Anyone got the 'text' but doesn't have one of the listed conditions?

[storminabuttercup]

Government 'stay at home for 12 week' texts came through to DP last night, he doesn't have any of the conditions listed so we are a bit baffled, generally healthy but does get the flu jab. Wondering if anyone has had similar?

[Radleygirl]

I got the text too and don’t have anything on the list. I’m wondering if there’s a mistake. However I’m wondering about just going with it as it would cut down my risk of bringing something home to my children. I won’t be missed at work as we have nothing to do, but I would feel a bit of a fraud.

[AlmostThereKeepMoving]

Why does he get the flu jab?

[ChipotleBlessing]

Why does he get the flu jab? Broadly the government used ‘if you get the flu jab free’ as a category to tell people to expect to be high risk.

[storminabuttercup]

All sorted now. It is correct the doctor has confirmed. Presumably this second cohort of letters are included by GPs

[Yellowbutterfly1]

Was it to do with having the flu jab?

[ChipotleBlessing]

I’m a bit bemused that you’ve gone from your DH being healthy to his GP saying he needs to shield. That’s quite odd.

[storminabuttercup]

Chipotle- he has had no health issues but a splenectomy in his teens after a sporting accident, which was over 20 years ago. He rarely gets ill. Splenectomy wasn't on the list and apart from the flu jab he has no other treatment he is 'healthy'

[Sooverthemill]

So if you get the flu jab you should be shielding? Is that correct?

[storminabuttercup]

I'm honestly not sure

[CorbynsAnorak]

I got one yesterday. I have no health conditions, so am assuming it relates to my dd who is a bone marrow transplant survivor. However, we spoke to her medical team at GOSH about 3 weeks ago and were told she is not at risk and to test her as normal. She is 4 years post transplant and not on any medication.

It’s really freaked me out and I’m not sure what to do or where I can get some clarity from! I’m wondering if it’s a mistake as she previously had a condition that put her at risk, but no longer has it. Anyone else in a similar position?

[ShastaBeast]

Splenectomy is a big factor, although it didn’t seem a huge risk when I researched it. My mum had the text and presumably for the same reason, but also other factors in the less extreme risk category.

[storminabuttercup]

Gosh Corbyn i can see why you are worried. It makes you feel like they know something you don't doesn't it? Could you contact your surgery ours knew straight away why he'd been sent it

[storminabuttercup]

I think I read the same as you shasta, I think it's a matter of playing it very safe?

[JackJackIncredible]

It seems some GP surgeries have unnecessarily highlighted people and they don’t actual need to shield. Not sure if your husband would be in that category.

[JackJackIncredible]

What do we mean by extremely vulnerable?
People falling into this extremely vulnerable group include:

Solid organ transplant recipients.
People with specific cancers:
people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD.
People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell).
People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.
Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.

[storminabuttercup]

Thanks jack that's why I was confused

[AlmostThereKeepMoving]

@Sooverthemill No, if you get the flu jab then you are vulnerable so need to be extra stringent in your socially distancing measures.

A subsection of these people are extremely vulnerable and need to be shielded.

@storminabuttercup Why does your DH get the flu jab? Because of his splenectomy?

[storminabuttercup]

@almosttherekeepmoving that's right
Although he never got the swine flu one or anything else

[40somethingJBJ]

I really can’t work out how they’re allocating these letters/texts. My friend has had one (asthmatic, but on the same meds that I’m on and never been hospitalised), yet my elderly father who has COPD and uses a Bipap machine at night, hasn’t been told to shield, and neither has my 85 year old neighbour who has prostate cancer and recently had a triple heart bypass. Perhaps they’ll get told in the next week or so if they’re still sending them out?

[Cynderella]

I got one - spoke to GP today. She referred to a letter sent to GPs on 21st March. I'm being careful anyway, but can imagine some people being quite upset getting a text telling them they can open a window but not go outside, especially as none of this fits with what's on the gov.uk website.

I think, as @JackJackIncredible said, it's down to GP discretion and interpretation. The one I spoke to this morning couldn't really explain herself when challenged.

[catfeets]

Having no spleen was on the list of conditions when it was first sent out. My DP's colleague had to immediately inform work he couldn't go in, and will be off work for the duration of this lockdown.

[CorbynsAnorak]

So it's the GPs who are flagging people up for the text? I will ring them and see what they say.

My daughter was born with SCID, which is on the list, but she has been effectively cured of that condition, so not sure it applies. They did mention something about possible compromised spleen function after transplant, so perhaps that's it? Yes, the 'you can open a window' text was particularly alarming!

[JackJackIncredible]

@CorbynsAnorak

People are being identified from various different databases. Unfortunately some people who should be on that list were missed. GPs were then asked to identify any patients who should have been informed. This has led to some GPs making their own decisions. It’s less worrying if extra people have been included and more worrying for those who have been missed and may not have access to much social media so aren’t aware!

For anyone worried, if you don’t recognise yourself from the list of conditions, you’ll probably be ok to continue very stringent social distancing. Most people can look at the list of conditions and identify themselves.