I feel envy at mate with no clinical vulnerabilities called for covid jab

[priorityconfusion]

She is on the shielding list because of autism and her mental health, but doesn't shield. Called to say her vaccine is next week. We don't live in the same place anymore but I'm in group 6 and won't have my vaccine for a long time. I'm not shielding as I don't need to, but apart from one very stressful trip to an ill family member who needed me, am very cautious and limiting trips out to medical appointments and groceries like most people with my condition because we are over represented in the hospital admissions and deaths.

Logically I'm glad that she is getting vaccinated because the more needles in arms the better and she is out and about a lot on trains and having takeaway coffees and cake outside (within guidelines so that's all good, that's not the point) so hopefully this means she won't get it and transmit it.

But I am a little envious. I want her to be vaccinated but I want it too. And also think somebody like a shop assistant with a clinical vulnerability should be higher up the priority list, to be blunt.

I know I'm being a dick, slap some sense into me here.

Autism doesn't get someone on the shielding list though

She told me that she was on the shielding list for autism and mental health - perhaps it is more the mental health side of things, then.

She may well have had the first part of the vaccine (assuming she's not had second...) but what can she actually do right now? That's right, sweet F.A. There's nowhere for her to go to celebrate her new-found immunity. All in all, I imagine it would be quite the anti-climax.

Life is never fair. The sooner people realise that, the easier it will be to accept such situations.

Mental health problems don't either, highest group you could be in due to those is 6

I have never heard of someone on the shielding list for autism and mental health. None of those make you more likely to get covid ..... I think your friend is talking rubbish tbh.

Neither of those things gets you on the shielding list. She must have something else too.

There must be more to it, nobody is on the shielding list for this.

People with autism or mental health conditions have never been on the shielding list. If she’s getting the vaccine it will be for other reasons.

There are calls for people with learning disabilities to be higher up on the list but I don't think they are yet and assuming your friend doesn't also have learning disabilities than that wouldn't apply to her anyway .

I mean I was quite sure she doesn't have anything else but sounds like there must be another reason? This is somebody who posts the details of her IBS on Twitter, she doesn't usually hold back telling you the intricate details of her health issues. She is unapologetic about it all and I respect that about her because our (different) chronic illnesses are nowt to be ashamed of.

Maybe there is something that she keeps private though, obviously I don't know.

If she is on the shielding list, apparently for reasons she might not have wanted to share with you, then she is clinically vulnerable. People can be added to the CEV list for reasons that "have been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of your needs" (from the NHS website) so it may be that her autism and mental health problems mean she has been assessed as extremely vulnerable.

Shielding is a recommendation, it is not compulsory so going out is her choice.

Does she work in healthcare? She could have got it that way.

MH issues and autism have never been reasons to be on the shielding list.

I would bet there are other issues too. She may be downplaying her medical issues, my dh who has autism does that.

I thought they were still vaccinating the category 1 people and shielding people under 50 were category 4. I hope I'm wrong though (category 6 and waiting impatiently for my jab)

Some mental health treatments (such as anti psychotic medication) can have a negative effect on physical health, so it could be to do with that.

You can only be on the shielding list if you have something wrong with you that makes you more clinically vulnerable to Covid. So she either has something you dont know about or she's making it up that she's getting a vaccine.

@FoxyTheFox

If she is on the shielding list, apparently for reasons she might not have wanted to share with you, then she is clinically vulnerable. People can be added to the CEV list for reasons that "have been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of your needs" (from the NHS website) so it may be that her autism and mental health problems mean she has been assessed as extremely vulnerable.

Shielding is a recommendation, it is not compulsory so going out is her choice.

Yes it must be this it's just frankly very surprising as like I say she tends to be incredibly open about all this stuff. But you're right of course, you never know what is happening for others.

And yes I know shielding is a choice. But I'm only human. When I see someone who says they are shielding, though have nothing making them more at risk of ending up very ill (taken at face value, as I have no reason to disbelieve them!) are out and about, then getting a vaccine, my first reaction was "I want a vaccine too, and why is she first?"

Does she live in supported housing?

"I want a vaccine too, and why is she first?"

Actually this really wouldn't be my first reaction. Because I do try not to be a dick.

You might want to rethink your attitudes, especially to those with greater struggles than yourself.

@ViciousJackdaw

She may well have had the first part of the vaccine (assuming she's not had second...) but what can she actually do right now? That's right, sweet F.A. There's nowhere for her to go to celebrate her new-found immunity. All in all, I imagine it would be quite the anti-climax.

But there is a relief because hopefully when vaccinated there is less chance of becoming very ill or dying. My chances of bad outcome from covid (both from the virus itself, but also from different complications that could worsen my pre existing condition) are quite a bit higher than someone without my condition.

Is her ‘IBS’ irritable bowel or inflammatory bowel? If she has inflammatory bowel disease she may be on immunosuppressants which are a reason for shielding

There is either more going on or she is one of those people who managed to use the Swiftqueue loophole to book a vaccine

@Hazelnutlatteplease

"I want a vaccine too, and why is she first?"

Actually this really wouldn't be my first reaction. Because I do try not to be a dick.

You might want to rethink your attitudes, especially to those with greater struggles than yourself.

But that's the point. Outwardly and in her own words, she is not supposed to be more clinically vulnerable. And no, not in supported housing.

However, I'm polishing your halo for you and will send it out by recorded delivery

@BungleandGeorge

Is her ‘IBS’ irritable bowel or inflammatory bowel? If she has inflammatory bowel disease she may be on immunosuppressants which are a reason for shielding

Not on any immunosuppressants. Irritable bowel. But of course as people are pointing out, while she tells me everything is ok and she's not clinically vulnerable she might well in reality.

I'm autistic and not on any shielding or priority list but you are in phase 1 of the vaccination priorities if you have a serious mental illness.