Do people want to be ‘vulnerable’?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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

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 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.

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 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*.

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've had a couple of letters now, saying that I'm in the 'extremely clinically vulnerable' group and I need to 'shield' myself by not leaving the house for at least 12 weeks. I totally understand why, as I've got an immune deficiency, but I do have a bit of 'cabin fever'. Thankfully, I've got a great hubby who goes shopping and collects meds for me, but I dearly miss cuddles with my baby grandson and a hug from my son. I'll definitely make more of an effort to get out, after the lock down ends. x

Such strange times.....

It's such an unknown virus, sadly people dying who we thought wouldn't, and amazingly much much older people surviving.

In 1957 my 2 brothers (7 & 12) and I (8) caught Asian flu. My mother then developed bronchitis. My father looked after us all for 3 weeks with the family doctor calling in regularly.

We all recovered. My father caught nothing.

Our Son who is only 45 is on the shielded list, as he has to take immunosuppressants due to having Crohn's. Until his letter came he was working as a Nurse in a very busy hospital, living at home with his wife an administrator at a GP surgery, his 5-year-old daughter, plus since the start of all this his Sister in Law an ICU Nurse and her 3 children. All the children attend school. When the letter came it was decided that he would come here as we have lots of room and it is easy for him to isolate. He does not leave the house, does not mix with us and has his meals separately. As you can imagine that is no live for him, or his wife and daughter who still crys for her Daddy every night.

Speaking as someone who didn't actually class herself as 'vulnerable' but who received a text first, then a letter, I have been identified as being at risk if I caught the virus. As a result, I have to stay indoors for 12 weeks, and not leave the house for any reason - unless medical. I do have a garden which I am allowed to go into, and I am allowed to open a window. My partner, who does not live with me, brings me shopping every Friday and it's very hard for us both because we usually would see each other every day. I thought he would be classed as vulnerable as he's 70 and has a very serious heart condition. He didn't get the letter. Anyone who wants to be treated as 'vulnerable' when clearly they're not is a sandwich short of a filling if you ask me. I'd love to be able to go out and about instead of stagnating in the house but as a writer (I write a column for the Newsshopper) and I have a website on cats, plus my book is due out soon in paperback, I have plenty to do to keep myself occupied. 12 weeks safe indoors (some people are saying they're 'stuck' indoors) seems a long time but the alternative (i.e. if you catch the virus and die) is even longer. Think about that.

I've just written through contact us, to our online store about getting a priority delivery spot. I have had a reply and awaiting confirmation we can go on priority delivery.

Ours isnt straightforward. Whilst I have multiple medical issues that restrict and affect my life they do not put me in the vulnerable category of the certain diseases.

My one son who is still at home has some very severe mental health issues and is also viral asthmatic.

I don't know if we will get priority or not as it depends on how they are evaluating it.

He has been told to self isolate ifor 12 weeks due to the asthma. Most likely to get it through my son

I'm a little fed up as I did my main shopping online once a month for years. Topping up with milk and the like at the supermarket inbetween.

Now I can't get a spot. It annoyed me more in the beginning as everyone was using them. Now it's only supposed to be priority getting them it's not so bad. Though I presume others will grab spots left inbetween.

I supposed I'm more peeved cos people who never shopped online before in the supermarket are or have been.

I have significant mobility issues along with other conditions. I just count myself lucky I have a decent mobility scooter so I can get out and about easily as I am not able to drive due to a neurological condition.

People who didnt use them before should go back to the supermarkets unless they have a very good reason for not, in an ideal world, which we don't have

If anyone has got Iceland near them it is opening slots the day before for delivery.
I would think majority of people are scared because we have heard so much about who is vulnerable.... etc and yet they do not know enough about this virus hence too many are dying all diffrent ages with no underlying illnesses and I think (from an earlier post) to say that they were smokers is ridiculous because if you are key worker the stress must be high. This I believe is the reason alot of people wish that they could fully isolate, I don't think anyone wishes they had any illness but fear is taking over. For me personally my anxiety shoots through the roof when I get on the train for work! We are all in this together and should make the most of what we have. TC

I took all this isolation business in a completely different way to so many people on this thread. I am shielding because I have had a disability that means I have been housebound for over 20 years. So my life is "as usual" except that I dont have a carer or cleaner as I have furloughed both and my contribution is to cope for myself for as long as possible.

I thought I was isolating so that I do not land up in hospital where tired and exhausted medical professionals might go on viral over load because of me and die because I am the last straw.

I am 75 and I dont think I need a letter to tell me to keep out of harms way for the sake of the people working their butts off for the NHS.

I feel let down by my usual shopping deliverer just as many people do but there will be a social post mortem when this is all over and we can choose which shops to use in future. We can all use the power of the purse!!!

I work for a GP, the amount of patients who want the letter in order to get privileges, they want to be 'special'.

What does shielded represent?

garnet25 your post really touched my heart. I really feel for your son and family but do think you’ve all come to a good plan regarding his shielding. You read so many posts from people who want to receive the shielding letter for the wrong reason but I suppose it’s human nature to be scared!

Best wishes to you and your family my thoughts go out to you.

Jodie read my post earlier in the thread, it lists them.

Twice.