"All over 45s to shield" - one of SAGEs suggestions

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Bonkers. Loads of parents of young kids are 45+. So all those kids stuck indoors/no school.

Massive amount of employees who can't work from home being (What?) Furloughed?

How many teachers/TAs/doctors/nurses/childminders are over 45? Tons!

I seem to remember median age of UK residents is 41 years. So another reason SAGE will have rejected that threshold.

If they go older threshold (which could be scientifically justified, like 75+): then they'll just be accused of age discrimination. No point in policy lots of people won't comply with anyway.

the death figure rose substantially from around 20k to 40k (approximately) once community deaths were added that is the care homes deaths not middle aged people dying in their homes

It would be unenforceable, so pointless. The daily rags have got hold of it and are making it into a sensational headline.

It is only one option being considered and, I would think highly unlikely to be taken seriously.

If they go older threshold (which could be scientifically justified, like 75+): then they'll just be accused of age discrimination not by many: all over 70s I know are voluntarily staying at home most of the time, apart from exercise and medical appointments. Officially calling what they are doing shielding might help them as they will get priority on grocery deliveries and other services.

My school would have to close-can’t see the parents liking that! The head, all SLT, all support, catering and site staff and 3/4 of the teachers are over 45!

Um, I'm coming 46 and I run half marathons regularly. No way!

Can't believe anyone can come up with such nonsense. That would really wreck the economy in no time at all!

How would we get out kids to school??!!!! No way.

If we are protecting ourselves from Covid, then surely that will also protect us from flu? Wearing masks and handwashing frequently, all that. So those of us who don't have young children at school shouldn't get flu, should we? Why would we need the flu vaccine?

If we are protecting ourselves from Covid, then surely that will also protect us from flu? Wearing masks and handwashing frequently, all that. So those of us who don't have young children at school shouldn't get flu, should we? Why would we need the flu vaccine?

Flu transmits a bit differently than Covid, I think it might live on surfaces longer. All protective measures help reduce risk, like washing hands reduces colds and flu by 30%, but it's not a miracle cure and it will still circulate. If you get flu and covid together your outcome are worse than if you get them singly. Also, if lots of people get flu, they are using up resources in the NHS/same for covid, ideally you would try to reduce both at the same time and only one has a vaccine for now (flu).

If it means we get rid of Boris and Piers Morgan I’m prepared to take one for the team.

@MrsFezziwig

If it means we get rid of Boris and Piers Morgan I’m prepared to take one for the team.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😆

If everyone goes out to get the Flu vaccine this will create a shortage for those who need it because of their risk.

The "cold" going around at the moment could be flu as this isn't just a winter thing either. All three are from the same family which explains some of the similarities between infection and control.

Thank you Popping. I was wondering. I am a frontline worker in a supermarket, and will be offered a free flu vaccination, but, to be honest. I don't think I will take it up.

What would be the chances of getting flu and Covid at the same time? Wouldn't your antibody levels be through the roof if you had flu and therefore mean contracting another virus would be far less likely?

@MrsFezziwig

If it means we get rid of Boris and Piers Morgan I’m prepared to take one for the team.

That would be a great incentive to get me staying indoors!

@Zaphodsotherhead

" I was wondering. I am a frontline worker in a supermarket, and will be offered a free flu vaccination, but, to be honest. I don't think I will take it up."

Are you able to fully SD at work? In none of the shops that I go in, the Staff are able to. The flu vaccination works on a sliding scale according to age and the over 60s aren't protected by the flu vaccine. So you will be putting vulnerable people at risk.

According to infectious disease specialists there's a good chance of catching flu and covid around the same time and flu then counts as a underlying health issue.

I asked my DStepmom (in her 70ties running her 10 k every morning) what she thinks about that.
Though it would be interesting from a MFL point of view, I can't translate it. They didn't teach me the words.

But I AM over 60, Ponoka. So there would, by that count, be no point whatsoever in giving me the flu vaccine because it wouldn't work on me?

I'm a few years under 45 but this is nuts. I do have one of the risk factors - overweight - but if I'm told to shield I'll just ignore it. Prefer just to take my chances.

@belowradar

the death figure rose substantially from around 20k to 40k (approximately) once community deaths were added that is the care homes deaths not middle aged people dying in their homes

For the most part yes but not exclusively. excess deaths across other causes have also risen. Big rise in heart attacks, strokes, clots.... partly due to people avoiding medical settings and partly because covid is a vascular disease which puts people at a higher risk of those kind of complications. The age groups already at risk of heart attacks, strokes and blood clots have their risk raised considerably by covid. All of which add pressure to the NHS.

They can advise all they want. Adults can make a choice. Wish we could lose the term 'shield' for this as well.

I’m 45 soon, if they pay my bills and deliver shopping I would be quite happy to hibernate for the winter. Bring it on.

Yes! Does that mean we get rid of cr*&^p government? They'll all have to shield won't they? Swings and roundabouts...

but at 45 your creeping into the age group where chronic conditions start emerging. You could well be walking round with an as yet undiagnosed condition that puts you in the at risk category.

@Cornettoninja if I am I am. What am I supposed to do, shield on the off chance there’s something wrong? If I knew I was vulnerable then that would influence my decision about whether or not to shield but as I don’t (and won’t unless I become ill) then nothing changes

@PinkSparklyPussyCat I’m not defending a position of thinking that you should have to isolate but I can see the logic behind the numbers. It’s just maths and probabilities.

if we were going to go down the route of isolating those groups more likely to put pressure on the NHS whilst the rest of the population carried on this might be what it looked like if it was going to be done effectively.

I support restrictions for all, local lockdowns where needed to suppress and maintain a manageable number of cases; certainly over winter and potentially longer depending on what research shows can realistically be done with treatment, vaccines and how the disease itself behaves.