You may have recently heard in the news that more people have been added to the Shielded Patient List (SPL). This is following a review of a new, data-driven risk assessment, called the COVID-19 Population Risk Assessment. This has been developed to help identify people who may be at high risk from COVID-19.
As a precautionary measure, this group will now be added to the Shielded Patient List (SPL), on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer. This is to enable them to be prioritised for vaccination, if not already vaccinated, and to provide them with additional advice and support. In practice, this means they will now be offered vaccines at the top of cohort 6.
If you have been added to this group, you will receive a letter informing you of this from NHSE – please do not contact the surgery to ask if you are on this list, you will be informed very shortly if you are. If you have been added to the SPL, guidance and support for individuals at high risk is available here, to help you take extra precautions in staying safe.