I have just received a shielding letter (TODAY) andI am I’m a bit pissed off.

[RickiTarr]

Presumably as a result of the CEV list doubling last week.

I got my invitation for the vaccination a couple of days ago, also presumably due to being reclassified.

Luckily I did my own amateur risk assessment last March and decided, because I have several mild to moderate health conditions, including asthma, and because I’m slightly overweight, to shield informally.

So I have been doing this since March 2020, only going out for medical appointments and exercise, WFH, all of that.

Now in mid Feb 2021 I finally get a letter saying “Actually yes we’ve worked out you’re CEV and not just CV, so shield until March 31st 2021.”

At first I was unmoved by this, but over the last couple of hours I’ve started thinking that they really should have been able to do this maths earlier.

Then it struck me that some people will have died because of this and this was all rather obvious.

AIBU to be a little bit pissed off with the government? (The letter is from the Department of Health & Social Care, and the NHS - both logos are at the top - but not from local NHS- this is governmental.)

I also had one at the end of last week, and like the OP I had worked out last year that generally taking a step back from things was going to be a good idea.

But I must admit I kind of giggled. For me to properly shield I'd have to move out, given DH is a GP and our daughter has still been going to school. And I'm pretty damned sure my horses would not appreciate my suddenly vanishing and having no food.

Mind, the thought of a month+ in a holiday cottage with just my animals was somewhat tempting.

Oh, just to add, I had my vaccine yesterday due to my upgraded status. So can't complain about that too much.

(Cept it's sore, and makes lugging haynets around harder!)

@gildalilly

I've had this letter today too. Luckily I'm able to work from home and have been massively cautious throughout anyway (and the whole family have taken the piss out of me for it, but still). I don't really see why they've sent this out without an option to book a vaccine as that would seem like the obvious thing to do.

I just checked because of what PP said and you can book online now you have the letter. Here;

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

@Prancingponies

Oh, just to add, I had my vaccine yesterday due to my upgraded status. So can't complain about that too much.

(Cept it's sore, and makes lugging haynets around harder!)

No. I agree. I can’t emphasise enough how much I appreciate being booked for vaccine. No complaint at all about that.

Hope your arm recovers quickly. Hay bales are heavier than they look, aren’t they?

@RickiTarr

I'm just going to carry on like I have been, not shielding but not going round licking doorhandles either.

this!!

It sounds like he's much lower risk, so I doubt his status will change, thanks.
I hope you get a vaccine soon, so good you're working for yourself!

Your name always makes me smile, because I like TTSS too (Guinness version for preference)

@haba

Your name always makes me smile, because I like TTSS too (Guinness version for preference)

Thanks. I slightly prefer the Alec Guinness one too.

I love JLC and I love Alec G so the combination of both is heaven.

I knew I was CV right at the start - I worked it out for myself no one told me. Not sure anything is about being politically correct to be honest they have been clear from early on ethnic minorities, obese, high BP, Type 2 etc and I am sure there are more. No one has mentioned that also there are some genetic weaknesses again of which I have a known genetic issue that effects lungs in particular making us super vulnerable. I prob shld be shielding but life goes on. As others have said constant vigilance regarding own cleanliness and that of others and standing back etc. OK so far

However, my main point, is surely they realised having lots of mild to moderate conditions from the list have a cumulative risk?
You know that your GP practice will have about 5000 patients on their books. Who did you expect to go through each patient's notes to see whether their cumulated diagnosis put them more at risk?

It needed an algorithm that was not easy to work out without knowing which mixed of conditions required to be there to trigger CEV. Otherwise, just about everyone would have been.

There is nothing wrong with taking done responsibility for ourselves and not systematically expect others to do so. You decided to shield anyway because you thought it was best. Perfect, well done.

I'm afraid I'm of the generation to whom he was Obi Wan first... though I adore Lavender Hill Mob!

I'm a bit confused about all this too. I'm the most 'at risk' in my family - am prediabetic (found out recently my blood sugar is only 1 point off being classed as type 2 diabetes), have high blood pressure, am obese, and act as carer for my autistic DD. But I'm in group 9 (simply because of my age) and none of those other things are apparently enough to move me into group 6. I have been trying to get healthy, but find even walking difficult. So I too have been hardly going anywhere for the last year. However DH has to work daily with people who don't seem to care about covid, see load of people (by visiting different offices several times a week) and take no covid precautions whatsoever. They dismiss his concerns for me because if I was vulnerable I would have had the the vaccine, and if my doctors aren't worried then DH is obviously making a fuss over nothing. It's quite worrying.

My Son in Law got his at the weekend.
Late 20, Type 1 diabetic and asthmatic... and a frontline care worker who has been in many homes (inc some testing positive) for the whole year because he wasn't considered CEV!

Bit late now (and he's had his first vaccine)! Had it arrived nearly a year ago he would have shielded without a doubt.. but now, moving house next week, baby due in 7 weeks...seems a bit late to shut him in!

@Heidi1976

Are all people who are being called for the vaccine in the 16-64 group at the moment all being told to shield or is it just for specific things within that cohort of conditions that make them qualify for the vaccination? They haven't made it very clear what the new criteria is.

No not everyone gets one. For example a lot of people with asthma are getting the vaccine but not shielding letters.

My stepmum was sent a shielding letter on December 18th because of cancer which she was diagnosed with in May. She died on the 4th December 😔 my dad on the other hand hasn't received one despite the fact he had a massive heart attack in September, and has type 2 diabetes, he did however get his first jab last week

I got the letter and a call for the vaccine at the same time.

DD1 (16) just got the vaccination. Mild/moderate asthma and food allergies.

I know quite a few people who have got them in this batch.

@RickiTarr

Thank you. I hope you are staying well too

See I’m confused as I’m in group 6, I’m late twenties and I’ve just had my vaccine at the weekend - but I have never received a shielding letter/email. Should I have?
The whole system just seems randomly done to me

@Wotsitsarecheesy you are group six if you are a carer. Make sure your GP knows.

Interesting to hear some T1 diabetics have gone on the shielding list, which is the polar opposite of my experience. I chased my GP about the vaccination schedule the other day as the council had been proudly spouting how well they were doing, to be told they were just doing group 6 by age (I’m mid 30’s which probably puts me far down, but other half is in school every day, and I lost my mother during the pandemic who was also T1) They hadn’t got enough vaccine to do everyone in group 6 at the moment so I’d be called when I’m called and they don’t know when that will be (plenty of appointments in the hubs though if you believe the council). Safe to say it seems to be a postcode lottery!

@Alwayswrongneverright

My stepmum was sent a shielding letter on December 18th because of cancer which she was diagnosed with in May. She died on the 4th December 😔 my dad on the other hand hasn't received one despite the fact he had a massive heart attack in September, and has type 2 diabetes, he did however get his first jab last week

I am so sorry to hear that.

@RickiTarr thanks, I tried to book one using that link but my nearest available centre is 45 miles away.
I've rung my GP and they said our local centre (about 2 miles away!) have run out of vaccines so I've been added to the waiting list.
Fingers crossed it won't be long!

I also received one today and am also miffed!
I caught covid on 13th March, I was really poorly and had paramedics attend (although there threshold was higher to take people in then- and I had 2 of the 3 ((as we now know)) indicators of severe illness) i then came down with the gastric version 2 weeks after the respiratory symptoms ( on my 40th no doubt!). I was bed ridden for months and house ridden for almost 6 months. Doctor diagnosed long covid. I still have a couple of mild conditions bought on by the covid. Anyway.. thanks to Rishi’s self employed grant rules fine print, I was unable to claim any of the 3 grants.. I was also unable to claim UC as my partner works and just pips the limit when his annual on call is added on. We however have separate finances, as we have pre ‘is’ financial commitments- not least our own separate children, and as 2 working age people with no reason not to (until covid) this worked well.
We have scrimped through with me going back to work ( physical job) before I was really ready otherwise I was going down and taking my kids and my partner and his with me!
I have largely made my peace with this (still peed that for the last 11 years I’ve been self employed apart form when student and 5 months in an employed teaching role - the latter being the reason I can’t claim the self employed grant!!)

So the reason I am miffed is, this letter entitled me to ESA ... for 5 weeks 😠 I mean you have to 😂.. I was ill for 6 months, genuinely on 2 occasions had said my ‘mental goodbyes’ nearly destitute, still nit but full client base due to other people’s covid restrictions/experiences and my salve is ( weeks ESA.

I just texted my oh and said it’s like being attacked by a shark and getting kissed better by an ant 🤷‍♀️.

Sorry for rant, I get it’s not rational and hindsight is a glorious thing, but it still stings !

Also sorry for ranty spelling and missing grammar 😬 and worse - the wrong use of ‘there’ for ‘their’... hangs head in shame’.

I got mine a few days ago as well, I have type one diabetes, limited spleen function and a severe allergy.

Originally my consultant said I should be shielding, as I don’t need daily antibiotics my GP decided I didn’t need to shield.

I have been careful throughout, I’ve had covid and I have now had my first vaccine, so I won’t be changing my behaviour.

Somehow I don't think it's a co-incidence that a flood of letters has gone out to get a number of people back in just before all children will go back to school...