Scope responds to the lifting of shielding

James Taylor, Executive Director of Strategy at Scope said:

"After a year of feeling abandoned and forgotten, now what little support remains for shielders could be removed completely.

"For many people who have been shielding the decision to end support before they have received their second dose of the vaccination is worrying.

"Scope research shows that 75 per cent of disabled people plan to continue shielding until after their second vaccine dose leaving many who have been cut off from friends and family for a whole year, potentially facing many more months of extreme isolation, without access to vital support such as food deliveries.

"On top of this no-one should have to put their life at risk to protect their livelihood because they can't work from home. Disabled people need a support package to protect their finances and livelihoods as we move out of lockdown, through the roadmap and look to the future. We urge Government to make sure disabled people who have been shielding don't face a cliff edge come 1 April."