Vaccine and shielding

[Coffeyy]

My MIL has been shielding since March as the medication she is on compromises her immune system. I’ve been looking online to try and find out when that can end once she has had her vaccine, given that it is now 12 weeks between the doses.

Does anyone work for the NHS and no the timeframe? Can she stop shielding a few weeks after her first dose or would she need to wait until a few weeks after her second?

She is also concerned she may need to shield even once she is fully vaccinated so can anyone shed any light ?

Can't answer your question but I am also ECV.
Shielding ended on 31st July and was brought back for the November lockdown. It's started again from this lockdown and I imagine will end when the lockdown ends.
It's possible, but unlikely, that lockdown might end before all the ECV people are vaccinated.
Incidentally I haven't had the usual text / email or letter this time and wonder whether others have?

So the good news is that she’ll start benefiting from the vaccine around 2 weeks after the first dose. The second dose is a booster shot that’s primary purpose is to make the vaccine longer lasting, it doesn’t increase how effective it is by very much. But the bad news even after she’s had the jab & it’s had enough time to take effect, the advice is to keep shielding for now. A vaccine can only reduce the risk of getting very poorly, it doesn’t eliminate completely. It will work better for some people than others too. So while the rates are still so high it would still be a risk. That advice will probably remain until more people get the jab & the rates come down. But it is really good news she’s had it.

Phlip I haven't received my letter yet. I hope it arrives tomorrow.

I had at least 2 official emails this time telling me to shield.

There has been discussion that vaccination prevents more serious illness/ hospitalisation / death.

With the roll out to the most vulnerable groups first we will see how these figures reduce especially for the most vulnerable age groups and the CEV.

I will continue to be a bit careful till we have more data, myself.

I'm still delighted that we have the vaccine now.

My husband received a letter this time around

Thanks everyone the last I know was that she was told to shield for around 2 weeks in December when we went to tier 4 but she has been shielding anyway. Think we may have been jumping the gun thinking we could properly see her once she has her vaccine