Read on Twitter
BREAKING: The Government has 'changed the goalposts' & are making millions with asthma the 'sacrificial lambs' to reduce the numbers in Priority 6 for the covid vaccine.
Full story here
pls read & pls RT https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/coronavirus-vaccine-asthma-covid-priority-5003007
Full story here
pls read & pls RT https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/coronavirus-vaccine-asthma-covid-priority-5003007
There are somewhere between 6 & 8 million people with asthma in the UK.
They'd been told most of them would be in Priority Group 6 for the covid vaccine, but the Govt was a bit vague about it.
They'd been told most of them would be in Priority Group 6 for the covid vaccine, but the Govt was a bit vague about it.
After repeated calls for clarity from @asthmauk the Govt finally announced who would be in Group 6, and the criteria is pretty tough. Thanks to better treatment for asthma, only those with a hospital admission or a severe bout of asthma (3 prescipts in 3 months) will qualify
This means millions of people have suddenly been, overnight, bumped out of Priority Group 6 and into the general population, even though they've spent the past 11 months pretty much shielding from covid themselves after being told they were vulnerable
The reaction to the announcement from @asthmauk has been FURIOUS, understandably.
Now, a 47-yr-old whose life revolves around controlling their asthma, will be in the covid vaccine queue next to a healthy 27-year-old without asthma, later this year
Now, a 47-yr-old whose life revolves around controlling their asthma, will be in the covid vaccine queue next to a healthy 27-year-old without asthma, later this year
The Govt seems hellbent on reopening schools, shops, pubs by the spring - as soon as it can get through the first 6 priority groups by the Spring.
The vaccine roll-out is about to hit a bump. All those who had 1st jab will soon need 2nd, alongside the millions in Group 6.
The vaccine roll-out is about to hit a bump. All those who had 1st jab will soon need 2nd, alongside the millions in Group 6.
That will, in theory, halve the speed of the roll-out.
What's the solution?
Cut the numbers in Group 6 drastically, and hey presto, problem solved.
A reduced Group 6 is cleared quickly & everyone can go down the pub.
That's the accusation from very angry asthmatics right now
What's the solution?
Cut the numbers in Group 6 drastically, and hey presto, problem solved.
A reduced Group 6 is cleared quickly & everyone can go down the pub.
That's the accusation from very angry asthmatics right now
The clinical observations/reasoning from @asthmauk's clinical lead appear to be cutting no ice from asthmatics, which is fascinating to see. Check some of the tweets & quotes in the article, and check the thread when AsthmaUK announced it.
Many have been left furious at the change, & are also calling on @asthmauk to fight back, rather than just ask Govt for clarity.
Interesting to see if they will... https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/coronavirus-vaccine-asthma-covid-priority-5003007
Interesting to see if they will... https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/coronavirus-vaccine-asthma-covid-priority-5003007
Bottom line is that @asthmauk say "What we now know is that for most people with well-controlled asthma that is not severe, the risk (of becoming seriously ill from coronavirus) isn’t increased."
Asthma sufferers know their condition, however well controlled, means a cold becomes a chest infection, flu becomes serious.
That statement from Asthma UK seems counterintuitive, & angry asthmatics want more details on exactly what is being defined by 'seriously ill'.
That statement from Asthma UK seems counterintuitive, & angry asthmatics want more details on exactly what is being defined by 'seriously ill'.
One asthma sufferer quoted in this article, @ArburyJane, pointed out the coincidence of the change of guidance coming on the same day the Govt started talking up prospects of pubs opening.... https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/coronavirus-vaccine-asthma-covid-priority-5003007
Asthma sufferers have begun a petition to call for people with asthma to at least be in priority groups 1-9, even if they're not in 4 or 6.
It's here: https://www.change.org/p/jcvi-please-cover-all-clinically-vulnerable-asthmatics-in-covid-vaccine-groups-1-9?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_27296071_en-GB%3A4&recruiter=46348910&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition
It's here: https://www.change.org/p/jcvi-please-cover-all-clinically-vulnerable-asthmatics-in-covid-vaccine-groups-1-9?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_27296071_en-GB%3A4&recruiter=46348910&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition
I've heard back (fair play, it's a Sunday) from @asthmauk Chief Exec Sarah Woolnough:
The link to the BMJ research at the bottom of that statement from @asthmauk is here https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3731/article-info
Appears to be a range of apparently conflicting evidence about whether asthma makes covid worse or not.
Firstly, have a look at this, from the US
Findings are that asthmatics are no more likely to catch covid, or it be more severe... https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/asthma-library/covid-asthma
Firstly, have a look at this, from the US
Findings are that asthmatics are no more likely to catch covid, or it be more severe... https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/asthma-library/covid-asthma
And yet this, also from the US, indicates younger adults (not children as per pic) with asthma were more likely to end up intubated if they do get covid https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200518/Asthma-linked-to-longer-intubation-time-in-younger-COVID-19-patients.aspx
Then have a look at the 'Reasons to be Cautious' section of the BMJ's report - the one the Govt & @asthmauk are using to say people with asthma are no more likely to die of covid.
As @tudor_geek points out, the BMJ research team admit they haven't/can't factor in the behaviour of people with asthma (taking more care/self-shielding) which will have skewed the stats. https://twitter.com/tudor_geek/status/1360952932515119105?s=20
People with moderate asthma (so not extremely severe enough to get shielding letter/Priority Group 4) are STILL listed on the Govt covid website today as 'clinically vulnerable' - the one used for Priority Group 6.
'Moving the goalposts' but not redrawn the pitch to catch up yet.
'Moving the goalposts' but not redrawn the pitch to catch up yet.
People with other conditions appear to be being bumped off Priority Group 6 @BBCHughPym
Here's 'stroke'... https://twitter.com/BroxtonLippiatt/status/1360962628659654656?s=20
Here's 'stroke'... https://twitter.com/BroxtonLippiatt/status/1360962628659654656?s=20
And here's ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. https://twitter.com/stuckatlights/status/1360932432124538885?s=20
And the sudden changes to which asthma sufferer is in which covid vaccine priority group (if any) have come quite suddenly... https://twitter.com/millermatthews/status/1360956639952650245?s=20
