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Original poster

Should Shielding be brought back?

113 replies

nettie68 · 27/12/2021 07:59

Should shielding be brought back for those that want it? I know some people prefered to prioritise their mental health and not shield but if clincially extremely vulnerable people wish to shield, then shouldn't there be the help to do so. At the moment, if you are CEV, you still need to attend work if you can't work from home. What about other household members, should their be support for them too, as if they need to go to work then they could still bring the virus home to the vulnerable person. Surely this would also alleviate some of the pressure on the hospitals as well.

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 27/12/2021 08:13

I did it last time, but wouldn’t again. I doubt it will be bought back due to vaccine.

ApolloandDaphne · 27/12/2021 08:13

I have 2 CEV friends who still shield by choice and and other one who chooses to work. People can now have vaccinations which is a huge help. I'm not sure what else can be done. I don't think it should be brought back as I don't think the government can afford to support all those who might require it and they certainly are not going to support other family members shielding as well.

Original poster
nettie68 · 27/12/2021 08:15

But the vaccine doesn't necessarily work for CEV, particularly if you are immune suppressed.

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 27/12/2021 08:27

@nettie68

But the vaccine doesn't necessarily work for CEV, particularly if you are immune suppressed.
I know but I still don't think shielding should be brought back.
SpringheelJack · 27/12/2021 08:33

I'm not sure what you're suggesting? The government pay CEV people who can't work from home their full salary to not go to work? How do you suggest they deal with family members who can't work from home? Who does the school run that they would normally do?

RachC2021 · 27/12/2021 08:34

The most recent publication sneaked out on Dec 24th said shielding would not be brought back. Again.

Original poster
nettie68 · 27/12/2021 08:34

What do you think we should do the CEV should do then?

OP posts:
Original poster
nettie68 · 27/12/2021 08:36

*What do you think the CEV should do then?

OP posts:
Gingerkittykat · 27/12/2021 08:39

Perhaps shielding should be brought back for the tiny minority of people who are immunosuppressed and the vaccine gives them very little immunity. I know one person like this who has been told by her immunologist she will have to shield to some degree for life now.

I was in the shielding group but have normal vaccine protection. I am still cautious but there is no way I could mentally cope with shielding again.

Overthebow · 27/12/2021 08:39

No I don’t think it should be brought back. It’s almost two years on, we have vaccinations and better treatment. We can’t afford to pay people to stay at home anymore.

SpringheelJack · 27/12/2021 08:43

What do you think we should do the CEV should do then?

I don't think it's fair or possible to put the risk mitigation of the pandemic on the shoulders of the CEV, even if they are the ones at most risk.

Overthebow · 27/12/2021 08:44

@Gingerkittykat

Perhaps shielding should be brought back for the tiny minority of people who are immunosuppressed and the vaccine gives them very little immunity. I know one person like this who has been told by her immunologist she will have to shield to some degree for life now.

I was in the shielding group but have normal vaccine protection. I am still cautious but there is no way I could mentally cope with shielding again.

If there’s people who will need to shield for life, then surely they will be able to access the same disability benefits as others who are unable to work. No need for official shielding as such.
treeflowercat · 27/12/2021 08:46

@Gingerkittykat

Perhaps shielding should be brought back for the tiny minority of people who are immunosuppressed and the vaccine gives them very little immunity. I know one person like this who has been told by her immunologist she will have to shield to some degree for life now.

I was in the shielding group but have normal vaccine protection. I am still cautious but there is no way I could mentally cope with shielding again.

I agree with this. Those groups for whom the vaccine isn't believed to have provided significant immunity should be shielded, but this isn't the same group that shielded back in 2020. Their households should also be supported to shield with them. But this needs to be alongside a policy of letting the country "run hot" with Omicron until it burns itself out, and let it pass through so we can all, and those who would be shielding, get back to normality by February.
treeflowercat · 27/12/2021 08:48

If there’s people who will need to shield for life, then surely they will be able to access the same disability benefits as others who are unable to work. No need for official shielding as such.

They only need to shield when cases are extremely high and a significant proportion of the population has it. If it's allowed to spread amongst the less vulnerable, those cases won't stay very high for very long.

Whichjab · 27/12/2021 08:49

The CEV are not more at risk of covid than they are of 'flu, pneumonia, RSV any kind of virus. The shielding wasn't really to help the individual, it was to prevent those most likely to get seriously ill from ending up in hospital at the same time. I live with a CEV, they were CEV before Covid and will be after.

Original poster
nettie68 · 27/12/2021 08:49

So this is my situation, my husband is receiving chemo for a cancer that is at this stage cureable. Chemo makes you immune suppressed so more likely to be seriously ill from covid. A positive covid test will also delay treatment which could push the cancer from cureable to incureable. I have to go to work in a job that is not covid secure and can't be done from home. If I bring home covid, I could potentially kill him and if that happens I have to live with that for the rest of my life. Now, what I am supposed to do? What would you do in my situation?

OP posts:
gamerchick · 27/12/2021 08:53

If those want to shield then they should at their own expense. The country can't afford it.

If your job is so unsafe then the option of changing it is there or claim benefits. Or live somewhere else if you catch covid and return when it's gone.

Original poster
nettie68 · 27/12/2021 08:53

@treeflowercat

If there’s people who will need to shield for life, then surely they will be able to access the same disability benefits as others who are unable to work. No need for official shielding as such.

They only need to shield when cases are extremely high and a significant proportion of the population has it. If it's allowed to spread amongst the less vulnerable, those cases won't stay very high for very long.

But cases are exteremely high at the moment, this is my point, surely we should bring back shielding until we have let it rip through the rest of the population. I wasn't suggesting it should be permaneant.
OP posts:
Caramellatteplease · 27/12/2021 08:54

DS14 is CEV. We have kinda continued our own shielding.

He and his sister are still homeschooling and we ask people to test before they come over. He hasnt been to a swimming pool or the cinema since the start of the pandemic nor used a bus or train. His club he used to do hasn't restarted (I suspect wont now).

We have done many theme park visits and outdoor attractions.

It seems weird that for some people life is more or less back to normal. It really isnt for us.

PineappleMojito · 27/12/2021 08:56

I don’t know what you can do other than test regularly and take all possible precautions at work. Do your employers know of your situation? Is there any way to take annual leave/carers leave when your husband is due treatments so you minimise the risk of his chemo being interrupted?

Original poster
nettie68 · 27/12/2021 08:57

@Caramellatteplease

DS14 is CEV. We have kinda continued our own shielding.

He and his sister are still homeschooling and we ask people to test before they come over. He hasnt been to a swimming pool or the cinema since the start of the pandemic nor used a bus or train. His club he used to do hasn't restarted (I suspect wont now).

We have done many theme park visits and outdoor attractions.

It seems weird that for some people life is more or less back to normal. It really isnt for us.

We do not go anyway, other than hospital or me to work. It's just the transmissability of omicron at the moment is the worry, I wasn't as worried before once we had been vaccinated.
OP posts:
Overthebow · 27/12/2021 08:58

But cases are exteremely high at the moment, this is my point, surely we should bring back shielding until we have let it rip through the rest of the population. I wasn't suggesting it should be permaneant.

And every time cases are high? No, sorry I don’t think that should happen. Covid isn’t going away and there will be times cases are high, just like flu and other viruses. Everyone has to make choices now as to what’s best for them and their families. Some people may make the choice to change jobs or limit what they do, but the government shouldn’t pay for it.

RachC2021 · 27/12/2021 09:04

Government should consider sending a supply of FFP3 masks to those who needed a third primary dose of the vaccines. Must surely be cheaper than shielding, especially as only the vulnerable person needs them rather than an entire household shielding.

Original poster
nettie68 · 27/12/2021 09:08

God, there are some vile people about. I just hope that none of you find yourself in my situation.

OP posts:
musicalfrog · 27/12/2021 09:08

I think you could try to find a job that you can do from home, if it is this important to shield.