Redhill man with MND shocked he no longer qualifies for Covid jab

A man living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) has said he was shocked to find he was no longer eligible for a Covid vaccination.

David Setters, 68, from Redhill, was diagnosed with MND a decade ago and uses a ventilator at night.

Mr Setters said that after the NHS decision that MND patients no longer qualified, patients were “being turned away” from their GP and directed to a pharmacy where the vaccine costs about £100.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said doctors and pharmacists should “apply clinical judgement” when assessing someone’s risk from Covid-19.

MND is a progressive, neurological disease that gradually destroys motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.

It is usually life-shortening and there is currently no cure.

It causes muscle weakness, and over time can lead to difficulty moving, with patients needing a ventilator to help them breathe.

Describing his condition, Mr Setters said: “My breathing is compromised and I have to use overnight non-invasive ventilation to make sure sufficient carbon dioxide is extracted from my body.

“Any infection, especially a serious one like Covid, could be very serious for me.”

Mr Setter said he had a “slowly progressive” form of the disease and was more concerned for others with faster progression.

They could have “more advanced breathing difficulties, some of them on 24/7 non-invasive ventilation”, he said.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises the UK government on vaccination and immunisation matters.

It has recommended that those eligible for Covid-19 vaccination this autumn are:

● adults aged 75 years and over

● residents in a care home for older adults

● individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed

Liberal Democrat MP for Dorking and Horley, Chris Coghlan, said a constituent had brought to his attention a petition which is calling for the NHS to continue to fund Covid boosters for clinically vulnerable people.

“I’m shocked to hear that many clinically vulnerable people, including those with MND, do not automatically qualify for Covid boosters this autumn,” he said, adding that he had written to the health secretary on the matter.

He said: “The narrowing of criteria has been poorly communicated and it’s deeply upsetting that many are having to fight for appointments.

“In some cases, even those administering the vaccines are unsure who is eligible, so there needs to be clearer communication.

The UKHSA said in a statement that within the broad groups excluded from the vaccination programme “the prescriber may need to apply clinical judgment to take into account the risk of Covid-19 exacerbating any underlying disease a patient may have, as well as the risk of serious illness from Covid-19 itself.”

Mr Setters has now agreed with his GP a date to have his Covid vaccination.