Do people want to be ‘vulnerable’?

Well, the gyms are shut Niucla so that decision was made for him. As for carrying on as normal - that's how to pass it on to someone else even if his immune system is fine. I hope he listened to the doctor - or perhaps not if his ears are blocked.

I listed earlier in the thread who is in the categories which would be getting the letter to which we refer. It is not the letter from the Government which went out to everyone. It is a DIFFERENT LETTER from the CMO of the country where you reside

I even listed it twice.
By mistake.
But better than not at all.

And no, those people are not being precious * annifrance*.

When lockdown and shielding were first announced there was a Dr on the radio.

A man asked a question i.e I am 76 years old, I work I go to the Gym and lead a very active life, so I am fit. I have no intentions of changing my lifestyle.

The Dr explained that it had nothing to do with how active or fit you are. It is your immunity , apparently we have less immunity as we get older and therefore are more at risk..

I think some of you have misinterpreted what I am saying. I am 70 and if UK or French government say isolate then I am doing so, It really couldn't care of I am labelled vulnerable (which I don't consider myself to be, I enjoy rude health). If that is what the situation requires then fine by me. They are only trying to protect us and the NHS because they do consider us precious. This is not smug but sensible. And my many many likeminded friends and family are doing the same.

Did anyone else get both letters, vulnerable and the shielding letter? I did! I guess someone up there is watching over me. I don't really mind, they're just a way of identifying/describing people at most risk. Anyway I'm not planning on going out anywhere for the foreseeable future.

I have a few vulnerable acquaintances who have not had. ‘The letter’ but thinkthey should, they go out for walks, go shopping, share abed with their other halves,generally live ‘normally,’the letter ‘suggests the receiver does none of these things, in my husbands case that means me too because Imay bring the virus back with me if I go out
despite social distancing. Anywayweusually do everything together. So STAY IN. STAY SAFE

The advice you are offering re UK Govt website only applies in England, the system in Scotland is different.
There is a helpline, which automatically connects to your LA, for anyone in Scotland.

I am glad to say, I will not be getting 'the letter, I fully agree with you. I think it is ridiculously self indulgent and disrespectful to be envious of those who are shielded or vulnerable.

Theres so much different advice its very difficult..the MP's dont all seem to be on same page..however,we know ourselves and our own health& situation best.so,please take care,dont take any unnecessary risks if you know you are likely to be quite badly ill if you were unlucky enough to contract this virus..take any help with (safe) shopping youre offered and all those who believe they are vulnerable please check out (or get a relative or carer to) the gov.org uk website,apply for shopping help.if they can verify you, you may not get a 'doorstep box' but you still may get a supermarket priority slot.

Annejeannette,if youve not had the letter,yes i would think you can go shopping in the special times allocated as you are still older& vulnerable(due to asthma) but take advice from gp first? but as you have asthma i would be extra careful(wear gloves& masks for example) and make sure youre 'covered up' as much as possible,shower & change when you get back and antibac wipe your shopping (good advice for even shopping delivered to house)! However if your gp says you must stay in do so.take care.

Annecan. I thought your post was funny, very true and 'hit the nail on the head' regarding what we should or shouldn't do.

Evohal16- tell that to the parents of the babies& children who have it or have died from it! (and no not all of their parents will have been smokers either!) And not all younger people are smokers either! My daughter doesn't,& My boys don't and they tell me their friends at college& uni don't either (my older son said only 1 friend ever smoked when they were at college,but soon gave it up) I myself have never smoked,and never will and i hoped that would help me if i were unlucky enough to contract it- but apparently as another poster said that has been the opposite of the statistics findings.

I am Shielded. I cannot go out for a walk and am glad I have a garden. After having months at home with low/no immunity and slowly improving I had just started to feel normal and was going out and being careful. Now I cannot go anywhere. I have been to the Hospital this morning for a blood test, I wore a mask and gloves. My nurse seemed scared about the consequences of catching the virus and I was quite uneasy when I left. Yes I would rather not be in any category but accept that I am and am doing as I am told.

I'm shielding, not had any letter but have a neurological disorder and know that I get affected badly when it comes to recovering from overdoing things, let alone after a virus. It can take me months to recover after having a cold or doing something like having a quiet holiday in a caravan, during which time I can barely move due to pain, lack of energy, mental confusion and reduced strength. So I've made decision to shield to help myself in the longer term. I'm used to leading a quiet, restricted lifestyle but this is more restricted and yes, it is lonely, but I'm hoping I'll be able to enjoy time with my family all the sooner by taking this step now. My husband is being very supportive and enabling me to do this and neighbours are helping us with shopping. I certainly would not have liked to have received a letter advising me that I was at extra risk from the virus and would be very sad if any of my loved ones had done so, my family all agree I'm doing the right thing, having their emotional support is very helpful and has helped me to feel respected and supported for my decision.

But you must go online to the gov.org uk website to apply for it

Again- these letters have not all been sent out yet- they cant do them all at once! Also- you DONT need the letter to apply for help to get priority shopping slots- you DO need to verify the reason you need it though- and you need to go on the gov.org website, find relevant section- fill in the application/questions for the person who is elderly/vulnerable/disabled/compromised etc- answer as best as you can- then submit it- they check it out,i presume with DWP,/GP or whatever,(maybe both?) then they email you direct from supermarket to offer you the slots.

Just like iam64, I have RA, had it for 20 years. And take one of the immuno suppressants drugs. The letter was important to me because I work, and need to prove to my employer that I need to be off. I don’t care about having a delivery slot, my daughter shops for me.
But people are frightened, it’s almost like they need permission to look after themselves.
I read in the Sunday papers that obese people are more at risk of serious complications.

Well done you Gagsy!

No,as i said its worrying..only reason i am concerned at moment is if they go back to college,and i dont/wont send my son in,without proof of that kind we haven't much reason to back us up.I could ask our dr for a letter i suppose,which id have to pay for.

Your post made me a have wry smile Jillybird- im 56 and probably have fitness age of 71!maybe more! And my son has NEVER had good immunity,at any age- he was 17 yesterday,so no,it doesnt always fit into the little boxes government put us in sadly. And theres been kids who have died from this already who did not have previous health problems too!

I can speak as one who has had the shielding letter. I have a long term chronic autoimmune disease, which has resulted in two major operations in 1999 and 2004. That said, I'm not on any regular medication and I'm now ridiculously well. I emailed my consultant (who I see once a year) regarding whether it was necessary to shield and she said that I'm no more in need of shielding than the next healthy person. I'm clearly on a list! That's fine by me. I can go to work (in pharmacy). I suppose my point is that there are lots of shades of grey when it comes to shielding, I can't understand why anyone would wish it on themselves, though.

Lin663,You dont need THE LETTER to get on shopping priority slot though,you need to register with gov.org website- answer relevant questions as best you can,then they check out your medical info etc (with DWP i think?)then email you to offer the slots..takes awhile but they have to check you genuinely do have these medical/disability/vulnerability problems first,or everyone would try for them.

All this is still confusing,we've not yet had the letter,yet my son IS on the strong steroid inhalers listed,and has asthma,(born early,with lung disease) and has steroid tablets usually 2/3 times in winter,had them only last in january.(hes just 17) But ive been 'shielding' him anyway,as his immunity isnt good,and he usually gets most things going round & it makes him very ill .(he even had swine flu when that was around when he was little!) He has a flu jab each year but still gets it.He has a neurological condition also..yet i know they are behind with these letters.and we may get one yet..my son however,tells me i am also on the high risk list, (ive got various medical problems) but mainly as on warfarin for life due to my dvt& related blood condition.But i have not got asthma,but a bad chest ive had since august last year) .I do have a disability though- But they've confirmed I'm on a list somewhere,(DWP probably) as supermarket has offered me a priority slot-(which im very grateful for!) But yes i agree with Doodledog, it makes you wonder who exactly has access to this,more important,who are they getting information from? Our medical records? Or DWP? Or what? And what if anything in there is wrong? Then they'd be getting wrong info?And what are they going to do with it, if you get 'the virus' are they going to look at that& think they should or shouldnt bother treating you for it?Its very worrying..id hope they would try treat everyone to try help them recover, just as they did for Boris,but i fear not.And as others have said,where will this info end up.

and I'm a smoker.
Well, it could be very stressful to try to give it up just now anyway.

I am shielding and would rather not be.