Any CEV people not shielding?

[SammySueTwo]

After following the press coverage on Evusheld and how the UK government has decided that vulnerable people are not worth protecting, I have seen many vulnerable people are continuing to shield.
I'm on immune suppressants so one of the 500 thousand CEV. Not had my autumn booster yet (but had all 5 jabs - don't know if I made any antibodies.)
I've been reading about people strictly shielding still. With teens this has not been possible for me - now I am wondering if I am being a fool and should stop indoor contact? Articles have made mention of families separating to protect themselves and people living in solo isolation since 2020?
My consultant's advice was to be careful but that people on my medications have had covid and been ok. Of course I could just stop taking them?
I would like to know what other CEV people are doing right now?

My husband is CEV. We shielded until vaccinated, not since. He contracted Covid a few months ago. Short, mild illness, no lasting repercussions. . We’ll be taking our autumn boosters and living our lives with family and friends.

I am CEV with a very life limiting illness. I stopped shielding with the vaccines.

I will most likely be dead in a few years so why make life miserable now. I have teenagers and they carry on as normal with friends over etc. They need that in their lives!

HNRTT but some patients are still shielding. You can ask for a COVID antibody test to see if you seroconverted though depending on where you live this might not be available for free or pay for one if you can afford it (£35?) if a positive result might give you confidence.

I don't know anyone shielding now and I know a lot who did (or said they did). At most we have a few casual staff who have said they still don't want any work (in schools) due to being CEV or due to age making them more vulnerable. I don't think they are shielding though, more that they are not wanting to increase exposure in schools.

I dog low anyone still shielding. Not really sure what the point will be seeing unless they plan to live like that forever.

My DH has cancer but he isnt shielding and wouldnt even if he was told too.
What do you want the government to do about this I wonder? Unfortunately there are a number of people who make things as dramatic as possible.

People shielding for years on end? What sort of life is that? Sometimes if people quote they shielded for say 6 months someone will say 'that's nothing, I am still shielding'.

IMHO - if someone wants to stay in all the time, get shopping delivered then crack on but the rest of society is back to normal.

I'm not.
I had Covid in June, fairly sure I caught it at a gig and it was pretty much nothing.
I stayed in for two years and I couldn't do it anymore, it played hell with my mental health.

I’m not classes as CEV by the NHS but really have to avoid covid. I’m out and about and wear a decent mask indoors (plus avoid indoor restaurants). I think I would put my mask on if I was in a big crowd too. I feel it works best for us with quality of life vs avoiding covid. No it doesn’t offer us the same protecting that our 100% shielding and cleaning anything that came into the house, we did for 2 years did but I feel happy. I don’t feel wearing a mask and not eating indoors hampers my life yet I feel it’s offering me a fair level of protection.

I do know 2 families with sick children strictly shielding and another family who lost a child to covid in the past 6 months who shielded

The difference is that flu used to happen in flu season. I’m assuming this lady’s friend got the summer off from this routine. How heart breaking that this routine is now year around and not just confined to the winter.

We don't shield. I don't hang about crowded bars regularly either but have been doing normal stuff, just a bit less of it, smaller groups and often outdoors when the weather is nice.

With 5 jabs, I very much doubt I'd be considered high risk in the way that CEV people who were undergoing cancer treatment, otherwise immunosuppressed or couldn't be vaccinated might be. I've had antibody tests and the result were good.

If I have to go on steroids, then I'd modify my behaviour of course.

this is what my friend was told,
her condition means any serious respiratory virus would be life threatening for her.

in 2014 a cold put her in intensive care.

she caught the flu in her early 20’s and ended up sedated and on a respirator for several weeks, she very nearly died and they thought she might have a hypoxic brain injury because her lungs were so badly affected.
it was pure luck she recovered, but it did affect her condition and she’s been told that she wouldn’t survive a second time.

@CloudPop
she knows the risk is very low, but any risk is a risk and so she takes the steps to make it zero.

@Watapalava
sadly not OTT,
I’m glad your Nan found a way to like with it.
Sadly for my friend the consequences are so severe that any risk is too much risk.

For years now she has taken steps to avoid any chance of catching anything.
She isolated completely every winter, never used public transport, she would avoid crowds and busy shops, did her shopping online etc.
so has been mildly isolating most of her adult life.

it doesn’t seem like a way to live to most but she makes it work, she sees friends and her partner several times a week, albeit through a closed patio door. she text and face times people several times a week too.
she has a brilliant job that she works full time completely remotely.
and most importantly she says she is happy and has created herself a bubble she enjoys being in.

Never shielded. Too much to do.

Whole family and all at work have had Covid twice and I escaped every time despite not shielding in their presence. From September to November 2019 I had something that left me horizontal for 12 weeks and 20 hours a day. This was just before Covid was declared in China and after I had stayed in London West End for six weeks for work. Whatever that was (never identified by GP or consultants) gave me some general immunity boost that is for sure.

I respect other CEVs who wish to shelter.

Despite what the media has said CEV + covid doesn’t automatically mean a death sentence. The vast majority are fine.

Not shielding but as careful as possible. We shielded up until we got covid (CEV DD and I) then when we survived we stopped. Didn't know how covid would effect DDs condition until she

Had it.

Pressed send too soon!

I’m surprised at the number of people who are continuing to shield but appreciate the anxiety. I stopped because, although I’m severely immunocompromised and had no vaccine response, I am hugely reassured by access to anti virals and other treatments. Anecdotally, I know quite a lot of severely immunocompromised people (from online) who’ve had Covid and no vaccine response and they’ve been fine.
I don’t know many people in real life who are shielding. I know people who’ve just had transplants and/or are on active cancer treatment are being very cautious but it’s usually temporary and no different to the actions they would take in winter, for example.

CEV due to immunosuppressive meds. Did shield but am on my own so had to go back to work. Did change my work hours so I would be around less people (work retail). Caught covid jubilee weekend and it knocked me on my ass well and truly. Never want it again but still getting on with life to a certain extent.