Coronavirus FAQs

These are the answers to questions about COVID-19 posed by you. We will keep you up to date with any new information and advice as we get it.

Questions

What should I do if I have COVID-19?

Speak with your interstitial lung disease (ILD) team if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

Do not visit your hospital or GP surgery.

The information on the NHS website can help you manage your symptoms. If your symptoms progress or you become increasingly breathless, call NHS 111 or visit 111 online. In an emergency, call 999.

Is there a COVID-19 booster and flu jab this autumn 2023?

The government are offering COVID-19 booster vaccines for the following groups in autumn 2023:

Residents in a care home for older adults.
All adults aged 65 years and over.
People aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book. This includes people with chronic respiratory diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis.
Frontline health and social care workers.
People aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts, as defined in the Green Book, of people with immunosuppression
People aged 16 to 64 years who are carers, as defined in the Green Book, and staff working in care homes for older adults

You will be contacted by the NHS if you are eligible for a vaccine.

Read more about the autumn 2023 COVID-19 booster vaccine.

You are eligible for a free flu vaccine in autumn 2023 if you:

are 65 and over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2024)
have certain health conditions
are pregnant
are in long-stay residential care
receive a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system, such as someone living with HIV, someone who has had a transplant, or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

You will be contacted by the NHS if you are eligible. If you look after someone who has pulmonary fibrosis, you can register as a carer with your GP to receive a free flu vaccine.

Are there any treatments for COVID-19?

There are treatments available for people aged 12 and over who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are at highest risk of getting seriously ill. See a full eligibility list, including those who are immunosuppressed or with a weakened immune system.

There are government information leaflets available on COVID-19 treatments:

Sotrovimab (Xevudy)
Molnupiravir (Lagevrio)
Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid)

How to access treatments

Your local NHS organisation arranges COVID-19 treatments. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and think you're eligible for treatment, you should:

Take a lateral flow test. Find out how to get lateral flow tests.
If your test is positive, call your GP practice, NHS 111 or your hospital specialist. They will assess if you are eligible for treatment or refer you for assessment by another specialist.
If your test is negative but you still have symptoms, take a second test the next day, and a third test the day after. If any of the tests are positive, call your GP practice, NHS 111 or your hospital specialist.

What is the living with COVID-19 plan?

On 21 February 2022 the Government set out the plan to live with and manage COVID-19 in England. As a result there is also updated guidance for people at high risk.

‍Read Scotland's latest guidance.

Wales has released 'Together for a Safer Future', which gives guidance for transitioning to living with COVID-19.

Northern Ireland has advice on living with COVID-19 on their website.

If you're feeling anxious about the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, don’t face this alone. Come and meet others who understand and can support you. Many pulmonary fibrosis support groups still meet online. You can also call our support line to chat through any concerns you have.

How do I know if I’m on immunosuppressant drugs?

You might be taking immunosuppressive drugs if you are have:

• pulmonary fibrosis associated autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic sclerosis

• A solid organ lung transplant and take anti-rejection drugs.

There are several different immunosuppressant medications including:

Methotrexate
Mycophenolate mofetil
Azathioprine
Rituximab
Cyclosporine
Tacrolimus
Cyclophosphamide.

If you're not sure if you take immunosuppressants, contact your GP practice or specialist medical team.

I haven’t heard about my next hospital appointment, what should I do?

It is vitally important that if you suspect or have a type of pulmonary fibrosis that you have regular check ups, including a lung function test. Many hospitals are working through a backlog of patients resulting from Covid-19 and reduced capacity because of stringent and necessary cleaning routines required between appointments.

No matter what your health is like we recommend you have your physical check up as soon as possible. Contact your ILD team by phone and email explaining your current health status and length of time since your last appointment.

Preventing others from infecting you

If you live with others, it’s hard to keep separate from them. But you will reduce your risk of getting COVID-19 if you:

Keep 2 metres (3 steps) away from other family members, sleep on your own and use separate towels and a separate bathroom, if possible
‍‍Keep shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas well-ventilated and minimise as much as possible the time other family members spend in these areas.‍
Clean any shared bathrooms every time they are used and try to use the kitchen at different times. Family cutlery and crockery should be washed well. Use a separate tea towel for the cutlery and crockery you use.‍
Get everybody in the house to wash their hands frequently (20 secs with soap), avoid touching their faces and clean frequently touched surfaces.

Note: Shielding is for your personal protection. It is your choice whether to follow the advice. Individuals who have less than six months to live or some others in special circumstances, could decide not to undertake shielding.

Will I need to shield again in the future? How will I know if I need to?

In the future, the government will only reintroduce formal shielding advice in the very worst affected areas and for a limited period of time. This will be based on a recommendation from the Chief Medical Officer.

The Government will write to you separately if you are advised to shield. You aren't advised to follow formal shielding advice again unless you receive a new letter advising you to do so.

What about my oxygen supply?

There are no issues with the supply of oxygen. You may want to speak to your supplier for reassurance:

‍Air Liquide covers the following Trusts :
NHS Darlington, NHS Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield, NHS Gateshead, NHS North Durham, NHS South Tees, NHS South Tyneside and NHS Sunderland (0800 022 3445)

Baywater Healthcare covers North West England, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside and Wales (0800 373 580)

British Oxygen Company (BOC) covers the East of England, East Midlands, North East England and Northern Ireland (0800 136 603)

Dolby Vivisol covers the South of England (0800 917 9840) and Scotland (0800 833 531)

Should I wear a face mask?

Read the government’s latest guidance on face coverings.

Some people are unable to wear a face covering because it makes breathing more difficult. If you want people to know you are exempt from wearing a face covering, you can order an APF lanyard.

What happens if I have to go to hospital?

We recommend you complete our medical information form and make sure this is with you plus any recent letters from your ILD Teams if you are taken in to hospital. Do use the back of the form to add any additional information that you feel is helpful and specific to you.

It’s a good idea to think through what the first 12 or 24 hours might look like if you went to hospital. Questions to ask yourself or discuss with a loved one:

Once I know where I’m going to be admitted to, what will I need to take with me?
Who needs to know and how can I tell them?
Who can travel with me/take me?

We know that some people living with very advanced pulmonary fibrosis may choose to call their local hospice if they are already accessing support from the palliative care teams instead of 111. It’s a good idea to let family or friends know your wishes.

Read more about going into hospital on the NHS website.

What can I do to help others?

Contact your support group organiser and offer to call members of your support group to ‘check in’ and stay in touch
Share any skills you have to help others stay in touch with friends and family online
Encourage people to get online and follow APF on social media
Share your tips on how you are keeping busy, teach others a skill or share a joke