Moving on to Groups 5 and 6

Posted by: jessicaormrod - Posted on:

C19 prioritisation

Locally the Primary Care Networks and the Regional Vaccination Centres have now offered vaccinations to those in groups 1-4.

Any person in Groups 1-4 who has not been vaccinated but wants to be vaccinated can book a vaccination on line via https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ or by calling 119. If you prefer to wait for the local hub you should contact the surgery to be added to the list so that you will be called when appointments become available.


NHS England have now given local teams a directive for moving on to the the next phases of Covid vaccination as determined by the JCVI.


Group 5 (those aged 65y-69y) are now eligible for vaccination and being directed to the large vaccination sites in Burnley (open from tomorrow), Blackburn and Manchester. NHS England will send you a letter, but you can now book your appointment online or call 119 to book for a vaccination.


The local PCN site in Rawtenstall has been directed to prioritise calling those in group 6 (those with a specific underlying conditions and adults who provide regular care for an elderly or disabled person). More details about this group is available here : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-care-home-and-healthcare-settings-posters/covid-19-vaccination-first-phase-priority-groups


If you are in Group 5 and you feel unable to or can not go to a regional site, you should contact the practice so that you can be added to the list of patients to be called when vaccination appointments become available at the Rawtenstall hub or to be added to the housebound list if this applies to you.

Group 6 , more details:

The JCVI defines clinically vulnerable people in group 6 as those with:

  • Chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and severe asthma (asthmatics who have ever had an emergency asthma hospital admission, or who have had three oral (tablet) steroid prescriptions over a three month period )
  • Chronic heart disease (and vascular disease)
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Chronic neurological disease including epilepsy
  • Down’s syndrome
  • Severe and profound learning disability
  • Diabetes of any type
  • Solid organ, bone marrow and stem cell transplant recipients
  • People with specific cancers
  • Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment
  • Asplenia and splenic dysfunction
  • Morbid obesity (BMI 40 +)
  • Severe mental illness
  • Group 6 also includes adult carers – those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.