Clinically extremely vulnerable from Covid 19 patients vs. at increased risk patients

We have experienced many enquiries about ‘at high risk’ letters that patients think they should or should not be receiving. Here below we explain the difference between those that will get a letter and those that will not.

Clinically Extremely Vulnerable from Covid 19

The only cohort to receive an ‘at high risk’ letter recommending complete ‘shielding’ are the clinically extremely vulnerable from Covid 19 patients. The criteria includes:

  1. Solid organ transplant recipients.
  2. 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 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
  3. People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD).
  4. People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell).
  5. People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.
  6. Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.

For more information about the above and ‘shielding’ please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

At Increased Risk from Covid 19

There is a broader cohort of the population that is considered to be at increased risk from Covid 19. This population is inline with that identified as being eligible for the annual flu jab. These individuals will not receive an ‘at high risk’ letter, instead these individuals are encouraged to practice good social distancing.

For more information about this population cohort and social distancing please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults