Shielding letters have been sent to eligible patients. However some patients may have been missed. Before telephoning to request a 12 week shielding letter please check if you meet any of the following criteria:
Solid organ transplants: all patients.
Certain Cancers: See below.
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 which 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
Severe respiratory diseases:, Cystic fibrosis patients. See below for asthma and COPD
Inborn errors of metabolism: Those that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell).
Pregnant women: with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired
Diabetes: HbA1c greater than 75 mmol/mol with blood test in the last 3 months, recent diabetic ketoacidosis or poor medication compliance.
Asthma: Requiring admission to hospital in the last 12 months or ever admitted to intensive care.
COPD: Requiring admission to hospital in the last 12 months or had two or more rescue packs in the last 12 months.
Heart failure: Requiring admission to hospital in the last 12 months.
Splenectomy: all patients
Taking oral steroids: equivalent to 20mg or more for over 4 weeks.
Taking immunosuppresive medication: Examples include ciclosporin, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, leflunomide, methotrexate, mycophenolate.
If you are not on this list it is unlike you will be in the shielding category.
Please read the government website for more information here.