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Original poster

My friend has been told to shield and she’s so upset by it.

39 replies

ThornAmongstRoses · 21/02/2021 11:19

She didn’t have to shield at all last year, but out of the blue she got a letter last week to say that due to her health condition (crohns) she’s now got to shield.

She had already had Corona just before Christmas and blood tests have since showed she had antibodies. She has also had her first vaccine about a month ago.

She’s so upset as it will have a big impact on her financially and socially too, as she will really struggle being cooped up on her own.

Why is she being shielded if she’s already had Corona and was absolutely fine, she has natural immunity and has had the vaccine?

It seems like madness to me. Why can’t people just be allowed to live their lives?

I’m upset on her behalf.

OP posts:
OverTheRainbow88 · 21/02/2021 11:20

If she’s not shielded before, had covid, had the jab a month ago I probably would carry in being cautious and careful but not shield.

OverTheRainbow88 · 21/02/2021 11:20

It’s also a guideline not a law

IwillrunIwillfly · 21/02/2021 11:21

She doesn't have to shield if she doesn't want to

PPNC · 21/02/2021 11:21

Told to shield not made to shied surely? She can choose not to. I don’t get it either from your post other than maybe it’s an automatic letter not taking into account individual immunity. She should call her GP?

Totallydefeated · 21/02/2021 11:22

She doesn’t have to shield, it’s her choice. I’m not sure I would if I’d had it already, and had also had the vaccine, but it’s up to her.

Gardenista · 21/02/2021 11:23

Is this because her workplace won’t allow her in because she is shielding so she has to take sick leave on statutory sick pay?

WorraLiberty · 21/02/2021 11:23

Your friend needs to read the letter properly.

It's a guideline, not a demand.

alaiwna · 21/02/2021 11:23

Under those circumstances I'd just decide not to do it.

AlexaShutUp · 21/02/2021 11:24

Yes, it's advisory, so she doesn't actually have to shield if she chooses not to. Some employers may be reluctant to have people in the workplace against medical advice...although I don't think they'd know unless she told them.

SonnetForSpring · 21/02/2021 11:24

It's a recommendation based on the data they have analysed to determine risk profiles. It may not be accurate. It really is her decision.

MarcelineMissouri · 21/02/2021 11:24

If she’s happy not to then she doesn’t have to. No need to get upset by it, it’s just advice, and she clearly has many mitigating factors anyway.
The letter won’t be based on the fact that she’s had it and had her first dose of vaccine, it will just be based on her underlying condition.

MustStopSnacking28 · 21/02/2021 11:24

I’m a bit confused as I have Crohn’s but haven’t been told to shield at all. In her case I would be cautious but wouldn’t shield I don’t think.

Angel2702 · 21/02/2021 11:25

It’s voluntary as far as I know for new group and mainly to get them vaccinated quickly. In that position I wouldn’t be shielding.

SpnBaby1967 · 21/02/2021 11:25

She knows it's not mandatory right?

BrideofBideford · 21/02/2021 11:26

Tell her she does not have to

Please tell her

TinkleyZebra · 21/02/2021 11:27

They’re not going to lock her in the house. It’s advice, not the law. If she doesn’t want to follow the advice or wants to make her own risk assessment of activities that’s completely up to her.

PurpleMustang · 21/02/2021 11:28

As far as I know the shielding letters will be produced from the general info the doctors have. So info like having and Covid and the vaccine (as all will be getting it) will not factor into the decision for the letter.

Covidcorvid · 21/02/2021 11:28

@MustStopSnacking28

I’m a bit confused as I have Crohn’s but haven’t been told to shield at all. In her case I would be cautious but wouldn’t shield I don’t think.
I think they take into account other stuff such as age and postcode and bmi. Dd has 3x autoimmune conditions, all of which we know other people with and they’ve been told to shield. Dd hasn’t. So either they’ve missed her off or her age and low bmi means she doesn’t have to. She’s decided to shield anyway as she’s furloughed and it’s lock down.
Original poster
ThornAmongstRoses · 21/02/2021 11:31

Thank you everyone - I didn’t realise it wasn’t mandatory and neither does she I don’t think based on what she said to me.

She will be on protected pay, but only basic pay (we are NHS workers) but she does a lot of Bank shifts for extra money (nights and weekends) to make up for her shortfall in hours between Monday-Friday due to childcare reasons so she’s really worried about not being able to do that anymore.

I will speak to her again about it only being mandatory and see what she says. I don’t know what our managers have said, or would say, about her choosing to come in despite the GP letter.

OP posts:
hm246 · 21/02/2021 11:33

You don’t have to shield by law. It’s just advice. In her situation I properly wouldn’t shield.

CavernousScream · 21/02/2021 11:34

She’s been advised to shield. It’s not an order.

Bagelsandbrie · 21/02/2021 11:37

I’m in the clinically extremely vulnerable group and haven’t shielded at all even though I was in the group from the start. (For lots of reasons - dh works outside the home, we have a 17 year old dd at college, Ds aged 9 has severe complex needs and attends complex needs school etc - seems very pointless me shielding in those circumstances)! She doesn’t have to do it. She can just ignore it.

ThePontiacBandit · 21/02/2021 11:39

If she’s NHS, she should contact occ health. They might be able to offer her redeployment for a time. They need to do a risk assessment and discuss her options with her.

I believe people with IBD are being advised to shield and get the vaccine early because it can cause decreased immunity? But yes, it’s advisory not obligatory but she should definitely inform occ health.

TheBoredLady · 21/02/2021 11:40

Our work place isn’t allowing people who should be shielding into the office. But they can work from home instead so not losing any pay. If they can’t work from home they are still getting full pay.

JemimaMuddledUp · 21/02/2021 11:40

It is just advisory, not mandatory.

I've been shielding since March so can understand how depressing the thought is. But my impression is that the new shielding list is there to speed up the vaccination process for at risk people. Aa you say, your friend has already had the vaccine.

I know in my workplace if I wanted to work from the office (during the periods they were open) they were willing to make adjustments to reduce my risk. But - and this is important - my role is not public facing. As it is I've chosen to remain working from home.

They are whizzing through the vaccinations now so I don't expect there will be another period of shielding after this one.

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