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Original poster

Just received a shielding letter but no one knows why!!

602 replies

theviewfromhalfwaydown · 18/02/2021 11:01

I’m freaking out a bit that there’s something wrong with me I don’t know about. I received a shielding letter but have no idea why I have it. I’m slightly overweight but haven’t been weighed by a dr in 10years and that was just after I’d given birth to my youngest. I have no underlying health conditions I know about and I’m only 38. All I can think of is that I had gestational diabetes but that was years ago. I’ve already had the first jab as I work in healthcare but I’m worried they know something I don’t. I’m not going to shield as I don’t think I need to and I want to work but it’s still thrown me quite a bit.

OP posts:
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17
IFinishedTheBiscuits · 19/02/2021 14:16

I barely leave the house anyway so won't change much in that respect. But I'm glad I now know what to do regarding vaccine. I hope no one has been persuaded to ignore the letter by the people who insisted it was an error...

FlossyJones · 19/02/2021 14:17

twitter.com/parthaskar/status/1362758470894837766

This is still incredibly confusing....

doireallyneedaname · 19/02/2021 14:18

On the QCovid page:

Patients with current or past gestational diabetes have been identified in combination with other factors by the QCovid model as being potentially at high risk from COVID-19.

This is a correct output of the population risk assessment powered by QCovid, and is in keeping with the clinical pattern of COVID-19 disease.

Therefore, in keeping with the precautionary approach that we are taking to shielding, some people who have had gestational diabetes have been correctly identified as potentially high risk.

Patients with a history of gestational diabetes who have been advised to shield, but feel this is no longer relevant, are able to contact their GP for further advice. GPs are able to evaluate a patient’s risk with the most up to date information using the clinical tool, and remove them from the SPL if necessary.

NeedsImprovement01 · 19/02/2021 14:32

The link to the above for anyone who wants to check at source

digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/risk-assessment/population

Itisasecret · 19/02/2021 14:37

I have had GD multiple times, no email on file. How do I find out if I am in this category? It is kind of urgent, I am at work on Monday!

CeibaTree · 19/02/2021 14:38

I tried to book a vaccination online just to see if I could and it said I wasn't eligible, so I called 119. They said everyone who received a letter or email yesterday should be able to book a vaccine online from Monday as their system is updating over the weekend.

Boobahs · 19/02/2021 14:45

Are people who have already had COVID going to shield? I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing!

WreckTangled · 19/02/2021 14:46

Last year data suggested type 1's had a 3.5 times higher mortality rate than type 2 and still no shielding letters for most of us, but someone who had GD six years ago is being told to shield, wish they would share some data on this. Obviously no one wants to shield but the contradictory advice is just confusing everyone.

doireallyneedaname · 19/02/2021 14:48

@WreckTangled It’s not GD alone that prompts it, it’s multiple factors on the risk assessment. Type 1 & 2 are included in this and I have heard lots of both receiving letters too. Seemingly Diabetes UK have been fighting for this for some time.

NeedsImprovement01 · 19/02/2021 14:51

Wrecktangled I get this must be frustrating for you, but it sounds like they have refined the data analysis to find only a subset of type ones are increased risk, and only those have been asked to shield.

FlossyJones · 19/02/2021 14:51

The national booking system just let me book my vaccine, so looks like the system has updated with these recent letters.

WreckTangled · 19/02/2021 14:52

I know that but there's lots of people on this thread who don't seem to think they have any of the other risk factors. Also I know a type one (young, male, hba1c 5.8, fit and healthy) who received a shielding letter and is really confused as to why, plus many others on the type one fb pages. It's very odd.

Anon778833 · 19/02/2021 15:05

From what I can see from that document. Where a patient’s BMI is not known on their records, the government automatically assumes that the persons BMI is 31. Which, of course is going to give part of the criteria by default.

NeedsImprovement01 · 19/02/2021 15:09

I agree it would be interesting to know the exact model! I suspect there are historic factors that people have forgotten about , dont wish to disclose or don't consider relevant. Also postcode may be a large factor.

Timeforredwine · 19/02/2021 15:10

It could be due to gestational diabetes being g on your records full stop. They arent trawling through in detail all medical records but if a condition or medicine flags up anywhere in your files they are calling people up for jabs even if it was 40 years ago so it maybe somethings like that to explain why you had a letter?

AngeloMysterioso · 19/02/2021 15:19

I still don’t understand. I had GD but my last hba1c was fine, I’m white, my BMI is 22, I don’t live in a deprived area- quite the reverse in fact. And I barely had GD in the first place, my GTT was 7.8 and it was diet controlled the whole time.

Bromeliad · 19/02/2021 15:20

If I put my details into the qcovid calculator I don't come up as needing to shield (coding previous GDM as type-2) If I change my postcode to half a mile up the road I do come up as needing to (same for my dad who's type-1). So it seems to be very dependent on postcode.

doireallyneedaname · 19/02/2021 15:21

@AngeloMysterioso Same here. My BMI at the time of GD was 32, I’m thinking it must be that - but it’s been recorded at the GP since at 22

FoxtrotSkarloey · 19/02/2021 15:22

@Bromeliad

If I put my details into the qcovid calculator I don't come up as needing to shield (coding previous GDM as type-2) If I change my postcode to half a mile up the road I do come up as needing to (same for my dad who's type-1). So it seems to be very dependent on postcode.
How are you managing to access the calculator? The only one I can find is for HCPs
Bromeliad · 19/02/2021 15:22

The postcode I changed to was that of a friend who had a shielding letter after previous GDM. So it seems like that's the big factor.

Bromeliad · 19/02/2021 15:23

https://qcovid.org/Calculation I used the one for HCPs

Bromeliad · 19/02/2021 15:26

There isn't a big difference in deprivation between the two areas either so there must be something else being considered.

TheWristBoundLatexBitch · 19/02/2021 15:43

I spoke with the gp and have now been booked for vaccine.

pinklemonade84 · 19/02/2021 15:44

I've had a text from my go surgery now saying that my email was in error due to past gestational diabetes and that I don't need to shield

FoxtrotSkarloey · 19/02/2021 15:45

Thanks, I can't access that so I've emailed my GP. Given I've never been invited for an annual blood test, I don't trust that they have my past GD noted, and with a BMI of 34, I would like to know that my situation has been assessed correctly. Hopefully nothing to worry about.