Covid vaccine for non medicated diabetes!

[Berenice]

Hi, I need some advice. Having found out that I'm not likely to have the vaccine until after the priority groups have been vaccinated (because my asthma is well controlled - due to my hard work with twice daily inhalers), I wondered where I stand with my type 2 diabetes which is controlled by diet and exercise. I live in Wales.

 

[Nick Cliff]

That's what I understand from my local NHS too. They state that anyone who is normally invited to have a Flu jab is in Group 6 - unless of course they qualify for one of the higher-priority groups for some other reason.

 

[Berenice]

Thanks for the replies. Having the goalposts moved for asthma has left me a little anxious re the diabetes. Fingers crossed it will be soon.

 

[Muddles]

So far as I understand, everyone with diabetes is in group 6, that is what Partha Kar says:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1361237684925120512

partha kar needs to speak to my surgery they are flatly refusing to vaccinate me in the group 6, I got told I'm group 5 due to age and must book online for a mass hub or chemist as they won't vaccinate me. I was told as my diabetes is controlled by diet and exercise it's not serious enough to be eligible. My last Hba1C in January was 53.

 

[Lucyr]

partha kar needs to speak to my surgery they are flatly refusing to vaccinate me in the group 6, I got told I'm group 5 due to age and must book online for a mass hub or chemist as they won't vaccinate me. I was told as my diabetes is controlled by diet and exercise it's not serious enough to be eligible. My last Hba1C in January was 53.

People are in whichever group they hit first, so if you meet the criteria for groups 5 and 6 then you are in group 5 not group 6 because they are a hierarchy. In the same way someone who meets group 6 because of diabetes and would otherwise be in group 9 for age is in group 6 they aren’t in both groups.

 

[Robin]

Our surgery is telling people 65+ in group 5 to go to the big hub even if we also have a health condition that would put us in group 6., 1) because we can, whereas people under 65 with health conditions can’t book in at a hub yet. 2) because we will get done quicker that way. 3) It frees up appointments at the local surgery for people who can’t travel, or need to be identified as eligible by the GP.
I booked at the hub and got done yesterday, whereas the first clinic the GP is organising is next week. However, our surgery has also said that if you are 65+ and have a valid reason why you can’t go to the hub, contact them and they will fit you in.

 

[grovesy]

Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation: advice on priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination, 30 December 2020

www.gov.uk

Then you need to speak to your surgery and ask them why they are not applying the JCVI phase 1 priority groups which clearly state:

6. all individuals aged 16 years[footnote 2] to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality[footnote 3]

Diabetes, without distinction of age, type, control etc, is a listed underlying health condition.

I think you will find @Muddles has already said they had been in touch with the Surgery and they want them to go to an alternative site to have the vaccine, which they don't want to do.

 

[grovesy]

I'm just going on what I've read in this thread - which was about groups and not where a vaccination is being offered.

Maybe they mentioned it on another thread.

 

[Kaylz]

It is a real worry that they move the goalposts for people like you (I don't mean that as it sounds) but it's that I kind of understand, my partner was under asthma until they tightened it up so he's now clinging on to the fact he has epilepsy but with worries that they tighten that to only if you've had a seizure in the last 12 months for instance, fingers crossed things stand as they are now! xx

 

[Berenice]

Update: my appointment for the first vaccine is tomorrow morning. I'm so relieved.

 

[Muddles]

Update:
I'm pleased to say after changing my doctor's to another practice further away the new practice didn't hesitate in booking me an appointment for my jab at their medical centre, which will be nxt Monday. They were not impressed my previous practice had refused to do it. The new practice is a little further than my old practice but a fraction of the distance to the mass vaccination site the old practice suggested. What a relief. Meanwhile there are lots of people in my village having to travel a long way away to get theirs through my old practice. And if they don't have transport or can't get it arranged, they will have to go without their vaccine.

 

[Berenice]

Update:
I'm pleased to say after changing my doctor's to another practice further away the new practice didn't hesitate in booking me an appointment for my jab at their medical centre, which will be nxt Monday. They were not impressed my previous practice had refused to do it. The new practice is a little further than my old practice but a fraction of the distance to the mass vaccination site the old practice suggested. What a relief. Meanwhile there are lots of people in my village having to travel a long way away to get theirs through my old practice. And if they don't have transport or can't get it arranged, they will have to go without their vaccine.

Well done, I'm pleased you're getting it done.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

I just got a text to book in using the clinically vulnerable criteria.
Although I'd already done it, as my local area had opened the group up to anyone in group 6, with no need to wait for an invite.