Shielding letter 23-12-2020

[bennevisplace]

This is to pass on EXCERPTS from another letter from Matt Hancock and Robert Jenrick to Clinically Extremely Vulnerable individuals, arrived by email 25 minutes ago.

- You (West Sussex) will be in Tier 4 from 26 December...

- "...The advice states that you should stay at home as much as possible but are encouraged to go outdoors carefully to exercise or to attend health appointments. You are strongly advised to work from home if you can. If you cannot work from home, then you should not attend work. You may be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough). This letter is a formal shielding notification and can act as evidence for your employer to show that you cannot work outside your home from 26 December 2020 until 18 January 2021, including for statutory sick pay (SSP) purposes.

This advice will apply in your area until 18 January 2021, even if your area is placed in a different tier before then. If the advice is to continue beyond that date, we will write to you again with further information"...

"...Adults who are considered to be at highest risk are expected to get priority access to vaccination against COVID-19 before the general population. You will be contacted again with more information on when and how you will be invited to get the vaccine. Your local NHS will ensure that you can receive the vaccine as safely as possible, as well as any care and support needed"...

"...This will not be the Christmas and New Year that many of us had hoped and planned for, and we know how difficult it is to continue making these sacrifices. Once again, we thank you for your efforts to keep yourself and others safe".

[annmcgowan]

Hi thank you for sharing this information. Do you know if the vaccination advice applies to tier 4 only, or, is it all extremely clinically vulnerable people?Ann

[bennevisplace in reply to annmcgowan]

I believe that advice is for all CEV people regardless of which Tier.

Although the general advice to have the vaccination is fine for many CLL patients, I do believe there will be exceptions. See notes of caution from the American Society of Hematologists (ASH) healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

If you have had recent treatment with FCR, for example, you may be best to wait a few months. But it's a balance of risks and a conversation to have with your specialist.

[annmcgowan in reply to bennevisplace]

Thank you for the reply. I have just spoken with my specialist. We didn’t address when I would get the vaccine just the fact they are all safe. My understanding was that all CVE’s were fourth I line to get the vaccination, which doesn’t make much sense to me. I was delighted to read your post. If we have all been moved up that is good news.Ann

[bennevisplace in reply to annmcgowan]

Ann, the government email doesn't suggest we (CEV individuals) are upgraded, it just says "Adults who are considered to be at highest risk are expected to get priority access to vaccination against COVID-19 before the general population". As far as I know, the pecking order is still:

1. residents in a care home for older adults and their carers

2. all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers

3. all those 75 years of age and over

4. all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals

5. all those 65 years of age and over

6. all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality

7. all those 60 years of age and over

8. all those 55 years of age and over

9. all those 50 years of age and over

I think we CEVs should all campaign to have our co-habiters/ carers given higher priority though.

[annmcgowan in reply to bennevisplace]

Thank you 😊