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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:
Thread gallery
17
doireallyneedaname · 20/02/2021 09:14

Also just discovered this. QCovid includes severe depression and smoking as risk factors.

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3731

CeibaTree · 20/02/2021 09:14

@HereComesATractor

What is really unhelpful is having to deduce via Internet forums and the depths of the NHS website etc that this is the likely reason for being sent a shielding email. Without seeing these threads I would have been baffled.
I totally agree with this - if they were able to slot each individual's GP's name and phone number into the email/letter then they could surely have added a line about it being the GD past or present that triggered the inclusion on the new shielding list. As it is not giving people a reason that they are suddenly on this list almost a year into the pandemic has caused confusion and fear in a most unnecessary way!
CornishTiger · 20/02/2021 09:16

[quote doireallyneedaname]Also just discovered this. QCovid includes severe depression and smoking as risk factors.

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3731[/quote]
I’m dead then!

morninglive · 20/02/2021 09:25

Just seen this on the news, that many more people are getting these shielding letters. Maybe they want more people to isolate

CornishTiger · 20/02/2021 09:27

They need to change the furlough cut off date too. Some people have made changes on the basis they hadn’t been asked to shield.

QueenPaw · 20/02/2021 09:43

@Frazzled2207 yep people shielding are advised still to shield after vaccine

Bluebolt · 20/02/2021 10:09

The shielding and vaccine doesn’t really matter as I am group 6 as a carer. I have had GD x 3, hospitalised twice, classed as BAME and on steroids that effect immune system. I am going to need to make an appointment at the end of this to check my medical records. I have the online view but I am assuming it most be down to codes.

Desperatelywaiting2022 · 20/02/2021 13:53

I don't get this whole situation.
I had gestational diabetes in both my pregnancies (2016 & 2019), I ended up on metformin & insulin both times as my waking levels were always high. It was detected at 10 weeks in my last pregnancy so it was suspected that I had underlying type 2 diabetes. After I had my daughter I had my bloods done at 6 weeks & that came back fine. Then 5 months later my doctor requested that I had a fasting blood test due to the thought that I had underlying type 2 but this also came back fine. My BMI is also high but under 40 & this would have been noted on my file when I had an operation done in September 2020.
I've not received a letter/email (yet) telling me to shield etc.
The reason I say yet is because last week there was an issue saying that the profession I am in were entitled to their injection (early years) but this was just a monumental mix up. So I went onto the online booking system to see if I could book an appointment that way but it was correctly saying that I was not yet eligible for my vaccine (12th Feb).
When I became aware yesterday afternoon that people who had GD in the past were receiving these letters/emails I thought I'd see if I could book my vaccine yet, which I couldn't. Later on in the evening however it says I'm now eligible & can choose where I want to have my vaccine but I am yet to receive a letter/email!!!
I'm going to have to give it a couple more days I think & then if I've not had anything ring up my doctors to see if they can shed anymore light on the situation.
I also don't get though why were are suddenly in a way being put above people who do have diabetes in terms of being told to shield etc!!!

CometCupidDonnerBlitzen · 20/02/2021 16:06

Just updating to say even though I didn't get the email a letter arrived this morning. My only risk factors are a history of GD during my last pregnancy and a high BMI (over 40, although I'm sure my GP don't have it recorded as this).

I'm a bit baffled as I spoke to the doctor yesterday who assured me I had no risk factors (I asked specifically about BMI and GD) that would put me in any of the priority categories. Specifically I was asking if my BMI would place me in group 6, and yes I did tell her what it was now. She was completely disinterested in my question.

Here I am a day later with a vaccine booked for tomorrow.

minipie · 20/02/2021 17:50

Unfortunately GPs seem to have found out about all of this at the same time as everyone else - so they’re not necessarily up to speed with the new reasons why people may be being given shielding letters.

WreckTangled · 21/02/2021 13:36

NHSDigital to release a statement on this shortly.

Just received a shielding letter but no one knows why!!
Happyelfjokeday · 21/02/2021 14:34

Look forward to hearing the update. I’ve managed to get the jab now but would be useful to know their thoughts on shielding if they have changed vs the emails so many of us got last week.

Covidcorvid · 21/02/2021 14:41

@CometCupidDonnerBlitzen

Just updating to say even though I didn't get the email a letter arrived this morning. My only risk factors are a history of GD during my last pregnancy and a high BMI (over 40, although I'm sure my GP don't have it recorded as this).

I'm a bit baffled as I spoke to the doctor yesterday who assured me I had no risk factors (I asked specifically about BMI and GD) that would put me in any of the priority categories. Specifically I was asking if my BMI would place me in group 6, and yes I did tell her what it was now. She was completely disinterested in my question.

Here I am a day later with a vaccine booked for tomorrow.

Bmi over 40 makes you clinically vulnerable which I thought meant group 6?
FoxtrotSkarloey · 21/02/2021 15:18

Call me impatient, but their version of shortly obviously isn't the same as mine!

Desperatelywaiting2022 · 21/02/2021 15:25

@FoxtrotSkarloey I'm thinking the same shortly to me means in a hour/2 hours tops but to them I think it'll mean tomorrow morning Confused

IsadoraMoon · 21/02/2021 15:29

@FoxtrotSkarloey

Call me impatient, but their version of shortly obviously isn't the same as mine!
OMG Me too! What is the hold up?! I reckon they'll just add ALL diabetes to the shield ING/ccine list and then they'll say they are prioritising everyone with either current or a history of diabetes. Still reckon it was a balls up tho!
NeedsImprovement01 · 21/02/2021 15:35

Another impatient one here.

I'm even bored of speculating.

FoxtrotSkarloey · 21/02/2021 15:38

Glad I'm not the only one Grin

In my book shortly = in the next couple of hours and before the next big window e.g. not this afternoon / today/ tomorrow/ this week and so on.

CometCupidDonnerBlitzen · 21/02/2021 15:40

@Covidcorvid That was my understanding too. I actually had an appointment for a different reason but decided to ask on the end of the call for a clarification on what group I was in presuming they would say 6. I know my BMI will look lower on their records but they just weren't interested in listening to me. She told me "there is nothing flagged for you, you aren't at any increased risk". So I asked "even with a current BMI over 40 and a history of GD" and she assured me no. Obviously I know that's wrong having read on here. We've had ongoing problems with this surgery during the pandemic and will look at changing once this has blown over.

minipie · 21/02/2021 15:43

I agree with PP that there is unlikely to be a blanket “yes shield” or “don’t shield” statement.

More likely to say: if you think it’s wrong, your GP can re run the algorithm with more accurate data (eg, making sure it’s coded as GD not T2 diabetes, up to date BMI, etc) and you may be removed.

Poor GPs

NeedsImprovement01 · 21/02/2021 15:44

I think there is either a fair amount of bureaucracy in an official announcement or it is not quite as open and shut as is in Partha's opinion.

FoxtrotSkarloey · 21/02/2021 15:47

Agree @minipie , but also it not that hard to say:

  • present GD is/ is not an issue on its own
  • present GD is an issue butin conjunction with xyz other factors
  • past GD is/ is not an issue on its own
  • past GD is an issue in conjunction with xyz other factors

This simplicity would allow a lot of us to know if we should go ahead and trouble the GP or not.

minipie · 21/02/2021 16:19

True Foxtrot

although that would require them to reveal publicly the “deprived” postcodes (as that’s one of the factors) which could be quite controversial

Plus some of the factors may be information the GP has, but the individual doesn’t necessarily know, eg is their asthma categorised medically as severe/moderate/mild, are the drugs they are taking something that appears to increase the covid risk, etc

WreckTangled · 21/02/2021 16:21

Update is up!

doireallyneedaname · 21/02/2021 16:23

@WreckTangled Wow, they’re really good and saying... nothing.

No clarity!

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