Shielding list to be virtually doubled

[Bonsa]

And go from 2.2 million to 3.9 million.

Breaking news...

@Bonsa

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

My son and daughter are in their 20s. Neither have ever been weighed as adults.

The last time was probably around age 12/13, for a school survey?

@Staffy1 it's the combination of factors that will lead to a high score; the highest scoring producing a letter and a flag. So just because I'm Bangladeshi doesn't automatically mean I'm at highest risk but if I am Bangladeshi and Type 2 Diabetic and [other risk factors] that together may lead to a high enough score to bump me up the vax list, even if I am, say, aged 38.

Just done the calculation....wonder why my previous spinal fracture increases my risk?

Yeah BBC report is wrong, also list Down's people and they were added in October

@TheLaughingGenome they are using a default slightly overweight BMI if BMI unknown, as the majority of adults in the UK are overweight. If someone gets a letter and doesn't think they should have they can check the factors - if they are in fact a healthy weight that will lower their risk score and the GP can remove the flag on the file.

Everyone who receives this new classification can ask for it to be removed anyway - it is only advisory and you can decline the vaccine, as has always been the case).

@Covidcorvid

Just done the calculation....wonder why my previous spinal fracture increases my risk?

I was going to say the same...

Even a wrist fracture does!

I fell off a cliff when I broke my back....literally. So it’s not like I have a medical condition which caused me to break my back.

Also why does a broken wrist increase your chances but not a broken leg?

Anyway my score is 42. Not sure if that’s ok or bad?

@Covidcorvid

I fell off a cliff when I broke my back....literally. So it’s not like I have a medical condition which caused me to break my back.

Also why does a broken wrist increase your chances but not a broken leg?

Anyway my score is 42. Not sure if that’s ok or bad?

42? of dying or hospitalisation? absolute or relative?

@Bonsa

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

Anybody who has a permanent health issue/takes longterm medication that require monitoring, will be getting annual routine GP practice checkups (usually with a nurse); includes height ,weight, BMI, BP, urine and bloods, lifestyle questions about diet /excercise etc, and its all noted in your online records. I think it's standard in Scotland, certainly our last two GP practices have done it for decades.

Sky News is reporting that it is only in England?

@CaveMum

Please don't rely on letters arriving, as has been said there are postal delays in a lot of areas.

You can see if you are eligible by going on to the NHS Vaccine Booking website (it's the same link you'll be given in the letter). It can't be overemphasised that using the link is NOT queue jumping, the link will only allow you to book if the NHS system has flagged you as being in an eligible group for the vaccine.

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

You don't need your NHS number, it can still identify you from your name, date of birth and postcode (as registered with your GP). If you are not yet eligible it will not allow you to book an appointment.

It's worth a try, but that doesn't always work though. If it doesn't people should email their GP.

Several family/friends tried it & couldn't book despite being in the correct group.

I tried it after a friend text me to say she'd just got her invitation (same Drs) and I'm more 'at risk' than her but it wouldn't let me book, but a few hours later, mine came though. Same story with friends & family.

This is good news for school staff. Those that are shielding will be protected financially if they cannot work from home and not forced to go in if they are vulnerable to Covid.

I doubt if they will extend shielding past 22 Feb.
My guess would be that this is a way round the idea of offering vaccines on grounds of ethnicity. The government wants the next phase to be based on occupation but there is strong evidence that ethnic group and deprivation puts you at higher risk. So bump those groups up and they can then make the political decision to vaccinate on grounds of occupation.

I wonder if the new shielding is to coincide with opening up the country? Based on the new information from Oxford, pressure to open up schools and hospitality. Push the vaccine program, open stuff up , shield more so that death/hospital rate doesn’t increase ?

Or they are worried about variants and not saying

I was wondering about that, as I thought from the choice of language at the press conference that they were skirting round something

My weight is too low to even allow me to continue 😂

I was specifically checking because I have noticed that those underweight have been dismissed throughout all of this, despite health issues and complications being similar to those overweight.

I guess they're going to continue being dismissed then since I can't even be calculated lol

I am never getting a vaccine... that is most of the country op!

@Covidcorvid

I fell off a cliff when I broke my back....literally. So it’s not like I have a medical condition which caused me to break my back.

Also why does a broken wrist increase your chances but not a broken leg?

Anyway my score is 42. Not sure if that’s ok or bad?

I'd be chuffed with it, mines 81. On the original calculators thst were going around, I had a 'Covid age' of 85 😳it's bad enough having an actual age of 52. But adding in BMI, diabetes, couple of other bits im 81/85 😫

Does anyone know what the cut off is for risk factors? E.g. everyone with a score over X is going to be asked to shield.

It’s a bit late! I imagine they haven’t been shielding for a year and have obviously done ok so why asking now when we should start to come out or lockdown

Exactly. Just open the fucking pubs.

My BMI is 16.5. It seems to have increased my risk on the calculator compared to my sister who is a year older, lives in the same place and has no other health conditions. She gets 8 and I get 17. @TheChip

@snowydaysandholidays

I am never getting a vaccine... that is most of the country op!

1.7 million isn't most of the country & the vast majority will have been in groups 1-6 anyway Spread throughout the rest of the country it'll make next to no difference to when other people get the vaccine.

They will be put on the list purely for vaccine purposes, not actually advised to shield. Shielding is due to end on 22nd Feb and I doubt it will be extended much if at all.

@LonePenguin thank you. That's reassuring that they do seem to be taking it into account then. Hopefully those below and above their weight limit don't get missed.

@userxx

It’s a bit late! I imagine they haven’t been shielding for a year and have obviously done ok so why asking now when we should start to come out or lockdown

Exactly. Just open the fucking pubs.

Oh behave