Shielding list to be virtually doubled

[Bonsa]

And go from 2.2 million to 3.9 million.

Breaking news...

My husband is group 6(severe mental health and BMI over 40) and was called by the docs today. He's to go down for his jab on Friday between 4 and 5. Wonder how many they've asked to go down in that hour, could be chaotic. I don't think he's in this extra shielding group but you never know tbh.

@SharedLife

Is this them moving to "Shield the vulnerable and let the rest of us get on with it" that those that are anti-lockdown promote?

I hope so.

Thanks @Nanuki

Nanuki yes, I know, that is exactly why my post says that I was Band 6, that have received a vaccine letter but not a shielding one. I was stating that the two are not necessarily linked. Sorry if that was not clear to you.

Actually your post makes it clear you assumed you "got bumped up the list" - you would have always been in Group 6 and most places are vaccinating group 6 and have been for a bit.

It's probably nothing to do with being "bumped" anywhere.

Something like more than a 1/3 of deaths from Covid have been in the last 6 weeks.

Shielding now is more important than ever for those who are vulnerable. It will come as a shock though to some people. But it makes sense in a way that they’ve expanded the Covid list now.

I’ve been group 4 since this started and have yet to have any letter regarding my vaccination.

@Haenow

Talk about shutting the stable door when the horse has bolted.

Totally

I wonder how many people died who should have been advised to shield...

@Nanuki

Actually your post makes it clear you assumed you "got bumped up the list" - you would have always been in Group 6 and most places are vaccinating group 6 and have been for a bit.

It's probably nothing to do with being "bumped" anywhere.

I miss a good bump

I used this algorithm yesterday with surprising results! DH scored 83/100 and I scored 43/100 (100/100= most at risk). DH is (apparently) at almost twice the risk of me!!!

We both live in the same house and so experience the same socio economic factors. We are similar in age. I have 2 underlying health conditions and a BMI of 30+, DH has no underlying health conditions and a BMI of 24.

I have to go out to work on the frontline and DH works from home! DH high risk factor seems to be based entirely on the fact that he is from a BAME background.
To my mind it seems that this algorithm assumes a genetic difference between races- which is absolutely shocking! It also completely ignores the risks of occupation. Another biased algorithm from the Govt!? I won't be getting my vaccine anytime soon- and will be expected to go out to work with my underlying risks. DH may well be asked to sheild but can work from home anyway!- He is far healthier than me!

What's hard is that there has been no information or guidance on what this new group is, we're all left to guess whether we're in it or not. I have two conditions which are very high up on the list that was shared on here earlier so would assume I'm in the new group. But I've received nothing even though our GP has sent letters out so I assume I'm not. So have I been pushed to the back of group 6 and can expect to wait weeks rather than hopefully sooner so that I can go to work slightly less apprehensively? Who knows. Why on earth do they release this information without explaining it properly so that we know if we're coming or going?

It's not a biased algorithm at all, it's just a very crude measure of risk as you can tell by the lack of detailed questions about individual circumstances.

In group 6 anyway. The vaccine calculator estimated I’ll get my jabby jab letter sometime within the next month or so.
Just did this QCovid calculator and scored 75/100.
Shitballs!

Exactly. I scored 78. Is that good or bad? Is it high enough or not? Who knows! It's really shitty.

I'm interested in those people saying that it's their choice whether or not to shield. My employer has made it clear that anyone receiving a shielding letter will be furloughed whether they want to be or not, and not disclosing the receipt of a shielding letter will be a disciplinary offence.
I'm chomping at the bit to get back to work and was looking forward to returning on Monday but have had an email from my boss today telling me to stay home until March 31st even though I haven't yet received any official communication about the extension from the NHS.

@FreddieMercurysCat how do you find the vaccine calculator

@Annie1919

I used this algorithm yesterday with surprising results! DH scored 83/100 and I scored 43/100 (100/100= most at risk). DH is (apparently) at almost twice the risk of me!!!

We both live in the same house and so experience the same socio economic factors. We are similar in age. I have 2 underlying health conditions and a BMI of 30+, DH has no underlying health conditions and a BMI of 24.

I have to go out to work on the frontline and DH works from home! DH high risk factor seems to be based entirely on the fact that he is from a BAME background.
To my mind it seems that this algorithm assumes a genetic difference between races- which is absolutely shocking! It also completely ignores the risks of occupation. Another biased algorithm from the Govt!? I won't be getting my vaccine anytime soon- and will be expected to go out to work with my underlying risks. DH may well be asked to sheild but can work from home anyway!- He is far healthier than me!

83 is your "covid age" and not the score that is looked at as another poster on a different thread has really helpfully explained:

"When you do QCovid there is a bit that gives you a score for absolute risk and relative risk. The threshold for shielding is an absolute risk of 0.5% (5 in 1000) or relative risk of 10.

They're not looking at 'Covid age' which is where you got your 18/100"

digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/risk-assessment/population#agreed-threshold-for-adding-people-to-the-shielded-patient-list

digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/risk-assessment/population#agreed-threshold-for-adding-people-to-the-shielded-patient-list

@Bonsa

I do wonder how many GPs know their patients’ weight? I was last weighed years and years ago!

My husband, who is 41, was called in by his surgery last week for a ‘health check’ and now has received an invite for a vaccine....he has had a very high BMI for years but bigger than ever now 🙁 we’re wondering if he will get a shielding letter too...he’s already had Covid last November/December, it was mild and he recovered quickly. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh, ok. So my risk was 0.03% or 1 in 3333. So that means not shielding?

A great many people won't have been weighed at gp or hospital appointment although doctors do keep a record of body shape/type on our records, so it will be easier to pluck out those who would qualify based on weight than might at first seem possible.

@Annie1919 your DH was presumably male at birth, that makes him higher risk.

And the BAME extra risk is the conclusion of counting the proportion of BAME people who died of Covid during 2020.

I think that many of those who will be advised to start shielding have pretty much been shielding anyway, but without access to support like priority deliveries etc.

Under the old shielding list very few were picked up, under the new algorithm I score 87/100 where normal risk is 1/100 it takes into account multiple diagnosis, as well as the socio economic factors. I don't know at this stage whether I will be picked up in this new shielding list, but to be honest, I've been long aware that I'm very high risk and have been pretty much shielding anyway.

@Rockbird what was you relative risk (the last column on the right hand side?)

My husband is 65, getting his jab this week. I am in the next cohort at nearly 64. Now I am going to have to wait even longer as another 900,000 are to be vaccinated before me.
Age is supposed to be the greatest risk factor.
Just being honest and saying that I am really disappointed.

I got a score of 85 - i am almost 61 and have T2 diabetes, a heart condition, high blood pressure and I had a stroke when I was pregnant 24 years ago, I am also overweight. I keep hearing about people in their 40s and 50s who have already had the vaccination due to their diabetes, however when I checked the NHS website, apparently I am not eligible yet.