https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56086965
There is to be a large expansion of the number of people being asked to shield in England, the government has announced.
An extra 1.7 million people are expected to be added to the 2.3 million already on the list.
For some it will also mean they are now prioritised for vaccination.
The move comes after a new model was developed that takes into extra factors rather than just someone's health condition as the original list does.
This calculation includes things like ethnicity, deprivation and weight to work out a person's risk of becoming seriously ill if they were to catch Covid.
At the moment only those with specific conditions or undergoing certain types of treatment have been advised to shield.
They include adults with Down's Syndrome, organ donor recipients and people with severe respiratory conditions.
The new model was developed following work by Oxford University which looked at the characteristics of people who died in the first wave.
Medical records have been searched to identify high risk patients now and they are now being sent letters informing of them of their new status, which means they are entitled to statutory sick pay, prioritisation for online shopping slots and help collecting medicines.
New shielders prioritised for vaccine
Of the 1.7 million, around 900,000 have already received an offer of a vaccination because they were over 70.
(So really it's 800,000 new ones)
The remainder are all thought to fall into one of the priority groups that are being invited for vaccination next.
They will be bumped up the list first for a jab, the government said.
Shielding was re-introduced in tier four areas from mid December, before being expanded nationally once the third lockdown was announced in early January.
Unlike in the first lockdown, people who are shielding are being advised they can leave their homes for exercise.
Deputy chief medical officer for England Dr Jenny Harries said: "This action ensures those most vulnerable to Covid can benefit from both the protection that vaccines provide and from enhanced advice and support should they choose it."
The model has been shared with the devolved nations. It is being left up to them to decide what to do with it.
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Covid: Extra 1.7m vulnerable added to shielding list in England
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POSTMAN
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Covid: Extra 1.7m vulnerable added to shielding list in England
I Wrote
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
My BFF Clash
The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
My BFF Clash
The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
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POSTMAN
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Re: Covid: Extra 1.7m vulnerable added to shielding list
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51997151
Coronavirus: Who should be shielding and why?
These people are advised to take extra care to avoid contracting Covid-19, because they are considered more at risk of needing hospital treatment.
Who is being added and why?
Health advisors say they now have a clearer picture of who is high risk.
Around 1.7m people are being added to the list, bringing the total to around 4m. These people will soon get a letter explaining why they are being advised to shield.
They do not have a single clinical diagnosis which alone puts them at risk, but a combination of factors, which, when combined, do.
Factors which have now been taken into consideration include:
It's not the same as during the first lockdown, when the advice was to stay at home at all times, but clinically extremely vulnerable people are being advised to take extra precautions.
Government guidelines strongly advise clinically extremely vulnerable people to stay at home at all times, apart from going out to exercise or attend a medical appointment.
The advice says try to keep all contact with others to a minimum and avoid busy areas. If you go out, maintain strict social distancing, wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face.
You should also try to stay 2m (6ft) away from other people within your household, especially if they display symptoms of the virus or have been advised to self-isolate.
Do I have to do it?
Shielding was never compulsory and it is still your choice to decide what you are comfortable about doing. Everyone in England is expected to follow the lockdown rules.
If possible, take things at your own pace and talk through any worries you have.
What if I've already had the vaccine?
People on the list are still advised to shield even if they have had two doses of the vaccine. No vaccine is 100% protective and immunisation will not stop all spread of the virus. Social distancing measures are advised for everyone.
People on the shielding list who have not yet been offered a vaccine - around 820,000 adults - will be offered an appointment soon to get immunised.
Can I meet with people that I don't live with?
The only people able to visit you at home are those in your support bubble - such as a relative or other person who helps with your care needs.
You can go out and exercise with the people you live with or someone in your bubble.
What about work?
The advice says you should not leave the house to work.
If you cannot work from home, you may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
What about shopping?
People on the shielding list are strong advised against visiting any shops, including pharmacies.
If you already have a priority delivery slot with a supermarket, that will continue - you do not need to do anything further.
If you cannot access food or medicines, your local council can offer support.
An NHS Volunteer Responders service can help with collecting prescriptions and groceries.
What are the recommendations around the UK?
Devolved administrations decide who should be on the shielding list in each country.
People shielding in Scotland and Wales have been told not to go into work under new lockdown advice. Unlike the lockdown in March 2020, no restrictions will be put on outdoor exercise.
In Northern Ireland, medically-vulnerable and older people are advised to be particularly careful in following the recommendations on limiting contacts.
Who is on the shielding list?
People in high risk categories, who include:
What about children and school?
Guidance from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says that most youngsters with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and kidney disease do not need to be on the shielding list held by the NHS.
About 90,000 people shielding are under 18. Children will only be removed from the list by their GP or specialist doctor after discussions with the child and their family.
If you have been told that your child no longer needs to shield, they can go to school, college or nursery.
Children who live with someone who is clinically vulnerable, but aren't themselves, should go to school.
Coronavirus: Who should be shielding and why?
These people are advised to take extra care to avoid contracting Covid-19, because they are considered more at risk of needing hospital treatment.
Who is being added and why?
Health advisors say they now have a clearer picture of who is high risk.
Around 1.7m people are being added to the list, bringing the total to around 4m. These people will soon get a letter explaining why they are being advised to shield.
They do not have a single clinical diagnosis which alone puts them at risk, but a combination of factors, which, when combined, do.
Factors which have now been taken into consideration include:
- age (older being higher risk)
ethnicity
deprivation (according to postcode)
underlying health issues
It's not the same as during the first lockdown, when the advice was to stay at home at all times, but clinically extremely vulnerable people are being advised to take extra precautions.
Government guidelines strongly advise clinically extremely vulnerable people to stay at home at all times, apart from going out to exercise or attend a medical appointment.
The advice says try to keep all contact with others to a minimum and avoid busy areas. If you go out, maintain strict social distancing, wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face.
You should also try to stay 2m (6ft) away from other people within your household, especially if they display symptoms of the virus or have been advised to self-isolate.
Do I have to do it?
Shielding was never compulsory and it is still your choice to decide what you are comfortable about doing. Everyone in England is expected to follow the lockdown rules.
If possible, take things at your own pace and talk through any worries you have.
What if I've already had the vaccine?
People on the list are still advised to shield even if they have had two doses of the vaccine. No vaccine is 100% protective and immunisation will not stop all spread of the virus. Social distancing measures are advised for everyone.
People on the shielding list who have not yet been offered a vaccine - around 820,000 adults - will be offered an appointment soon to get immunised.
Can I meet with people that I don't live with?
The only people able to visit you at home are those in your support bubble - such as a relative or other person who helps with your care needs.
You can go out and exercise with the people you live with or someone in your bubble.
What about work?
The advice says you should not leave the house to work.
If you cannot work from home, you may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
What about shopping?
People on the shielding list are strong advised against visiting any shops, including pharmacies.
If you already have a priority delivery slot with a supermarket, that will continue - you do not need to do anything further.
If you cannot access food or medicines, your local council can offer support.
An NHS Volunteer Responders service can help with collecting prescriptions and groceries.
What are the recommendations around the UK?
Devolved administrations decide who should be on the shielding list in each country.
People shielding in Scotland and Wales have been told not to go into work under new lockdown advice. Unlike the lockdown in March 2020, no restrictions will be put on outdoor exercise.
In Northern Ireland, medically-vulnerable and older people are advised to be particularly careful in following the recommendations on limiting contacts.
Who is on the shielding list?
People in high risk categories, who include:
- Solid organ transplant recipients
Some people with cancer who are undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
People on immunosuppression drugs
Women who are pregnant and have heart disease
People with severe respiratory conditions - cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and COPD
Some people with rare diseases such as severe combined immunodeficiency
Adults with Down's syndrome
Adults on dialysis or with stage 5 chronic kidney disease
What about children and school?
Guidance from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says that most youngsters with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and kidney disease do not need to be on the shielding list held by the NHS.
About 90,000 people shielding are under 18. Children will only be removed from the list by their GP or specialist doctor after discussions with the child and their family.
If you have been told that your child no longer needs to shield, they can go to school, college or nursery.
Children who live with someone who is clinically vulnerable, but aren't themselves, should go to school.
I Wrote
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
My BFF Clash
The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
My BFF Clash
The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
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