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

[ThornAmongstRoses]

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.

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

I only just escaped being in a shielding group first time round. I'm a self-employed healthcare worker and frankly we couldn't have afforded it - I'd have worked.

I've escaped again by losing weight - but again, I wouldn't do it. Vaccines are out, it's an invitation, not a summons. I need the money and I know the risk in the area I work.

She’s the 5th nurse to be off now due to shielding letters due to their health and we’ve also got other nurses off due to being on their third trimesters. In a short staffed ward anyway, the high numbers of staff not being able to work, is really starting to take its toll on the rest of us

Why are you upset ? It’s all based on new research and algorithms based on Oxford research. It’s something to try and help.

Of course it’s not mandatory it never has been .We are moving targets for this virus and research should always be appreciated and listened to.

Is there different levels of crohns ? Apologies i don't know much about it. Only I know someone with crohns who had to shield last year. So wondering why she has only been told now.
I'd probably carry on under her circumstances

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.

From what I understand (brother has crohn's) the risk is from certain treatments not from crohn's itself. So the advice to shield may be based on what medication is being taken.

She's been advised to shield based on her condition. It isn't taking in to account other points such as the fact she's had covid, has antibodies, wasn't hugely unwell etc. Based on those things if I was her I'd decide not to. It's only general advice after all

@ThornAmongstRoses

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.

Has she told them about the letter?

I know people who were asked to shield the first time but didn't.

In case it helps, this is what the letter says. She can choose what to do about it.

"This is advice and not the law, so you can choose what action you take whilst continuing to follow all the basic rules that we all need to observe through the pandemic."

I'm slightly surprised to read that NHS workers don't know that shielding isn't compulsory. Did you think that someone has been checking up on all the millions of people who've had a letter? Like lots of other things not every one has the economic freedom to stay inside for a year.

It is interesting how often people don't read information properly.

I've had the same letter.

These are some of the quotes from the letter:
"This means that you can make an informed choice yourself...
An extra cautious approach has been taken, so there is a chance that your risk is lower than estimated...
This is advice and not the law, so you can choose what action you take whilst continuing to follow all the basic rules that we all need to observe through the pandemic."

I'm chosing to ignore it. I think my risk has been calculated as high as I had severe asthma in the past, but it is very mild now. I had covid last month. As your friend has told her boss, the decision is probably out of her hands now.

@TangerineGenie thank you, I think you’re right. The Crohn’s and Colitis Uk website does have a good guide where you can work out your risk based on medication/age etc and mine is medium so I must have just missed out on being asked (I am glad!) and I guess my other risk factors in the algorithm must be low too.

Yes she has spoken to our manager so I can only assume they weren’t happy to have her in work.

I’m calling her later so I will ask what actually was said in relation to her shielding being optional.

The database used to decide on shielding probably doesn't know that she's had the vaccine or that she's had covid. It is simply identifying by condition.
Shielding is not compulsory
I am cev and have been shielding as advised since march. I intend to stop soon because I have had my vaccine and I'm going mad

My son has crohns and is on immunosuppressants which is why they are told to shield. Not everyone with crohns is on these medications so wouldn't need to shield.

My son has had letters since the first lockdown advising him to shield. He did for five months last year, but this time has decided that he would be better off working.
His crohns is well controlled with his infusions. He has also now been vaccinated. Obviously if a person is having a flare of up of their crohns or is struggling getting the right medication for them that is a different matter.

The letters are advice, they aren't mandatory, it is up to the individual as to whether they shield or not.