CP and COVID Vaccine

Brightsidebecs

Does anyone know if having Cerebral palsy give you a bit of priority with getting the COVID Vaccine? 

woodbine

This might help
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

Brightsidebecs

Thanks 

Ross_Scope

Did the information provided above help you @Brightsidebecs ?

Brightsidebecs

not really 

janer1967

Hi and welcome 

I have not heard that it does give any priority maybe speak to your gp I will also tag in @Richard_Scope who may know something 

Richard_Scope

Hi @Brightsidebecs
People living with CP and respiratory or swallowing (dysphagia) may be given the vaccine slightly earlier. I would advise that you discuss your individual circumstances with your G.P. or Practice Nurse.

121Stargazer

I think cerebral palsy is category 6 on the priority list (All individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality). The following is taken from: COVID-19 Greenbook chapter 14a    Link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948757/Greenbook_chapter_14a_v4.pdf

Chronic neurological disease: Stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Conditions in which respiratory function may be compromised due to neurological disease (e.g. polio syndrome sufferers). This includes individuals with cerebral palsy, severe or profound learning disabilities, Down’s Syndrome, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease and related or similar conditions; or hereditary and degenerative disease of the nervous system or muscles; or severe neurological disability.    

Maybe Scope can confirm this?

Richard_Scope

@121Stargazer I can confirm that you are correct. The majority of people living with CP will category 6.

forgoodnesssake

@Richard_Scope do you have any source or reference for "People living with CP and respiratory or swallowing (dysphagia) may be given the vaccine slightly earlier. I would advise that you discuss your individual circumstances with your G.P. or Practice Nurse. "

It is relevant for us and would be very useful to have an official source (I totally agree with you but might need a bit more "welly" for the medics!) Thanks

Richard_Scope

Hi @forgoodnesssake
I took the information from the Association of British Neurologists: Guidance on COVID-19 for people with neurological conditions, their doctors and carers
Where it states "since COVID-19 is a disease of the lungs and airways, any condition that has affected swallowing or breathing might increase the severity of COVID-19 infection."  This moves this cohort of people with CP from clinically vulnerable to clinically extremely vulnerable.

forgoodnesssake

Thanks, that's really useful.  And very shocking that so many AAC users and others with CP are not being considered in this way.  Particularly alarming that someone with fully funded NHS Continuing healthcare, who scores very highly for dysphagia, is not apparently flagged for this risk....I could go on, but not on a public forum!

Richard_Scope

They should be flagged for that risk! That is shocking.