Do people want to be ‘vulnerable’?

Well, my parents ARE vulnerable - over 80, COPD + Heart conditions, and haven’t had the letter. I have been going round in circles trying to get them on the list and even had to contact their MP.....

Silver Collie what a lovely reply you wrote. It is about making the most of it. Where you are sounds lovely and please don't feel guilty.
On the shopping front I've just got a delivery with Iceland they are opening up slots a day before.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Evoha16, on the contrary, I don't class myself as vulnerable nor have I received any information that I am, thank God-----and I'm a smoker. I had / have no intentions of subjecting myself to vulnerability, nor do I put myself in any position outside my front door to harm myself or others ( I never smoke outside ) .

If you look at the statistics, very few of those who've sadly died did indeed smoke, in this country anyway. More non-smokers have died so until you can answer that one you can't always judge. I'm not trying to justify my habit.

I could say it's those who drink alcohol ( I don't drink ) because it's a known fact that alcohol saps the immunity but who am I to judge ?

Evoha16. We were surprised how many people in Italy/Sicily were smoking in public places. One lady in particular puffing on her cigarette between all four courses at the hotel we stayed in. Mind you, she did have a place set at her table for her poodle! Our waiter had worked in Brighton for some years and understood why we asked to be moved but most of the staff looked at us as if we were just being a nuisance.

Seeing your diagnosis set out in print does give a real shock no matter how prepared you think you are.

I hate being referred to as old and vulnerable! I have had the letter as I have to take immunosuppressant tablets. I always think of myself as fit and well and am used to whizzing around at speed! Although I’m 80 in a few weeks (party postponed ☹️) I was still working as a clinician (albeit in a very part time capacity) in an NHS hospital. Sadly as it was dealing
with outpatients it is cancelled for the foreseeable future. The letter has made me look at my own mortality though and I am tidying my house in a big way. I have also told my children where my will is, together with financial papers and list of passwords! I can’t leave my house but am lucky enough to have a garden. It does have a psychological effect and brings you up short as I’m only18 inside!! I’m trying to stay active, have a wonderful family great neighbours and have ironed my uniform in the hope that one day I can go back to work!!

Let’s take a look at the govt advice so far as we enter the next lockdown phase:
You MUST NOT leave the house for any reason, but if you have a reason, you can leave the house!
Masks are useless at protecting you against the virus, but you may have to wear one because it could save lives, but they may not work, but they may become mandatory, but maybe not. We follow the science!
Shops are closed, except those shops that are open!
You must not go to work, but you can go to work if you need to, or get another job & go to work!
You should not go to the doctors or to the hospital unless you have to go there, or if you are too ill to go there!
STAY HOME, but it's important to go out!
This virus can kill people, but don’t be scared of it. It can only kill those people who are vulnerable or old, or those people who are not vulnerable or old but that it kills!
Gloves won't help, but they can still help so wear them sometimes or not, if you can get some!

I noticed a few saying they are struggling to get delivery slots so I thought I’d pass on a tip I read on here that Morrison’s do standard boxes with essentials in for £35 delivered. There’s a meat or vegetarian one you don’t choose what’s in it it’s just the basics . I ordered yesterday and it’s being delivered tomorrow. So I obviously I don't know fully how good it is yet but I thought it might be a useful service some of you who are shielding?

My husband (66) ought to have received the shielding letter in my opinion. He has Myelodysplastic Syndrome. MDS is a form of blood cancer. He has taken the non-arrival of 'the letter' to mean that he can leave the house for essential purposes if he wanted to. So, far he has avoided this. I've been anxiously booking online shopping slots in the middle of the night every week in order to avoid exposing him through me and also to include items within my order for my nearby elderly parents (contactless). I also have a vulnerable son with Type 1 diabetes. So far, so good and I have managed to get a weekly slot. I would've appreciated the priority for slots that the letter would have afforded us but am getting by with competing with the masses for them.

My concern is that there are people who are making themselves vulnerable by smoking and vaping - I think that accounts for some of the deaths of younger with no apparent underlying health conditions -

I think the confusion about 'vulnerable' and 'shielded' comes from the early information from the media when a list of conditions was a bit of a cover all about those who had conditions such as diabetes but also included those with cancer or on immunosuppressants. If you watch the News, you rarely hear the word "shielded" but often hear the word "vulnerable" so people aren't always aware of the difference. Unless you have had that letter from the Health Service, you may not realise that it is much more of a restrictive life.

I am diabetic so am classed as "vulnerable" but not "shielded." However, it is my husband who does the shopping when we can't get a delivery slot because there is no way I want to take a chance. I don't want him to either but we need to eat and he is much better at being organised and mindful than I am. He tells me there is a one way system in the shops. I'd be disastrous as I flit backwards and forwards from aisle to aisle like a drunken pixie.

I had 'the letter' and promptly burst into tears. The illusion that I had built for myself about how well I was doing with all the irritant health issues suddenly became reality! Wasn't doing well at all. It has taken a few weeks to come to terms.
Living alone in a rural setting with family spread all over the world was also difficult.
Therefore I have decided that this shutdown is an ideal time for a Retreat. I am now enjoying it all. Cleaning lady now shopping weekly, neighbours are baking - pizza this Friday! - and one calls from Waitrose to ask if I need anything.

My little cottage has a garden and is next door to a river, the farm buildings have a couple of late lambing ewes thinking seriously about bringing new life to the world - I am on call for their assistance if needed.

For what more could I ask? I am very lucky and humbled.

No I do not feel smug everyone. I feel guilty!!

My letter said vulnerable and it made me quite depressed. I know I have health conditions i.e. chronic bronchial asthma for about 40 years. I have it, but I live with it. The letter brought home the facts. I must admit after about 10 days when I got a food parcel and the supermarkets were notified, so I got priority slots - my mood improved.
What I miss is being able to go for a walk - it says I must stay in my house. I also miss family and friends - but I do not like the confinement. I try and tell myself it is for the best, I must stay safe. BUT ..

Although I’m delighted not to have received “the letter” I’m having difficulty in understanding and finding advice as to whether my husband who is an active 82 year old and me a usually active 72 year old with asthma as vulnerable!! The reason I’m struggling with this is that I was extremely unwell last year with what turned out to be a CMV, infection from which I’ve recently recovered, so to be on the safe side, we have self isolated for the last 5 weeks, but wonder can we now go shopping at the appropriate supermarket slots, we’ve managed so far but getting stir crazy and putting on weight!! Any advice would be really welcome. Many thanks

I have to admit I thought I was vulnerable, only because my lungs don't work properly, but at first I was disappointed not to get the THE letter, but on reflecting the situation, not getting the letter means my problem isn't that bad and almost manageable, whereas there are a lot of people a heck of a lot worse than myself, and they need that bit extra.

The only remote letter I have had is the one from House of Commons which I think all households had. I have many conditions but all based to crumbling discs in the back arthritis in knees and hands high blood pressure and wherever else I have the arthritis. I am not 70 so have to go and get shopping which my brother always lifts for me but he does not live with me so we have to social distance and last week only one of us could go into shop. I know of all the high risk groups and I don't want the other letter only it is a struggle for me and I have been unable to get any delivery slots.

We expected DH to be in the shielded group but it still came as a blow to read the letter when it arrived only to be followed a week or so later by a repeat version. As said above, if it's a' badge of honour' then we'd happily donate.

What a silly remark Ellvanin. Surely you have more respect for yourself than that.

A friend of mine received the 'letter ' only this week and I think was genuinely surprised and shocked to get one. So he is now in the realms of sorting home deliveries but luckily has family nearby who are able to drop shopping off to him. In the meantime he was blithely and blissfully unaware and carrying on with going to the supermarket!
On the other hand we have another friend who is a Hypochondriac with a capital 'H', who is convinced whatever her latest ailment is, she has it in such a severe form she is baffling the experts, and we are sure will have been making complaints to her GP that she hasn't received one. Sigh .....

Cannot understand why I got the dreaded letter. Yes I am 75, have had hip replacements, have AMD, osteoarthritis, allergic rhinitis & now hay fever. All these are annoying conditions but nothing like my friend has. She had major heart surgery a couple of years ago but has not had the dreaded letter! Why? How am I in a worse condition than she is? Cannot talk to surgery to find out why I got the letter as they are very busy. Do I have an underlying condition that I do not know about & if I have why have I not been told about it? This is scary enough when I think I will not see my Family for another year if rumours are right. Never go back to my Volunteering that kept me fit & be ‘in prison’ for possibly the rest if my life!

sorry, that would not post the first time.

If you are in one of these categories, you should have received a letter:
Otherwise just take care.

Solid organ transplant recipients.

People with specific cancers:
people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD).

People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell).

People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.

Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
People who fall in this group should have been contacted to tell them they are clinically extremely vulnerable.

OK, then, if you fit one of these categories then you should have had a letter.

Solid organ transplant recipients.

People with specific cancers:
people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD).

People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell).

People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.

Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
People who fall in this group should have been contacted to tell them they are clinically extremely vulnerable.

Still want a letter?
I thought not.

Callistemon, I do, I do..

Obviously you're not in the group polnan, you're just elderly.
So count yourself lucky.

Take care.