This is a reminder that the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme is now open to adult family and friend carers.
Please be aware of the latest advice and encourage carers, who would like to be vaccinated, to urgently register with their local carer organisation if they have not already done so. Please note that locally a decision has been arrived at by the Vaccination Board to include all parent carers.
For the purposes of the Vaccination Programme adult carers are defined as those who are eligible for a 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.
In Sussex, carers’ organisations and local authorities are working together with the NHS to ensure that all registered unpaid adult carers, including parent carers, can access the vaccine.
The NHS is working hard to roll out the vaccine safely to all eligible people as quickly as possible. The NHS in Sussex is on track to have offered the vaccine to all those in the first nine priority groups by mid-April, in line with the national target. This includes all those over the age of 50 and unpaid adult carers.
How to book an appointment
Carers aged 18 or over, who are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, or already registered as a carer by their GP can book right away at one of the larger vaccination centres or pharmacy-led services through the national booking service. Book online or by calling 119.
People who are registered as a carer with their GP can also wait to be contacted for an appointment by their local GP-led vaccination service if that is more convenient. Those who are registered with the GP as a carer for a person who is now eligible because of an underlying health condition might be offered appointments together.
Carers aged 16-18 will be contacted by their local GP who will make arrangements for them to receive the Pfizer vaccine. This is the only vaccine currently licensed for this age group.
Carers who are not in receipt of Carer’s Allowance nor registered as a carer by their GP, but who are registered with Carers Support West Sussex will be identified and invited to book their appointment by the national booking service. This is a large, complex, phased process and may take several weeks to implement, so people should not worry if they do not hear straight away.
In addition, urgent work is underway locally and nationally to develop a consistent approach for any eligible carers not already identified. Further details on this will be shared as soon as possible.
Register with a carers’ organisation
All unpaid carers are urged to register with a local carer's organisation who will provide information and support and be keep them up to date with plans for carers’ vaccinations.
At present, carers’ organisations are receiving a large number of enquiries and working as swiftly as possible to register carers.
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