Covid: Some asthma patients being told to wait longer for vaccine
People with asthma who are eligible for a coronavirus vaccine are being refused it by some GPs who are not following government guidance, the BBC has found.
An NHS England letter sent to GPs in mid-February says people who have "ever had an emergency asthma admission" to hospital fall into priority group six, which is currently being vaccinated.
But some patients are being told a hospital admission within the past 12 months is required.
GPs say they look at various factors, including age and ethnicity, as well as some degree of clinical judgement, the Royal College of GPs said.
Charity Asthma UK says a lot of people have been in touch with them to report this issue, and they've had thousands of calls to their helpline asking for advice on coronavirus and the vaccine rollout over the past year.
Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, said: "We know that there are different interpretations of the official guidance from GP surgery staff and we're not sure why exactly this is happening."
"We know that GPs are very busy and trying to vaccinate so many people quickly, and keep on top of very complex daily new information about COVID-19 and the vaccination programme. But it's essential that GPs follow official guidance, so that people with asthma who need to be prioritised are protected now.''
Source: BBC News, 5 March 2021