The government has ended the guidance for the most vulnerable people in society to continue shielding as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shielding guidance has been paused since April 2021, but the programme has now been officially ended, with the government agreeing to end the requirement for centralised guidance for these groups following expert clinical advice.
The decision was made due to the success of the vaccine roll-out, the emergence of new treatments and an improvement in the quality of information available.
The guidance was first introduced in March 2020 when the pandemic first began to take hold, with shielding very restrictive for those following the guidance.
Those previously told to shield have been advised to follow the same guidance offered to the rest of the population since July 19, when the final stage of COVID-19 restrictions were removed.
Those previously on the Shielded Patient List will receive a letter from the government to inform them of the new guidance, with the evidence set to be continually reviewed.
People aged over 16 with underlying health conditions will be prioritised for booster vaccinations once the programme begins later this month.
"Since the start of the pandemic, the NHS has administered millions of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, which is why those who were originally considered clinically extremely vulnerable have, since step 4 (19 July), been advised to follow the same guidance as everyone else," said Jenny Harries chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency.
"Because of this progress, the government does not expect to have to issue shielding advice to this large group again, but will continue to assess the risks to the most vulnerable from COVID-19.
"Those patients who are at risk from infectious diseases more generally – for example patients with blood cancers – and who can also remain less protected after other vaccinations, may wish to discuss this with their specialist as part of their routine care.
"I would urge everyone else to follow the guidance and continue with the precautions that make you feel safe."
