Should Shielding be brought back?

[nettie68]

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.

@Blubells

As others have said can you speak to your employer or look for a new job? There's lots of jobs that can be done partly from home that previously couldn't.

This seems like a sensible suggestion.

Unfortunately I can't just walk into another job from tomorrow, I still was also need to work my notice period plus by the time I find another job, this wave may hopefully have passed and he is due to finish chemo by the end of February if all goes to plan.

Some people would undoubtedly welcome them Rach but if you live with other people, especially those who haven't been or can't yet be fully vaccinated you'd need to wear it ALL the time.

Sorry about your husband’s diagnosis. Did he have the vaccine prior to his chemo? If he did then he should have mounted a full response. Has he had a letter about obtaining anti viral treatment if he contracts covid? If not he needs to discuss with his consultant as there are now more effective treatments for those most at risk.
I think as a wider issue this country doesn’t provide good sick pay to those having treatment for cancer, it’s one of the things that some of the cancer charities have campaigned on.
Where people on shielding entitled to full pay or ssp? If it’s ssp I’m not sure it would give your husband any additional protection?

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

Some people would undoubtedly welcome them Rach but if you live with other people, especially those who haven't been or can't yet be fully vaccinated you'd need to wear it ALL the time.

When I was on chemo I spent about 22 hours/day in my bedroom outside of hospital days. An FFP3 mask would have made me feel more relaxed and not that confined. I hate the things but know they’re helpful.

I think there's an argument for shielding to come back.

The vaccines work less well now than they did under Delta because of Omicron's immune escape.

Everyone is more likely to catch covid now than at most points during the pandemic due to the unprecedented number of cases that have be allowed to build up over the last month or so.

Just catching covid can, and does, damage people, and we don't know the extent of the damage yet.

About a sixth of our population is unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated.

The biggest protection anyone had during original covid or alpha was relatively low cases. You were much less likely to come across covid then.

Going to hospital during a short-staffed covid peak us a danger in itself.

Since our government used test and trace to funnel £37 billion into the hands of "consultants" whilst primarily paying ordinary people minimum wage to do the actual work, plus more millions to their mates in dodgy covid contracts what we can "afford" is rather a moot point.

@Overthebow

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.

This

Rach I get that but it's different when you aren't well and it's for a finite time. I'm well (ish), working and have school age dc. My immunosuppressant meds keep me from getting more disabled. And I'm on them long term.

On mumsnet when there is restrictions on healthy people's lives in place the solution has always been the government should support CEV to shield and let the rest of us carry on as normal. Yet when they are allowed to carry on as normal and there's no impact on their healthy lives then the government couldn't possibly afford to allow people to shield anymore.
If restrictions are reintroduced that impact the masses again you will have the same people suggesting the government just support the CEV to shield again so the rest of us can get back to normal

Not on the basis it was introduced before, no. At the start of the last lockdown in Jan 2021 very few people had had a first vaccination. The situation is very different now. All those on the shielding list should have had or been offered all 3 vaccinations by now, meaning many no longer need the additional protection shielding afforded.

I think those that still need (not want) to shield (CEV, unvaccinated for medical reasons with additional health issues, carers for CEV people, etc.) should be supported to do so by their work places, the government, family and friends etc. Those that want to shield can choose to do so, but this shouldn't be encouraged through means of financial support.

I was in the shielding group. My whole life has changed as a result, some of it positive, but it's an experience I am not willing to repeat just so some fit and healthy selfish people can get back to 'normal life' quicker.

OP you've mentioned chemo should be completed by the end of Feb all being well, in this case (if you can't wfh at all) to use a mixture of annual leave and unpaid leave until then?

You can update your CV, put it out there and actively search, now, though.

Have you talked to work recently about how you feel? What did their latest covid risk assessment say?
What has your Manager and HR said about offering you anything different at all for the next 2 months?

@Innocenta

To be honest, I think even those who are shielding may well end up getting it. Fingers crossed that reports of its mildness are true - it may be that even CEV people largely do come through okay, albeit feeling worse than average.

I think the longer that Omicron is prevalent at high levels, the less able CEV will be able to avoid it. The ways to stop Omicron from being at high levels are either to lock down harshly, or let it burn out. Those that argue for tighter restrictions, closures, tighter masks rules etc but which stop short of a tight lockdown are trying to chart an unsustainable middle path that will only prolong things and make it more difficult for the CEV to remain safe ultimately.

This is what vaccine was meant for 🙄

Do you think it's appropriate to roll your eyes on a thread started about someone going through chemo who cannot mount an immune response to a vaccine @MissMaple82?

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

The othering and unfounded assertions continue. All solved by putting us in free FFP3 masks 24 hours a day. Marvellous.

I agree with you re. 'othering'.I'm tired of reading 'The rest of us' and 'us/them' comments on mumsnet.

@nettie68

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

I agree. But right since the beginning of the pandemic there has been this trope of "Just let people shield" with absolutely no thought as to their mental health. They just mean "hide those awkward sick people away so I can carry on doing exactly as I please". And no, society has not supported CEV people at all.

One day, it will be you.

@nettie68

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?

Sorry to hear that OP.

I think shielding should be considered but only for a few of the most vulnerable. The original shielding list was quite broad, not to mention the many with other conditions who chose to shield. Much more is known about covid now, for example there is evidence that people with asthma and allergies tended to get less severe covid.
In addition there are several new treatments available which can help reduce severity.

Nevertheless I think chemo patients should be supported in shielding because they were vulnerable even before covid to serious infection plus the potential delay in treatment could be fatal.

I am immunosuppressed and shielded until it ended. I then caught covid and was hospitalised but am fully recovered. So yes the vaccine didn't protect me against hospitalisation as was expected but it did save my life.
Personally I'm not shielding again though may be more cautious than others.

The number of people who are immunosuppressed and who cannot work from home can’t be very big. It’s a group of 0.5 million immune suppressed people; some will develop an adequate antibody response, some are willing to take the risk and work out of the home, some are not of working age and some can work from home.
Personally, I don’t see the benefit in my entire family staying at home to protect me (immunocompromised with chronic lung disease) . Where would it end? Yes, if I homeschool then my risk is lower but do I stop my children mixing indoors with friends and family? I feel this isn’t an option. My job is extremely difficult to do from home, so I am choosing to work and be cautious. I have a risk assessment from work and they’re supportive and I know I am lucky. If someone cannot work due to their risk, then it should be addressed on an individual basis.

OP I am so very sorry for your situation. It sounds difficult and complicated. Can you assess your options for extended leave or similar?

In your situation OP I think you should be allowed time off, as paid or unpaid leave, or given an alternative role that can be done from home if possible. Speak to your enployer

@MissMaple82 What an unnecessarily nasty comment, considering the difficult circumstances OP is in. Any of us could end up in her situation, so try to have a bit of compassion, maybe...?

I'm still shielding. I didn't change my behaviour when the government decided we didn't need to anymore. But I have an Immunosuppressed DD for whom I care 24/7 any way and even before the pandemic rarely left the house except to go to hospital with her. I do feel those of us who are CEV are being forgotten by the government.

The best protection for the CEV, CV, the unvaccinated and indeed all of us, is to keep covid cases low.

That would be my top choice of policy protection for my vulnerable friends and family.

My family members who were advised to shield found it extremely difficult. It was so shocking for them to get the "Don't leave your home, but you can open a window." "Pack yourself a hospital bag" texts.

But if it's a choice between shielding and throwing the vulnerable to the wolves with a "Everyone's going to catch it." "There have always been vulnerable people" "We all have to die sometime" sort of shrug then I choose shielding as better than the alternative.

I do think people who are vulnerable should be supported to shield and do what ever is best for them and their families, we all know the vaccine is great but how great for vulnerable people.

I would think it’s very stressful for vulnerable people and more so when a family member can’t work from home.

I really think their should be far more support for families like this when cases are high,