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

[theviewfromhalfwaydown]

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.

I’m under the impression that the postcode thing is a binary where a small number of postcodes classes as deprived trigger a sizeable risk load and anything that’s not quite bad enough to be in that class doesn’t have a load at all. I could be wrong though.

@pinklemonade84

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

Did you read what I posted from gestational diabetes uk?

They seem to think the surgery's that are saying it is an error are wrong and have not yet received guidance.

I also got the letter to shield today having had gestational diabetes last year. Everything normal after the birth. A bit surprised as I don't think I have any other risk factors- normal BMO, not BAME, no other health conditions. I live in South London so perhaps that is a factor. There seems to be some good up to date advice on the gestational diabetes UK Facebook page. Does anyone know if we can book a vaccine at a vaccination centre now or do we wait for another letter? The website seems to say if you are on the clinically vulnerable list you can.

I've tried to book my vaccine on the website (got the shielding email yesterday, had GD in 2018) but it said I'm not eligible. I called 119 and they said I need to speak to my GP surgery. Called GP and they said I will be hearing from them soon about booking a vaccine. Just tried to book online again and still not working for me so I think I've just got to wait.

I have just managed to book my jab on the website - used my NHS number and DOB as on the letter and it looked like it has been updated as i managed to do it...

yesterday wasn't working

@NeedsImprovement01

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.

I don’t think it’s as complex as that. My understanding from speaking to surgery staff I know (and obviously you only have my word for that ) is that the data is more patchy for these groups (because they may not have current ongoing medical conditions that require lots of monitoring etc), so it’s a fairly broad capture and for some people it may be just GDM, others a combination of factors where the data exists and so on. That’s not to say there aren’t risks - I just don’t think people here are necessarily lying about their situation

(Lying or forgetful)

NHS have a National Diabetes Database. It is ran by NHS digital and holds information regarding regional statistics relating to diabetes diagnosis and treatments.
Its confidential and can’t be accessed by the public.
It’s possible a letter may have been sent to people who have had a previous or current diabetes diagnosis.

Isn't it that algorithm that they are now using based on your medical history , it's identified a large number of new people who should be shielding

BMI of 30 is obese. I would think that's part of the reason

I have had GD multiple times, my GP can't see a letter for me and thinks it is because. I have no underlying risk factors. That said, the practice manger said GD wasn't even a thing for risk anyway.

I have had it multiple times, childhood Asthma and I was overweight last pregnancy. Yet no letter, which is really odd. I am happy with that because I am healthy now and shielding would drive me nuts. It is odd though!

Yes but I have a normal BMI, do not live in a deprived area, etc. It’s easy for people to say “oh it must be XYZ” but it doesn’t seem to be as consistent as that, and I suspect this is just a broad capture of people and categories and it’s not going to make so much sense on an individual level. I won’t be following the advice to shield, because it’s not practical for me to reduce my risks any more than I already have.

Hmm... still not had a letter. GD in 2019, BMI of above 40 (which is on file with the GP), chronic high blood pressure which I am on medication for.

Now I am worried I've been missed off a list I should be on!

I have been booked for a vaccine too for next week! Haven’t spoken to my GP yet though as I don’t think they know something more than us...

I’ve been able to use the national appt booking service this afternoon, it didn’t work for me this morning, so must have done an update at lunchtime of eligible NHS numbers. There were absolutely loads of appointments (booked one for tomorrow morning!) so that’s making me feel less bad booking one as in my head I’m not really high risk, even though the algorithm says so.
If not able to go to one of the bigger centres I’m sure the GP ones will be booked in next couple of weeks

The shielding email went into my junk mail yesterday .
If people know their NHS number (or can find it!) you could always try logging on to the vaccination booking website and see if it lets you, if you think the letter may have gone missing but you think you would expect to get one

The NHS booking site still says I’m not eligible, yet I booked my vaccine this morning on the phone. So don’t rely on it too much!

I had a txt through from my doctors at about 4pm to book my test, got my first vaccine tomorrow.

I put my details into the qcovid calculator and it seems correct if they are classing previous GD the same as type 2 (which they seem to be). My BMI and my postcode had much less impact on my relative risk than the diabetes.

@Superspecs how do you access the calculator?

Wow, it’s not an error! I am surprised I must say. No idea what “other factors” have triggered it for me.

Anyway, booked in to have my jab tomorrow!

Please everyone keep checking the website, because I put in my details about an hour ago and it said I wasn’t eligible. Then just tried again and it’s let me book a vaccination appointment now.

It had been saying I wasn't eligible but I kept trying and it did eventually work for me - have booked for tomorrow.

I've just been able to book a vaccine too. I had GD once and no other risk factors as far as I can work out 🤷🏻‍♀️

I hope they don’t have a person sat in front of a laptop typing in all the numbers to allow them to work on the booking website!!!
(I’m sure they don’t - just strange how it’s updating for some not others)

Are all of you managing to book on the national system now, Group 6 with a new shielding letter, or are any of you just group 6?

I'm group 6 and I can't book still....it says I'm not eligible when I say I'm not a carer.