COVID-AGE INDIVIDUAL VULNERABILITY LEVEL

Information for candidates

There is growing evidence that certain specific groups and characteristics make some individuals more vulnerable to COVID-19. The purpose of this health questionnaire is to only help and inform both the employee and their employment agency on how to identify those individuals with underlying conditions or have identified increased risk factor(s) that may put them at increased or extreme risk in the workplace.

This is an occupational health tool to help assess fitness for work. It is not intended for use in clinical treatment pathways.

The risk that someone will get the infection through work can be reduced through control measures that minimise workplace exposure and through use of personal protective equipment. People who are clinically extremely vulnerable are at high risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus (COVID-19). If you considered clinically extremely vulnerable, should have received a letter advising you to shield or have been told by your GP or hospital clinician.

Do you have a shielding letter, shielding condition or vulnerable condition?

Yes
No
If you answered 'yes' to the above, you should adhere to the following guidance. Click here.

Firstname Lastname Email Date of Birth: Profession Gender Ethnicity BMI Do you have Hypertension Asthma Diabetes Type1 Diabetes Type2 Chronic Kidney Disease Heart Failure Other Chronic Heart Disease Cerebrovascular Disease Chronic Respiratory Disease *excluding asthma Non Haematological Cancer Haematological Malignancy Liver Disease Chronic Neurological Disease Other Than Stroke Or Dementia *excluding stroke or dementia Organ Transplant Spleen Diseases Rheumatoid/Lupus/Psoriasis Other Immunosuppressive Conditions
COVID Age With Co-morbidities:

Are you pregnant? Estimated delivery date Have you previously been diagnosed with COVID 19 infection ?(positive lateral flow antigen test or antibody tests) Have you received at least 1 of 2 COVID vaccines? * If you answered 'yes' to any of the above questions, please provide additional information (include diagnosis and any medication including biological therapies or steroids, name of drug and date of last treatment, this includes shielding letter information).
If you have no diagonsis, medical conditions or medications information to provide, please answer None. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, so you should continue to take recommended precautions to avoid infection. Some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe. It is your responsibility to ensure that you continue to adhere to local and national guidance irrespective of your COVID vaccine or infection history . I hereby acknowledge that the information I have provided is a true and accurate representation, I also hereby state that this information has been provided to Your World for the purpose of a risk assessment.

BAME - Ethnicity and COVID-19

There is significant concern at present about possible increased vulnerability for BAME individuals, particularly those working in healthcare roles where they may be at increased risk of exposure. It is unclear at present whether this represents an additional vulnerability related to ethnicity or whether this represents an increase in the comorbidities in this group that are known to increase vulnerability.

ASTHMA

The NHS now say that you would be considered at very high risk if ALL THREE of these things apply to you:
• You have asthma, AND
• You are taking certain extra controller medicines as well as a preventer inhaler (for example, you are taking Montelukast, salmeterol or formoterol, or you are on a combination inhaler like Seretide, Fostair, Symbicort, Flutiform, Fobumix, DuoResp Spiromax, Combisal, Sereflo, Sirdupla, Aloflute, AirFluSal, Relvar Ellipta, Fusacomb or Stalpex), AND
• You are taking continuous or frequent oral steroids.

PREGNANCY

Existing guidance identifies that pregnant women over 28 weeks should be regarded as at increased risk and recommended to stay at home. For pregnant women with underlying health conditions at any stage of pregnancy a more precautionary approach is required, and ethnicity should be included in the consideration and discussion between healthcare staff and managers. Where pregnancy is under 28 weeks gestation working in a patient facing environment should be on the basis that the risk assessment supports this.

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES:

Association of Local Authority Medical Advisors (ALAMA):
https://alama.org.uk/covid-19-medical-risk-assessment/

Healthier Business UK- Candidates home page:
https://www.hbcompliance.co.uk/candidate-news/corona-virus-information-for-hcws/

Asthma:
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/shielding-advice-high-risk/

Cancer and Covid-19:
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/coronavirus-and-cancer

Cardiovascular Conditions and COVID-19:
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health

Diabetes and COVID-19:
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus

Haematological conditions and COVID-19:
https://news.wfh.org/specific-risks-of-covid-19-to-the-bleeding-disorders-community/

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and COVID-19:
https://www.bsg.org.uk/covid-19-advice/bsg-advice-for-management-of-inflammatory-bowel-diseases-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Neurological conditions and COVID-19:
https://alama.org.uk/covid-19-medical-risk-assessment/neurological-conditions-and-covid-19/

Pituitary Disorders and COVID-19:
https://pituitary.org.uk/news/2020/03/coronavirus-advice/

Pregnancy and COVID-19:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/2020-04-27-occupational--health--advice--for--employers-and--pregnant-women.pdf

Renal Conditions and COVID-19:
https://www.kidneycareuk.org/news-and-campaigns/coronavirus-advice/

Respiratory conditions and COVID-19:
https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/coronavirus/what-is-social-shielding