Any news on when shielding is ending?

[AdditionalCharacter]

Letter says 21 February, but no date on the official Gov site, and nothing elsewhere.

Anyone know when an announcement will be made?

I think there will be an announcement on 22nd Feb where Boris outlines the next planned steps.

If I was you though I would continue to shield until you have had both vaccine doses- it doesn’t look like this SA variant will be containable, although hopefully the vaccinated will be protected from severe effects.

Yes mine says 21st Feb and if it continues they will write again.
I will be relaxing slightly 3 weeks after my first vaccine. Which doesn't mean I will be breaking any rules or taking huge risks. I have several minor medical matters that I have put off - eye test, smear test, dentist etc. I know you are supposed to continue with those while shielding, and I did in lockdown one but I haven't felt safe enough this time.

As posters up thread have already suggested the current shielding guidance will end soon and new continuation guidance will possibly be announced soon.

However as you are shielding due to medical vulnerabilities be mindful that there are ongoing issues with the pandemic. Firstly new mutations are evidently super spreading and secondly some of these may reduce the efficacy of certain vaccines. Always check with your assigned medically qualified professionals as to latest advice in your locality. In addition there are a small number of unmasked despite the more contagious variants and are forever a likely cause than solution to the going pandemic and therefore request to stay away from potential trouble unless absolutely essential. Stay safe and good luck! I know many medically vulnerable shielding with less health privilege and will always do what I can in my community to assist those in most need - even if it a simple message of reassurance and hope! We will eventually beat this pandemic but we will need to get more civic duty minded souls to spread the message to lessen the detrimental impacts of the non believers. You may have seen and heard many of the necessary UK public media announcements to stop Covidiots being Covidiots and show a little mutual respect in this ongoing medical emergency with record fatalities and long Covid suffers.

They need to let us know before the 21 though don't they?

I've had my first dose of the vaccine, next one isn't until April though.

I plan on continuing being vigilant, I'd just like to be able to go to and from work, which is very covid secure. I won't be visiting shops any time soon.

I was told yesterday I should continue to shield until I've had the second vaccine and its come into affect.
That was by the nurse who did my first one.

Extended to March 31st in Wales, I believe.

I was told when having jab to make no change to measures I took and to continue to follow whatever shielding advice is in force.

I would love it to be the case that it had become safe enough to live only by lockdown rules!

I expect next formal review will be around 21st, when other major updates - or given their previous form about 48 hours afterwards (as if we were thick/decrepit, rather than simply having one of a range of medical issues)

@DicklessWonder

Extended to March 31st in Wales, I believe.

So we are likely to follow suit like recent shielding then.

I really can't do this for much longer. I feel like a prisoner in my own home, purely because I have to take tablets to keep my condition stable. They're not even alleviating it, I am not allowed to take the proper dose because it'll greatly reduce my immunity, it can't stop taking them because then my conditional will worsen.

So so fed up with it all. I know why I have to shield, it doesn't make it any easier.

@AdditionalCharacter it's so hard. I sobbed down the phone to my manager a few months ago as my consultant advised to shield even when paused
I've had my first vaccine and I'm feeling a little more positive now

I feel the same, I miss my daughter so much.

I feel the same. I work part time and have been shielding since November. I was getting so bored and depressed I started going in for a couple of hours twice a week when it was just me and my boss in. She knows I am immuno suppressed. She told me on Friday she’d been to a party with 20 other people the night before!! I walked straight out and told her I’m back to shielding!

[quote QueenPawPaws]@AdditionalCharacter it's so hard. I sobbed down the phone to my manager a few months ago as my consultant advised to shield even when paused
I've had my first vaccine and I'm feeling a little more positive now [/quote]
I did exactly the same when I got my shielding email and letter .I am due my first this week .I worry with a lovely team but I worry that everyone is just going to get sick of me being off while they continue to work. We have ppe but the risk is still there. Sometimes I also worry people think I am being silly because we have ppe .The thought of doing this for months.If furlough stops before shielding that is another worry .

@LivingMyBestLife2020

I feel the same. I work part time and have been shielding since November. I was getting so bored and depressed I started going in for a couple of hours twice a week when it was just me and my boss in. She knows I am immuno suppressed. She told me on Friday she’d been to a party with 20 other people the night before!! I walked straight out and told her I’m back to shielding!

Oh that is crap! How unthoughtful of her, never mind the blatant rule breaking. 😡

It really is shit isn't it.

Some of my work colleagues had little digs about me being off, I'm not doing it willingly, it's not a vacation, I can't leave this bloody house!

She said it was ok as it was family and she seems them all the time!

My husband received a further letter from his consultant on Saturday telling him not go outside and no f2f contact for at least 12 weeks from the date of the letter. This was totally unexpected.

Oh wow! I really hope I don't get one of those.

I'm in a similar boat to some pp. On immunosuppressive drugs, fed up to back teeth of it all, juggling doses to fit in my first vaccine today (yay!!) while hoping not to flare-up my debilitating disease again.

Not due for second dose till 28th April.

I think after a couple of weeks I might head out for some short walks, and start trying to catch up with getting some routine medical appointments re-booked for mid-May.

Oh god the excitement ...

Hope your vaccine went well. I'd advise taking paracetamol for the next few days to help with any symptoms that may be on their way. Mine started within 6 hours of having it (Pfizer)

So do we think that the gov will let us know something before the 22nd? I’m trying to work out if I’ll be going back to work on the 22nd or not! I’ve had my first jab a few days ago. I hate how it’s always so last minute that we know what is happening!

Sheilding is only advice, not law. If you don't want to do it, don't.

The virus doesn't have a calendar and it doesn't know about the Feb 21st date.

The trouble is that having lived with fear for nearly a year, it’s difficult to shake off the feeling that one is doomed. Prior to covid it never occurred to me to socially distance or avoid crowds, but then I was told that if I picked up a virus (any virus!) i would likely have a bad outcome so I’m finding it hard to envisage a world where I’ll once again mingle freely with other people

@IrmaFayLear

The trouble is that having lived with fear for nearly a year, it’s difficult to shake off the feeling that one is doomed. Prior to covid it never occurred to me to socially distance or avoid crowds, but then I was told that if I picked up a virus (any virus!) i would likely have a bad outcome so I’m finding it hard to envisage a world where I’ll once again mingle freely with other people

I know exactly what you mean. I had my first dose of vaccine two weeks ago and expected to feel much safer but I don't. I have never been extreme in shielding, I went out walking every single day in the first lockdown (admittedly I live in a rural area). When they announced shielding would end I started going out unlike some who have stayed at home since March. I think that's the key, when I started going out in July/August at first I was very nervous but I did get used to it and relaxed while being scrupulous about social distancing. I can't imagine how hard it would be for someone who chose to shield throughout to start going out again.

I had thought I might relax after my first dose and at least go to the shop at a quiet time but I feel uneasy.The 22nd Feb coincides with 3 weeks after my vaccine so seems like a good time to relax a little.

@marmitebear

So do we think that the gov will let us know something before the 22nd? I’m trying to work out if I’ll be going back to work on the 22nd or not! I’ve had my first jab a few days ago. I hate how it’s always so last minute that we know what is happening!

The one thing you can be certain of is that the information will be last minute

@VanGoghsDog

Sheilding is only advice, not law. If you don't want to do it, don't.

The virus doesn't have a calendar and it doesn't know about the Feb 21st date.

That's all fair and well, but my employers are taking it very seriously and won't permit me to work while the government are setting dates for it.

I am doing everything I am meant to do to avoid any unnecessary contact, even when shielding was lifted last time I stuck to the rules we were given. I just want to at least go to a very covid secure work place as can't work from home.