Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the economic impact on immunocompromised individuals who are continuing to shield due to COVID-19.

No specific assessment has been made. People designated as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) were advised to shield between 22 March 2020 to 15 September 2021. However, shielding is not current policy. Individuals previously considered as CEV include but are not limited to those who are immunocompromised.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) recently conducted a survey of people previously considered to be CEV. In April 2022, the survey found that 46% were very or somewhat worried about the current effect of the pandemic on their life, with 25% reporting that the pandemic posed a major or significant risk to their mental health. The survey found that 29% were in paid employment, 7% reported they had lost income due to shielding or isolating and 20% worked from at home. Insights for those whose immune systems mean they continue to be at high risk from COVID-19 and who are continuing to shield will be included in a future ONS survey release in June 2022.