Government criticised by asthma campaigners over vaccine priority group confusion

Asthma campaigners have criticised the government for "lack of attention and urgency" after confusion over where those with the condition will sit in the vaccine queue.
Asthma campaigners have criticised the government over lack of clarity on where those with the condition will come in the vaccine queueAsthma campaigners have criticised the government over lack of clarity on where those with the condition will come in the vaccine queue
Asthma campaigners have criticised the government over lack of clarity on where those with the condition will come in the vaccine queue

Severe asthma is included as one of the lung conditions on the government’s list of medical issues that can make people clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) to the virus.

CEV people between 16 and 65 fall into vaccine priority group six, the first group that aims to vaccinate people below 65 bar healthcare workers and care staff.

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People who fall into group six should receive the first dose of a vaccine by the end of April, according to government targets.

But anyone under 50 whose asthma isn’t severe enough to have either been admitted to hospital after an attack with it in the past, or have three courses of steroid treatment over a three month period, will not be prioritised for vaccine, the government confirmed to the Asthma UK charity.

The charity has said the government’s decision has caused anxiety for sufferers of the condition, which affects 5.4 million adults in the UK.

Some people with asthma will have already been vaccinated if they received a shielding letter in the first lockdown, the charity said.

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A study published in Clinical Immunology earlier this year said there was no discernable link between asthma and higher covid mortality rates.

Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation, said: “The government have advised people with asthma that they are clinically vulnerable to COVID, throughout the pandemic, leaving many people with asthma to believe that they were going to be in priority group six for the COVID vaccine.

“The government must urgently communicate directly to people with asthma why it has made this decision and explain the reasoning behind it.

“The government’s lack of attention, urgency and confused messaging around this issue from the start of the pandemic has caused needless anxiety for people and it needs to be put right.

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“It is simply not fair that people with asthma are dealing with this at an already difficult time.”

The Prime Minister confirmed yesterday that the government is on track to vaccinate everyone aged 50 or over or with underlying health conditions by the end of April.

The Department of Health and Social Care were approached for comment.