Shielding list to be virtually doubled

[Bonsa]

And go from 2.2 million to 3.9 million.

Breaking news...

If the government were being scientific about it, they would offer the most at risk groups, like black males in high risk occupations (eg bus driving), early retirement at an appropriate risk adjusted age.

From what I can recall of the risk factors a 66 year old black male has the same risk as a 79 year white women (if all other risk factors are the same), it's quite a shocking difference.

It must have to be a very high number to get on the shielding list if it just goes by the number! It came up with 91 for an 80 year old white man of ideal BMI and no co-morbidity. There’s a lot of people who would get a high number from age alone.

@Hmmph

Hang on..

I just tried it again..

WITH asthma I get a score of 25
WITHOUT asthma I get a score of 28

The calculator thinks asthma makes me LESS AT RISK???

Apparently the steroid inhalers are thought to have a protective effect - research trials are currently underway.

That’s what I was wondering. My DH is T1 and hoping to get vaccinated soon but now thinking it will be even longer. He was working from home but got made redundant and is about to start a keyworker role.

Steroid inhalers aren’t an option on it though.

This will cause significant issues for school staffing. 95% of staff in my school are BAME, over 40/50 and loads are overweight.

One thing I find frustrating is that people are forgetting that having a condition does not equal the same risk for everyone with that condition.

Asthma can be so mild that people rarely use a reliever inhaler or it can be so severe that the person is regularly hospitalised by it.

I have an annual health check - weight, bloods, BP. Am on a mix of psychiatric meds so linked with that. In theory I should be in Group 6 but not heard anything from
GP.

According to the Covid calculator, my score is 50/100. Nicely ambiguous!

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

This will cause significant issues for school staffing. 95% of staff in my school are BAME, over 40/50 and loads are overweight.

I think the majority are going to be over retirement age looking at the values

What is the covid calculator?

One thing I find frustrating is that people are forgetting that having a condition does not equal the same risk for everyone with that condition.

Yes. This has frustrated me, as have people who are now expecting the vaccine because they choose to shield with no guidance to do so are now expecting they should be vaccinated with those who were advised to etc. (and well, they've expected this for some time). Making a choice (and having the ability to actually carry out that choice) is quite a different kettle of fish to having a medical condition(s) that the guidance was based on.

Conversely, a lot of the conditions which currently require shielding don’t attract a high score on their own! It would probably make more sense to totally review the list and take people off as well. Quite difficult politically though

People have been taken off the list previously... I think they may have still been offered a vaccine though.

There are many young people who can get the vaccine by virtue of their job, nhs, carers etc. However, there has been a worrying number of these folk declining to accept the offer.
Also, worrying number of people in BAME communities declining the offer of a vaccine.

Maybe this tool identifying the heightened risk to them on a personal level will encourage uptake.

I would like to think the people caring for vulnerable sick people would be vaccinated but it appears the percentage of refusers is alarming.
On a positive note, it would appear Mumsnetters seem to overwhelmingly favour a jab ASAP!

@madroid

Oh the implicit (and *@CurlyReds* explicit) prejudice in the shielding list update news.

Out of all the conditions that now get people on the list weight is cited in every report I've read and heard.

Please people, can we all accept weight is just one of many 'self-inflicted' health problems: drinking, smoking, risky sports, inactivity, unprotected sex, etc

No we can't, because my conditions are the cause of my weight. Not my diet or exercise - if they were I'd be very slim.

@mantlepiece

There are many young people who can get the vaccine by virtue of their job, nhs, carers etc. However, there has been a worrying number of these folk declining to accept the offer. Also, worrying number of people in BAME communities declining the offer of a vaccine.

Maybe this tool identifying the heightened risk to them on a personal level will encourage uptake.

I would like to think the people caring for vulnerable sick people would be vaccinated but it appears the percentage of refusers is alarming.
On a positive note, it would appear Mumsnetters seem to overwhelmingly favour a jab ASAP!

Not just about refusing, you can’t have it within 28 days of having covid, possibly longer if the illness is protracted. An enormous amount of those groups have had covid in this wave! Also, it’s taken a long time to identify people who don’t work for the NHS which applies to a lot of health and social care staff. It’s far too early to make any presumptions on who may or may not have refused it (which is different to just not having had it)

@BungleandGeorge

Conversely, a lot of the conditions which currently require shielding don’t attract a high score on their own! It would probably make more sense to totally review the list and take people off as well. Quite difficult politically though

That's a pretty rough one though. Can you imagine how people who have been told to shocked for the best part of a year would feel to suddenly be sent off and told they're not at risk, go back to work, take your chance and if you've not been lucky enough to be vaccinated yet - tough, get it later with your age group. It wouldn't go done well

I wonder if this is part of the process to target those likely to have vaccine hesitancy and make them consider it more as they are identified as health risks.

All the factors of deprivation, race, being significantly overweight are likely to be indicators of groups that have so far seen low take-up. Now, by being asked to shield and identify ivied as high risk, it will make some question again if they should get the jab and go for it. Or is it just a coincidence that at the point where there is a big push to get those with hesitancy to go for it, there’s a method to push them up lists and make it feel the vaccine is even more important.....and it is important of course.

It's a political move... I doubt restrictions are going to be eased any time soon.
Hopefully schools will go back, fut that will be about it for the foreseeable.

@WombatChocolate

I wonder if this is part of the process to target those likely to have vaccine hesitancy and make them consider it more as they are identified as health risks.

All the factors of deprivation, race, being significantly overweight are likely to be indicators of groups that have so far seen low take-up. Now, by being asked to shield and identify ivied as high risk, it will make some question again if they should get the jab and go for it. Or is it just a coincidence that at the point where there is a big push to get those with hesitancy to go for it, there’s a method to push them up lists and make it feel the vaccine is even more important.....and it is important of course.

I think this and don't think it is coincidence.

These extra people will probably include members of my extended family
Trouble is most of them refuse to obey the rules as they think the virus is a hoax set up by the government to control us
At least one of them is refusing to wear a face covering because it is against his human rights.

It's really not to early to make an assessment of which groups have higher numbers of people who refuse to have the vaccines - health care workers from those groups have been openly discussing it in the media and running campaigns with community leaders to increase vaccine uptake rates.

I live in an area with a higher percentage of muslim families - many were told the vaccines contained alcohol (wrongly) - we now have had a local vaccine clinic moved into a local mosque and community leaders have worked tirelessly to get the vaccines into people who have heard anti-vax propoganda such as the false alcohol statement.

At least one of them is refusing to wear a face covering because it is against his human rights
Would would he say if you asked him -
"If masks are against your human rights then how come they stop facial recognition software being able to work accurately?"

I know the some of the team whose idea this was (using the QCovid algorithm to add more science and recent data - on who ended up dead/in hospital from covid - to the vaccine prioritisation). It’s taken +/- 6 months to get to this point. It’s not political, it’s not aimed at vaccine hesitancy, it is designed to save more lives. Dozens and dozens of people have been working around the clock on this for months and have been completely removed from political machinations. Any coincidence on timing is just that - a coincidence.

StarcatI understand what you mean but there is no telling some people.They think they know it all.