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I’ve been added to the shielding list

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I’ve just received an email and I’m pretty shocked and upset if I’m honest. I just can’t work out why! I have gastroparesis, would that be enough? My BMI is low, 19 or 20 I think, is low BMI a factor or is it just higher? I’m a carer on a low income, but our postcode is generally ok
Fully understand why you feel the way you do, especially as it's come out of the blue. I don't know if low BMI is a factor, although I think 19/20 is in the healthy range anyway. Have you tried doing the calculation yourself to see what score you are? Take care of yourself.
 
I’ve just received an email and I’m pretty shocked and upset if I’m honest. I just can’t work out why! I have gastroparesis, would that be enough? My BMI is low, 19 or 20 I think, is low BMI a factor or is it just higher? I’m a carer on a low income, but our postcode is generally ok
Why not ring you Doctor and ask , maybe it will help you iunderstand.
 
Fully understand why you feel the way you do, especially as it's come out of the blue. I don't know if low BMI is a factor, although I think 19/20 is in the healthy range anyway. Have you tried doing the calculation yourself to see what score you are? Take care of yourself.
Thanks. I have done the calculator but I don’t understand the result if I’m being honest. Plus it didn’t ask for details like Hba1c or complications so I’m guessing it’s not them. From what little I can gather from the calculator is I’m at quite high risk of hospital admission? Maybe?!
 
Not heard anything yet, that means I've still got to go out to work.
 
Thanks. I have done the calculator but I don’t understand the result if I’m being honest. Plus it didn’t ask for details like Hba1c or complications so I’m guessing it’s not them. From what little I can gather from the calculator is I’m at quite high risk of hospital admission? Maybe?!
I don't know how the NHS is using the calculator to be honest. I had thought it was as it stands, but maybe not!

The document which was published the other day does say that they have 'taken a precautionary approach to how we handle information which might be missing from records' and that 'where data is missing, we have used some default values that have higher than average risk associated with them, according to QCovid®. This means that we are likely to be overestimating the level of risk for some people with information missing from their records and therefore identifying more people as potentially high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable)'. Perhaps this might have happened in your case - for example your BMI is 19/20, but if it's not on your records the default BMI is 31 so that would certainly have an impact. As Grovesy says definitely worth discussing it with your GP.

I haven't had a letter or a email, but I haven't had a call inviting me to book an appointment for the vaccine either, so I really don't know where I stand at the moment. I copied the results of my calculation into a Word doc so that they are handy if I need to discuss with my GP in the next week or so.

Hope you get some clarity!
 
Differnt areas seem to be at differnt levels for roll out of the vaccine. Also it seems to also depend on how you are contacted by whether it is local health service or the National System. I last week had a text for the local service, there was a link to book , duly done fir a couple of days later. The begining of this week I received a letter from the National service .In other parts of the country I have friends who have had phone calls from their GP.
I also read to today of an area in London that are doing the 50 year old group.
 
Differnt areas seem to be at differnt levels for roll out of the vaccine. Also it seems to also depend on how you are contacted by whether it is local health service or the National System. I last week had a text for the local service, there was a link to book , duly done fir a couple of days later. The begining of this week I received a letter from the National service .In other parts of the country I have friends who have had phone calls from their GP.
Yes its a bit random! I know my area is calling Group 6 and people have had calls and texts from their GPs. Annoyingly it's the lead GP at my practice who's leading on this for the area but I don't know anyone who has been contacted by his surgery!
 
I was suprised when I got my text last week I did not realise my area were doing the over 65's. My surgery are not part of the vaccination scheme mine was a text from another GP practice that are vaccination hub.
 
I’ve not been contacted as a diabetic for my vaccine, but I have it booked for next week as I’m a carer for my disabled son. Our post is a mess right now due to an outbreak, I wouldn’t be surprised if I get a letter at some point from the national schem.
 
I’ve not been contacted as a diabetic for my vaccine, but I have it booked for next week as I’m a carer for my disabled son. Our post is a mess right now due to an outbreak, I wouldn’t be surprised if I get a letter at some point from the national schem.
We had the post problem for most of January because of outbreaks, though they were proirtising NHS letters as, I had my Bowel Screening Kit. Had the result back within the week.
 
We had the post problem for most of January because of outbreaks, though they were proirtising NHS letters as, I had my Bowel Screening Kit. Had the result back within the week.
Our post seems to be ok (and the postman who's T2 had his 1st jab yesterday!). If I don't get invited one way or another I shall just have to wait until the national directive is to move to Group 7 which should mean that people in Group 6 will be able to book without being contacted.
 
My daughter's friend who is 25 with Type 1 received a shielding letter today. She has no other conditions and has a healthy BMI and doesnt live in a deprived area. It came as a bit of a shock to her to be told to shield. She has had her vaccine a few weeks ago as an NHS worker.
 
My daughter's friend who is 25 with Type 1 received a shielding letter today. She has no other conditions and has a healthy BMI and doesnt live in a deprived area. It came as a bit of a shock to her to be told to shield. She has had her vaccine a few weeks ago as an NHS worker.
I would think she should certainly try and find out why - there doesn't seem to be any logic whatsoever to that.
 
I believe the wording is largely immaterial - I'd hazard the intelligent guess that the fact you happen to have eg gastroparesis or definitely with COPD at any level ie still have at least a blue salamol inhaler you can order as and when - you're included. It is NOT a personal insult whatever.

Even for someone wilh COPD and max 50% lung capacity - shielding has been and still is, advisory - not the Law.

It ONLY means you're a lot nearer the top of the list to get the vaccine - and I fail to see ANY disadvantage to anyone, of that fact!
 
I believe the wording is largely immaterial - I'd hazard the intelligent guess that the fact you happen to have eg gastroparesis or definitely with COPD at any level ie still have at least a blue salamol inhaler you can order as and when - you're included. It is NOT a personal insult whatever.

Even for someone wilh COPD and max 50% lung capacity - shielding has been and still is, advisory - not the Law.

It ONLY means you're a lot nearer the top of the list to get the vaccine - and I fail to see ANY disadvantage to anyone, of that fact!
I won't be insulted if I do get a letter and neither will I take it personally, but I still won't be happy about it! Some people will be pleased, some won't, some won't be bothered either way and some simply aren't clear about why they have been sent a letter and would probably feel better if they knew. For people who are experiencing anxiety it might be another thing to worry about. It's great to have a platform for people to safely express how they are feeling.
 
I’ve spoken to my hospital team and GP surgery and they’ve no idea why I’ve been added!

I have however worked the calculator out and had a play about with different things, basically it’s a mix of T1, BMI and postcode. Ironically I’d actually have less chance of dying with a BMI of 30 and being classed as obese than I do with a BMI of 20, although a greater chance of hospital admission.
 
We had the post problem for most of January because of outbreaks, though they were proirtising NHS letters as, I had my Bowel Screening Kit. Had the result back within the week.
Y
Differnt areas seem to be at differnt levels for roll out of the vaccine. Also it seems to also depend on how you are contacted by whether it is local health service or the National System. I last week had a text for the local service, there was a link to book , duly done fir a couple of days later. The begining of this week I received a letter from the National service .In other parts of the country I have friends who have had phone calls from their GP.
I also read to today of an area in London that are doing the 50 year old group.

If I get one (and from the sounds of it I may well) I don't think it'll change how I behave. (I'm in no way shielding, but I'm being fairly careful, WFH, etc.)


I’ve spoken to my hospital team and GP surgery and they’ve no idea why I’ve been added!

I have however worked the calculator out and had a play about with different things, basically it’s a mix of T1, BMI and postcode. Ironically I’d actually have less chance of dying with a BMI of 30 and being classed as obese than I do with a BMI of 20, although a greater chance of hospital admission.
I'm so glad you managed to managed to speak to your GP, but how bizarre! Hope you feel a bit better about it now. Sleep well!
 
My daughter's friend who is 25 with Type 1 received a shielding letter today. She has no other conditions and has a healthy BMI and doesnt live in a deprived area. It came as a bit of a shock to her to be told to shield. She has had her vaccine a few weeks ago as an NHS worker.
i think the letter is generated purely on the basis of which group you fall into that has been identified as at higher risk.
ie all diabetics from 14-65 years of age.
what it does is

A) puts you in group 6 to receive a vaccine before others that might be in your age group.
B) it is a legal document,like a sick note,for your employer if "you" chose to stay home from work and receive sick pay or furlough.(For your landlord so he cannot evict you and duty of care to fix problems with property)
C) so you can receive ,income support,council support ,housing ,food bank etc should you need it from the DWP,Social services etc
D)puts you on the priority list with the chemist ,for your meds and free delivery.
E)vaccination delivery,at home or at the surgery,rather than a vaccination center where you might be at higher risk of exposure to covid.
 
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Partha Kar has said on Twitter today that Type 1 alone is not the reason for sheilding letters.
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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