Do people want to be ‘vulnerable’?

My sister, who suffers from RA among other things was really upset to receive 'the letter'.

As Marydoll said, to see it in black and white, even though she obviously knew she was vulnerable, was a shock.

She and all our family are always very careful about contact with her even if we only have a cold as it makes her very ill if she contracts the slightest thing that most of us can just brush off.

She hasn't had a delivery slot yet either.

In today's briefing, Jenny Harries spoke of some early indication of obesity being a possible factor in morbidity/mortality from Covid 19. I hope I don't get THAT letter.....

Posters are still not getting it, Marydoll

Vulnerable is not Shielded

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I was rather cross too.

I pmd you Marydoll
Hope the pm will help

Nope! Haven’t had a cold in the last three years and need to stay healthy to look after DH who has heart/asthma problems and is recently recovered from a hip op.

I’ve been so careful of our infection/contact rate in the last 6 months that it’s all been second nature for so long - I don’t need a letter to keep us safe.

My friend is a doctor's receptionist. He says that patients are placed in three categories:
Sheilded
Vulnerable
Those who do not fit in the other two categories.

When you are told, you will probably not survive the virus if you are infected, it makes you re-evalute what is important in your life.

When I read the comment by the Gransnetter, who was miffed that she hadn't received the letter, so consequently wouldn't be entitled to delivery slots, I have to admit that I was pretty annoyed.
Who on earth in their right mind would want to be classed as Sheilded ?

I think a lot of people out there are confusing Vulnerable with those needing to be Shielded.

The NHS website says that these people are Vulnerable:
You may be at increased risk from coronavirus if you:
are 70 or older
are pregnant
have a condition that may increase your risk from coronavirus

There is a far longer list of specific conditions that cause people to be Shielded.

Surely nobody would wish to fall into the latter category?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I am very glad I am not high risk. It is bad enough being told I am elderly and vulnerable, when I am fit, active, healthy and not overweight, when I can, or could before the shut down, go into our local town and see lots of people who are none of these things and considerably under 70.

I have the letter, but would gladly donate it to someone else! I'm quite willing to swap my illnesses.

It's quite upsetting to actually see how vulnerable you are, stated in black and white! Realising what it implies about your health and the consequences of catching Covid 19, is quite a downer.
On top of that, you can't leave the house or have any contact with family for at least 12 weeks and I'm sure that will be extended.

Despite what someone here on GN wrote, wishing she had a letter, getting the letter doesn't guarantee you a supermarket delivery slot. In fact there really aren't any advantages, as far as I can see. You have to sit for hours, like everyone else, trying to get a slot.

No, I wouldn't want to be vulnerable. I really don't like this way of separating us out into different groups based on what should be confidential information. Who knows how it will be used down the line?

For me, it's not about being able to go out - surely people know their own conditions and won't want to go out if they are suffering from something that could exacerbate the virus if they catch it? It's about having some sort of code next to names on our records. It doesn't sit well with me.

To be perfectly honest, I'm glad I haven't had a letter or it could have had a psychosomatic effect on me. By not receiving one I'm obviously able to carry on as normal within reason of course.
Yes, I suppose it's a relief in a way. I'm a pretty wilful and determined person who probably with a letter would have broken the rules anyway