Contact a Family have the latest information and some helpful templates – we were so impressed we’ve added their content below to make it really easy for you
FLAG YOUR CARER STATUS WITH YOUR GP
Many carers have received an invitation for a vaccine appointment after following our advice to ask their GP to flag their medical register with their carer status.
The GP carers register is one of the main ways the NHS is identifying unpaid carers to invite them to have the vaccine. Other ways of identification include Carers Allowance data and council carers registers.
But some parents of disabled children and young people are still being rebuffed despite clear government guidance that says they must be offered the vaccine in priority group six.
People in priority groups five and six, along with all over 50s, should be offered their first dose by the spring.
CARERS NOT IN RECEIPT OF CARER’S ALLOWANCE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINE
The guidance says unpaid carers will be offered the vaccine in priority group six if they get Carers Allowance “or are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer gets COVID”.
Contact’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Una Summerson, urged families to make use of the letter template if you are being refused carers registration.
She said: “We are delighted that many carers are now being vaccinated. But we are still hearing frustrating reports of parent-carers being told they are ineligible or can’t be added to the surgery carers register.
“They are wrongly being told they can’t get the vaccine because they don’t get Carers Allowance or that the vaccine is ‘only for carers of disabled adults’ or that their disabled child isn’t clinically vulnerable.
“This is at odds with Government guidance. In these circumstances we recommend parents formally complain to their practice and clinical commissioning group using our template letter. We know making a formal complaint has helped carers to be added to the register and receive the vaccine.”
CARERS IN RECEIPT OF CARER’S ALLOWANCE CAN BOOK A VACCINE APPOINTMENT ONLINE
Carers in receipt of Carers Allowance can also book an appointment via the NHS vaccine booking page
FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE VACCINE
Read more about COVID vaccine on our regularly updated COVID vaccination: Your Questions Answered page.