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Good news if you are an unpaid carer – we are pleased to advise that adults who provide unpaid care are in the next phase of the national roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine which is now underway, and carers are starting to be invited for their first jab.
Carers come from all walks of life and can be family members or friends, adults or children, who provide care to a person who, due to a lifelong condition be it their physical and/or mental health, disability or serious injury, simply cannot cope without the support of a carer.
Adult carers are in group 6 of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) priority list for the vaccination and are defined as: “Those who are eligible for carer’s allowance, or those who are the sole or primary carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality and therefore clinically vulnerable.”
Booking your vaccination
If you come under one of the following categories, you will be contacted by your GP practice or by the National Booking System and offered the opportunity to book an appointment at a local vaccination centre:
- Those in receipt of or entitled to a carer’s allowance
- Those known to GPs who have a ‘carer’s flag’ on their primary care record
- Those known to Local Authorities who are in receipt of support following a carer’s assessment
If you are an unpaid carer providing care for someone who is at increased risk of COVID, but you are not in the categories listed above, you are able to apply for your vaccine through the National Booking System or by calling 119. You will be asked a few questions about your caring role when you go onto the National Booking System, the link for which can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
You must be over 18 to book using the national booking service and you will need to provide your name, date of birth and your NHS number.
You will not need to provide proof that you are a carer at the vaccination appointment.
Further Support
If you have any queries or concerns about the vaccine or the booking process you may find the following FAQ link helpful: https://www.blmkccg.nhs.uk/covid-19/covid-19-vaccination-faqs/covid-19-vaccinations-faq/
Our local carers organisation, Carers in Bedfordshire, also continues to provide support, information and advice for carers. Further information on their services can be found on their website here: https://carersinbeds.org.uk/ or by calling 0300 111 1919.
Vaccinations - your questions answered
The Covid-19 vaccination programme continues to be a success with over 17 million people in the UK now had their first jab
However, some people are unsure about some of the things they have heard about the vaccinations.
To help reassure you and dispel some of the myths that are currently circulating, we’ve pulled together some of the common misconceptions and answers for you.
FREE Rapid COVID-19 tests for workers and volunteers
Results within 30 minutes
With around one in three people who have coronavirus show no symptoms, testing is vital for those individuals who cannot work from home and have regular contact with other people through their job.
Regular testing will help identify more people who have COVID-19 and help to reduce the spread of the virus as they will know to self-isolate.
No need to book an appointment, just turn up!
Watch out for vaccine scams
Unfortunately some criminals are taking advantage of the roll out of the coronavirus vaccine to commit fraud.
The most important point to remember is that the vaccine is free of charge.
The NHS will never:
- ask you for your bank account or card details
- ask you for your PIN or banking password
- arrive unannounced to your home to administer the vaccine
- ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips
Find out more and how to report issues on the Action Fraud website.
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