Shielding program stopped

[Egghead68]

For anyone this affects, the shielding program was stopped for good yesterday.

They snuck this news out under the cover of the cabinet reshuffle.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Yes. We will all get letters soon (more expense - why can’t they just do press releases?)

I didn’t realise it was still going! I though it had stopped in July. I guess with no restrictions it’s going to have stopped, it can’t keep going forever.

@Egghead68

Yes. We will all get letters soon (more expense - why can’t they just do press releases?)

Press release equals lots of adverse media...

They mention boosters jabs, but -

• many of the 500,000 immune suppressed who are listed as top priority for 3rd shots (ahead of health/social care staff) whose eligibility was publicly announced over 2 weeks ago, are still waiting to be called forward. 119 can't help. GP says still awaiting guidance.

It's a shambles

My ECV relative is getting her booster tomorrow.

I’m in Wales where things are slightly different but wish shielding was still in place.

I might then have been protected against having to be back in school where we’ve had 50 pupil cases in the first two weeks of term (as opposed to 2 in the whole of the summer term) - funnily enough, I’m sitting here coughing my guts up with covid, despite being fully vaccinated and following all in-school guidance and minimising where I go outside of work.

Immunocompromised people on certain meds (mine) were warned that we might have a reduced response to the vaccine. Well, here we are.

Before returning to school I still have to have the conversation which asks just exactly they are going to keep me safe, as there is NO guarantee I won’t get it again. I’m not sure they can.

Get well soon @DotBall.

It was paused on 1st April @overthebow but retained in case needed again.

Agree @marieantoinehairnet. Can’t help thinking individual paper letters must cost a fortune though.

Thank you Egghead68

@nether

They mention boosters jabs, but -

• many of the 500,000 immune suppressed who are listed as top priority for 3rd shots (ahead of health/social care staff) whose eligibility was publicly announced over 2 weeks ago, are still waiting to be called forward. 119 can't help. GP says still awaiting guidance.

It's a shambles

I haven't heard a thing, neither has my consultant

But what about CEV children under 12?

I haven't heard a thing, neither has my consultant

My relative was contacted by their GP surgery.

@Tealightsandd

But what about CEV children under 12?

Children are at lower risk, yes, but shouldn't there be some provision for CEV under 12s, who (in the UK) can't yet have the vaccine ?

@Tealightsandd what sort of provision would you suggest?

@Overthebow

Support including financial for the families of CEV under 12s, if they need/want to continue a form of shielding. No penalty for keeping the child off school (if they want to/feel the need) - no fines or deregistration.

@Sparklingbrook

I haven't heard a thing, neither has my consultant

My relative was contacted by their GP surgery.

Ah. That'll be never then. Reception at my GP told me I wasn't higher risk, didn't need to be shielding and my doctor occasionally remembers I have a condition (not asthma though which is on my notes...) Consultant went on a wild rage at them 6 weeks after shielding started when I still had no food deliveries and managed to produce a letter, food from the council and a delivery slot within an hour

I think the government removed all children from the CEV group a month or so ago? Parents got letters to say their children were no longer classified as CEV.

@NotMyCat does it depend on why the patient is CEV maybe? I don't know whether people with some conditions would get it before others? It's cancer in my relative's case.

Can ask, for those who were shielding, how long you think it should continue for?
Or what you see as the solution that would make you feel ‘safe’. Safe is something we can promise to no one in my opinion.
Covid is part of our lives now (along with all the other myriad things that can make us ill). It will forever be a possibility that you will catch it.
I am genuinely curious as to what people think ought to be happening and for how long? What would make you feel more confident?
When do you see the end point being?

@Sparklingbrook my doctors are just.. interesting. It keeps life entertaining
I'm immunocompromised and consultant confirmed I would be included (my bloods act like I'm on chemo but I'm not)

What would make you feel more confident

Not having to teach in a covid-ravaged school would be a start. Seriously, if they can’t protect me, they shouldn’t expect me to go in.

What would make you feel more confident

Not having to work in close prolonged contact with patients when Covid rates are high in the community and there’s every chance some of my patients will have it.

I suppose my point is that no-one can protect you and they never could. Unless you choose to live in isolation for ever you’re always at risk from a variety of different things.
Schools have always been germ-ravaged. Did this concern you before covid? Did you stay home every time there was a flu or sickness bug outbreak? I’m a teacher myself and in no way feel less ‘safe’ at school than I did 18 months ago.. BUT I’m not in your position so we clearly see things from a different perspective.
My issue is with the government rhetoric that surrounds this. If people go out into the world and live their lives then they can not be kept ‘safe’ whatever we do.
Risks can be mitigated and maybe that’s what needs to be focussed on.

The emphasis on being ‘safe’ and ‘protected’ implies that if we do all these certain things we can guarantee people will NEVER catch it.
That’s not realistic.

@DotBall

What would make you feel more confident

Not having to teach in a covid-ravaged school would be a start. Seriously, if they can’t protect me, they shouldn’t expect me to go in.

For how long? Covid is endemic in our country, it is likely that covid levels will stay similar to now. How long do you think you should be able to stay at home for whilst still being paid?