Covid vaccination group

Hi,

The roll out seems to be variable and patchy across UK.In our area postcode GU care homes are now being covered but some medical staff and over 80 s  were covered before Christmas and by now some have have had 2 jabs.We are actively in to vaccinating group 3- the over 75s which commenced last week.The next roll out will be group 4  which is 70 plus and clinically extremely vulnerable;I am not sure whether CML patients would need to have registered on the gov.uk website as vulnerable in order to be in that group or not?There seems to have been some confusion here;as you say if not in Group 5 you are likely to be in Group 6.

Last week I was contacted by my GP surgery as an over 75 to go to a centre and was offered the Pfizer jab.The screening was fairly thorough in that we had to give information on any major health conditions and medication -CML and imatinib was not an issue but they were picking up on anyone with allergies and anyone on blood thinners.

The product literature was very extensive and warned of frequencies of side effects ; very common -more than 1in 10 will experience tiredness,headache,muscle pain,chills,joint pain and fever plus pain in the arm at the point of injection.Common -up to 1 in 10 will have a swollen arm redness and possibly also nausea.1 in a 100 might have swollen lymph nodes.There is a yellow card system to report unusual side effects.After 3 days or more of any troublesome side effects or any mimic of Covid like symptoms one needs to seek medical help.

I am not sure whether the possible side effects for the Oxford vaccine are similar or whatever.In addition I believe some will be contacted by letter rather than by phone.

I found very few side effects apart from a sore arm for a few days and a slight feeling of overheating of the body plus lots of fatigue;probably no worse than side effects from the flu jab.

Keep safe

John

Hi Daniela,

like David I believed at 63 I was in group 4, but after checking today it seems you’re right I’m in group six, my thinking on this new situation is, hopefully, we get through these groups ASAP plus vaccinations are going at great speeds, nearly half a million in one day, Uk, another thought is thank god we’ve got a vaccine to get. Stay safe.

Peter.

Thanks for your replies guys. I've gone back to my GP to say there may have been an error in the categorisation. I spoke to the receptionist initially so I've asked if they can double check this with the GP. I've also asked Prof Apperley at Hammersmith to see if she knows anything further. Funnily enough she is doing a voluntary stint in vaccinating today but hopefully I'll hear back soon. I'll update once I hear more in case anyone else finds the info useful.

That’s odd.  If you’ve received shielding letters (I’ve had quite a few between April/May and the most recent one earlier this month) you are on the clinically extremely vulnerable list, which is Group 4.  As others have said the rollout is (understandably) not 100% uniform speed wise but I think most places are doing all 4 first groups now in an overlapping way.  I had dose 1 of Pfizer on Friday (only side effect a tender arm for a couple of days) having had an appointment within 24 hours of being sent a text.  I know my GP has me on the right list so to speak - and I can see from my records online that they have recorded my vaccination.  Indeed, while I had my vaccination at a different health centre, it was my GP surgery that was essentially directing it for me.  
 

I was told dose 2 would be in 10-12 weeks from vaccination so will be sure to look out for a text around then.  

The most important thing tho is of course that you are on a list somewhere and will be called.  Hopefully if the current rollout rate is more or less maintained you won’t have too long to wait.  

Hi Daniella

just a quick update on vaccine situation in my area, yesterday I checked and could see confusion in categories, which,to a few of us from some of the departments we were in group 6 and in others group 4, today I’ve received my vaccine appointment for this Friday, not sure where we are in allocation now!

stay safe,

peter.