Last updated 1 April 2021
Adults age 16 to 64 with specific underlying health conditions are priority group 6 in the national priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination from the UK's independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
The precise definitions for the people who will be invited in these groups will be based on guidance set out in the Green Book - Immunisation Against Infectious Disease (the definitions as at 12 February are included below, but please check the Green Book for the latest details). Some people with more severe conditions may be clinically extremely vulnerable.
National guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation also recommend that certain categories of carer should also be offered vaccination alongside these groups.
Category or condition | Information from the "Green Book" | Other guidance |
Chronic respiratory disease | Individuals with a severe lung condition, including those with asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and emphysema; bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). |
UK national guidance advises that the following people with asthma should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine in Priority Group 6: The following people with asthma should be offered vaccination:
Source: NHS advice |
Chronic heart disease and vascular disease | Congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronic heart failure, individuals requiring regular medication and/or follow-up for ischaemic heart disease. This includes individuals with atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease or a history of venous thromboembolism. | |
Chronic kidney disease | Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5, chronic kidney failure, nephrotic syndrome, kidney transplantation. | |
Chronic liver disease | Cirrhosis, biliary atresia, chronic hepatitis. | |
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. | Welsh Government has also published updated guidance on 24 February on Covid-19 vaccinations for individuals with a learning disability or severe mental illness. |
Diabetes mellitus | Any diabetes, including diet-controlled diabetes. | |
Immunosuppression |
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Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen | This also includes conditions that may lead to splenic dysfunction, such as homozygous sickle cell disease, thalassemia major and coeliac syndrome. | |
Morbid obesity | Adults with a Body Mass Index ≥40 kg/m2. | |
Severe mental illness | Individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or any mental illness that causes severe functional impairment. | Welsh Government has also published updated guidance on 24 February on Covid-19 vaccinations for individuals with a learning disability or severe mental illness. |
Adult carers | Those who are eligible for a carer’s allowance, or those who are the sole or primary carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality and therefore clinically vulnerable. | Check our carers page for more details. |
Younger adults in long-stay nursing and residential care settings | Many younger adults in residential care settings will be eligible for vaccination because they fall into one of the clinical risk groups above (for example learning disabilities). Given the likely high risk of exposure in these settings, where a high proportion of the population would be considered eligible, vaccination of the whole resident population is recommended. Younger residents in care homes for the elderly will be at high risk of exposure, and although they may be at lower risk of mortality than older residents should not be excluded from vaccination programmes. |
In relation to younger adults in long-stay nursing and residential care settings, please also see Welsh Government updated guidance on 24 February on Covid-19 vaccinations for individuals with a learning disability or severe mental illness. |
In line with the national COVID-19 vaccination strategy we have offered vaccination to everyone in Priority Groups 1 to 4 by mid February. From mid February through to the middle of April we are offering vaccination to everyone in priority groups 5 to 9.
Invitations to adults with underlying health conditions are well under way, and currently we expect to issue invitations to people in this group during March, but this is dependent on UK vaccine supplies. You can also check your eligibility and contact us using our enquiry form.
Please wait to be contacted to be invited for your vaccination. Vaccination is available by appointment only.
Information about second dose appointments is available from our second dose appointments page.
More information about COVID-19 vaccination in Powys is available from our COVID-19 vaccination page.