Since age is the biggest risk factor for Covid deaths, the first three groups are:
- care-home residents and staff
- over-80s and front-line health and care workers
- over-75s
And the government aims to vaccinate everyone in the first four priority groups by mid-February.
Group six, which the government has now confirmed will include all those who need a steroid inhaler or tablets for asthma, will be vaccinated after healthy over-65s but before anyone younger than that without health conditions.
And it is understood the government will aim to offer the jab to group six - and all over-50s - by May.
Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation chief executive Sarah Woolnough said: "We know that many people with asthma are confused about when they will get the vaccine and what priority group they fall into.
"We've been urging the government for some months to provide clarity on this, as we know it's a worrying time for lots of people.
"And we now have more information."
So have taken daily steroid inhalers for 20 years and have the flu vaccine every year to prevent serious illness but don't qualify for a vaccine for Covid which attacks the lungs? Makes absolutely no sense. But it's ok because I *probably* won't die if I catch it 👍
— Shelley Taylor (@shelley86) February 9, 2021
But, she added: "It may be hard to accurately identify everyone in this [priority-six] group.
"The government should err on the side of caution in decision-making and cast its net wide when making decisions about definitions, to ensure that people with asthma who are at risk won't be missed."
As well as being an indicator of how severe someone's asthma is, steroids suppress the immune system, making it harder to fight off viruses.
Ms Woolnough said: "Reassuringly, evidence now shows that people with well controlled asthma that is not severe don't seem to be at higher risk of dying from Covid-19."
Am 50 in just over a week been working throughout in a chiller i may be classed as controlled but each day i go to work with the feeling in my chest its a risk.The strategy during this cold period is scary and isolating for me even when i get the flu jab i go to superdrug 4it.😷
— paul simpson (@paulsimo1971) February 9, 2021
But some people with asthma have expressed concerns online about their wider health.
NHS England said it would be offering vaccines based on the government's nine categories and patients' medical records.
- OXFORD JAB: What is the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine?
- SYMPTOMS: What are they and how to guard against them?
- YOUR QUESTIONS: We answer your queries
- VACCINE: When will I get the jab?
- NEW VARIANTS: How worried should we be?
"severe" - Google News
February 11, 2021 at 08:06AM
https://ift.tt/3jDSM3l
Covid vaccine priority for 'severe' asthma - BBC News
"severe" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2OrY17E
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Covid vaccine priority for 'severe' asthma - BBC News"
Post a Comment