As more is learnt about Coronavirus and new variants guidance on who are clinically extremely vulnerable also changes.
You can check this ‘shielded’ list as well as extra advice and guidance here – https://www.gov.uk/…/guidance-on-shielding-and…
The latest update has been issues this week and if you have one or more of the conditions listed below you may be sent a letter inviting you to register as clinically extremely vulnerable (Shielded)
If you do not fall into any of these categories, and have not been contacted to inform you that you are on the Shielded Patient List, continue to follow the national lockdown guidance for the rest of the population – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
If you think there are good clinical reasons why you should be added to the Shielded Patient List, please take extra safety precautions and when you have decided enough time has passed for you not to be expecting a letter discuss your concerns with your GP or hospital clinician.
People with the following conditions are automatically deemed clinically extremely vulnerable:
- 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 that 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 disease (COPD)*
- people with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell disease)
- people on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection problems with your spleen, for example splenectomy (having your spleen removed)
- adults with Down’s syndrome
- adults on dialysis or with chronic kidney disease (stage 5)
- women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired
- other people who have also been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of their needs. GPs and hospital clinicians have been provided with guidance to support these decisions.
* Some people with asthma and COPD etc may not be invited to ‘shield’ How severe it is will depend on your case history, number of doctors and hospital visits etc.
