Do people want to be ‘vulnerable’?

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

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 ..

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!!

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.

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 -

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.

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?

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 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!!

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.

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 ?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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.

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.....

I am shielding and would rather not be.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Well done you Gagsy!

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.

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.

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