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.

@bumblenbean We’re not CEV. The letter says “may be at high risk” whereas CEV states “Are at very high risk.”

I know it sounds pedantic, but I think the wording is important.

That’s true doi but the shielding thing for me essentially confines us to the same fate! 😆

@Itisasecret

I can't my GP is stuck in the dark ages.

Download the NHS app, I can access my medical records through that but my doctors don't have any way for me to access them directly online. You just need your NHS number.

@Itisasecret

This is really stressing me out. We were going to TTC again. Maybe not.

DH and I are currently TTC #2. I’m too old to delay it (by my own standards). The recent guidance though says that pregnant or TTC women can still have the vaccine

Can you share a link for this app please

I’ve got the NHS app but I can’t actually see my medical records...

[quote Pomegranatespompom]@Superspecs how do you access the calculator?[/quote]
qcovid.org/

It's here

@AngeloMysterioso

I’ve got the NHS app but I can’t actually see my medical records...

I get these options in the NHS app

@wonderstuff123

Can you share a link for this app please

apps.apple.com/gb/app/nhs-app/id1388411277

I wonder why mine is so different?

It can be mental health issues

[quote doireallyneedaname]@Itisasecret I think it’s a precautionary measure rather than us all actually being at risk.

I don’t believe we are CEV, as the letter clearly states we are in the CEV group because it’s the easiest way to get us a priority jab.

Wishful thinking maybe?[/quote]
It's a bit silly of them to really think that the best way to prioritise people for the vaccine is to put them all in the CEV with all the hassle and worry that entails ("You're CEV except you're not so shield except don't" - confusing message much??) rather than, say, just create a new group called... oh I don't know... "Additional Vaccine Priority Group" and then push anyone in the AVPG up the list.

I'm certainly not in hysterics about it, but still a bit ticked off at the poor communication and an apparent lack of understanding about what it's like to receive one of these emails.

That calculator is interesting. I put my information in first with no diabetes, and it calculated risk group 17 out of 100 for dying from COVID. Then I went back and changed the diabetes answer to type 2, and it shot up from group 17 to group 56.
So I guess as women with previous GD are at higher risk for Type 2, and that changes the risk level so much, then that’s what’s prompted all these letters

Hope that last message didn’t worry anyone. Group 17 out of 100 was a risk of 1 in 200,000 - group 56 (adding Type 2 - even though past GD isn’t the same as type 2) was 1 in 20,000, so a big jump but still a really really low risk.

@Happyelfjokeday but the thing is a history of GD isn’t the same kind of risk as actually having type 2 surely? Yes some of us will go on to develop it (some probably already have without knowing it and so I can sort of see they’re taking a very cautious approach to encapsulate anyone who may do so) ... but to the extent of asking us to shield ‘just in case’ (assuming no other obvious risk factors)... also, many people who actually have confirmed type 2 have not been asked to shield.

It’s all very bizarre. Have to say I can see why diabetics might be pissed off that they appear to now be behind in the vaccine queue those with a diagnosis of GD that might be years out of date...

Yes completely agree - I know GD puts at higher risk of developing Type 2, but lots of us haven’t! That’s all I could put into the calculator though, there was no option for past GD. Weird.

I have to say I was feeling quite worried about it. Have managed to book a jab for tomorrow (loads and loads of slots available) so hopefully that will give some reassurance, a few weeks onwards anyway.

I got a text on Friday saying I was eligible to book jab. I have type 2 Diabetes but controlled no other markers

Went through the booking system got to end and was told I wasn’t eligible yet only over 65s could book. Worried I could lose my slot I dialled the number on the text and spent 20 mins listening to Sugar Plum Fairy.

When I got through they let me book slot on Monday. My area have slots available next working day every minute

Interesting many GPS aren’t following up the testing for women with GD. That’s quite worrying. If you’ve had GD why wouldn’t you get the jab anyway? There are appointments and vaccines sitting on the shelf apparently at mass vaccine clinic near me

I am wondering (pure speculation) if the population of mums with a history of GDM have a high prevalence of uncontrolled blood sugars, possibly comparable with those with type 2 diabetes (who would be more closely monitored reducing risk) leading to increased rates of hospitalisation from covid. Deprivation, age, ethnicity, BMI are likely to be factors (of those in the model), increasing the likelihood.

The threads here have shown annual checks are often skipped, so actually someone who had GDM 20 years ago may actually be higher risk of uncontrolled blood sugars than someone who had it 6 months ago. Prediabetics are more likely to be being monitored so less likely to be uncontrolled so not being treated in the same way.

Hopefully some clarity soon.

For those of you that already received the 1st dose was it Pfizer or AstraZeneca?

I am reading that most centers provide the Pfizer at the moment and just a few have the Astrazeneca...

Checking in. I raised this early on. I believe my GD has been checked somewhere as diabetes as I got the letter. Had already worked out I would be from a coded message on patient record.

My BMI is through the roof but I am not in the range for shielding without other clinical risks.

I agree I should have a diabetic screening and will contact GP to arrange.

An MP was on Vine saying that those with history of gd were being asked to shield and will be given priority for vaccine. It’s not a mistake.

I think the problem here is that we want to see evidence as to why GD is a risk factor. I really haven't seen anything that confirms this. If there were tangible reasons for it then maybe I would comply.

@Tangi88

For those of you that already received the 1st dose was it Pfizer or AstraZeneca?

I am reading that most centers provide the Pfizer at the moment and just a few have the Astrazeneca...

I had mine back in January and had the Pfizer one.

Partha Kan said that ALL diabetics are now in group 6, regardless of control or type. This is something I believe Diabetes UK have been pushing for some time. So it makes sense that GD would be included in that. I would guess that any diabetics that can’t book a jab online should speak to their GP. I would.

As for postpartum GD, there is some chat on Twitter from both Partha Kan and the Royal College Of Obstetricics, both querying why we have been included and hopefully providing an update soon.

So far it does seem like previous GD alone is a risk factor, but combined with one other major risk factor it would be.

When I use the calculator, my real life current circumstances give me a 1/222,000 risk of death. If I add type 2 (assuming it includes previous GD) and a BMI of 31 (as it was when I had GD, but since updated to 22 at the doctors, perhaps not logged properly) it jumps up to 1/15000 and puts me in to the shielding category.