Dear all,

Thank you for your continued support. I am just writing to update you that I finally had an email response from the JCVI recently. Unfortunately it does not say anything we have not been told before. But after ME Awareness Week is over I will reply to them. The full text of their email is below. See if you can spot the typo!

As we suspected, a recent survey by Action for ME and ME Action Network shows that 76% of people with ME/CFS who have got Covid 19 have had their symptoms worsen. More information is available in the report here:
https://www.actionforme.org.uk/uploads/images/2021/04/Initial-findings-impact-of-Covid-19-on-ME-April2021.pdf

Therefore it is important we continue to push for inclusion in vaccine priority, particularly with the talk of boaster jabs in the autumn for at risk groups, as well as for the general health equality of people with ME in comparison to other long term conditions. 

ME Action Network UK have also written a letter in support, including the results of that survey:
https://www.meaction.net/2021/05/05/continuing-pressure-on-nhs-to-vaccinate-people-with-me-in-light-of-survey-results/

Finally, as you may well know, this week is ME Awareness Week. If you have signed this petition to support your friend/relative/colleague/etc who has ME/CFS please consider dropping in to this online Q&A run by Cambridge ME group tomorrow (12th) 10am-4pm and finding out a bit more about ME and how you can support them. Also if you are involved in running a business or community group or other organisation, please come along and find out more about how to ensure you are accessible to people with ME/CFS as well.

Do drop us a line via social media:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1514965055513168
Or attend this zoom:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76911913456?pwd=aTZoa0t0MzNpT2NsVllxbHo4dEx6UT09

Till next time!

Nic

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“Dear Nic,

Thank you for your email. The JCVI is an independent committee who give advice to the Department of Health and Social Care who then set policy in relation to the vaccination schedule. I have therefore directed your petition to DHSC for their consideration.

The aim of the first phase of the vaccination programme (cohorts 1-9) was to prioritise vaccinating those who are most at risk of dying from COVID-19 as well as protecting frontline health and social care workers. Phase 2 of the vaccination programme also follows an age-based prioritisation order to reflect that the biggest risk factor in hospital and critical care admissions from contracting COVID-19 continues to be age. Currently the committee have not identified any robust data to indicate that, as a group, individuals with MS/CFS are at higher risk of dying from COVID 19 (please see below references).

The Green Book immunisations against infectious disease (COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk provides the details of the clinical risk groups in persons 16 years of age and over who should receive COVID-19 immunisation in Phase 1. The examples included are not exhaustive, and, the advice states that within these groups, the prescriber should apply clinical judgment to take into account the risk of COVID-19 exacerbating any underlying disease that a patient may have, as well as the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 itself.

The JCVI keeps all its advice under review and updates this as and when appropriate based on the latest available scientific evidence. If you have specific scientific evidence you would like to bring to the attention of the Secretariat related to ME/CFS and the risk of increased morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 this would be considered.

Kind regards,

Helena

JCVI Secretariat“