COVID-19 vaccinations in Autumn/Winter 2024/25 and unpaid carers

All about caring
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COVID-19 is more serious in older people and in people with underlying health conditions. Vaccination against COVID-19 is very important to protect people from serious illness and to support NHS and adult social care provisions.

Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Autumn/Winter 2024/25?

The groups to be offered a COVID-19 vaccine in autumn/winter 2024/25 are:

The recommendations for who is eligible for the vaccine has been decided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), based on the latest scientific evidence.

The current Government COVID-19 advice is available here.

If you are unsure if you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, please contact your GP.

When does the COVID-19 vaccination programme begin?

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign will begin on Thursday 3rd October 2024, at the same time as the Flu Immunisation programme. If you are eligible for a flu vaccine, you may be able to have them at the same time – or you can have them separately.

How to book a COVID-19 vaccine

Eligible people will begin receiving invitations from the NHS to get their jabs, while GP practices and other local NHS services will also be contacting people to offer both vaccines. Anyone eligible can also book their own vaccinations via the NHS website, by downloading the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free if they can’t get online.

Why should carers be concerned about COVID-19

If you are caring for an elderly, ill or disabled relative or friend we encourage you to check if they are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine will help protect the person you are caring for from serious illness.

While unpaid carers are not eligible for the vaccine this year, you may wish to take extra care and precautions if you are caring for someone who is vulnerable. See the government guidance for more details about how to stay safe this winter.

Have unpaid carers been eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination in the past?

Yes, during the pandemic in particular we campaigned for unpaid carers to be in the priority list for vaccination, which we achieved. Carers said that, as the primary carers of people with key vulnerability, getting ill not only posed a risk to the person they cared for, but not being able to care would put additional strains on the health and care systems.

What are unpaid carers raising with Carers UK now?

Carers are telling us that they are worried about passing on the virus and posing a risk or not being able to care for the person with significant conditions or disabilities. Some have told us that they are sick with worry.

What is Carers UK doing about carers’ concerns

We are encouraging all carers to make sure they or the person they are caring for have had the COVID-19 vaccine, if they are eligible. You can access our COVID-19 guide for carers for more information.

We are concerned about carers not being eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this winter and have raised this with senior politicians at the Labour party conference.

Key links for more information about the COVID-19 vaccine

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@CUK_Membership_Team
@Paola_Carers_UK @Michael_CarersUK

I am going to use this content in an article on my website - as always I will make sure to highlight this is Carers UK work. I want to get this information out so people WHO ARE NOT eligible for the vaccine are aware and make decisions and contingency plans NOW.
I’m hopefully bottoming out in symptoms now but I’ve very little sleep and still caring

Please let me know if you have any objections

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Hi @Victoria2024 we are currently adding more info, it will be soon published on our Website, so i would suggest waiting for a few days, I’ll link the information from the website on the post

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Thanks for the info @Paola_Carers_UK - I’ve written a post but its easily updated. Thanks

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I’ve been offererd both Covid and Flu jabs, I do not fall into any of the categories currently in use. It might be my surgery has not reaslised unpaid carers are not on list or it might be some health authorities/ individual GP practices are deciding to offer the jabs regardless, if so might be worth asking.

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same here, @Torchie

******************** to make up extra characters

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@Torchie @Melly1 I’m SOOOOO Glad to hear that - there are some intelligent surgeries then - YAY!

I’ve just shared some of the main details of our story with Macmillan and Maggies to let their networks know how convoluted the antivirals central service is

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It’s nonsensical to deny unpaid carers the jab when paid carers who are “frontline” can have it. They may be providing extra care to your loved one in your home! Yet again, unpaid carers lives don’t matter?

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Hi all,

We have an update on the information please see the latest factsheet: covid-19-2024-carers-uk-factsheet.pdf (carersuk.org)

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@bowlingbun It is not just the cost of paying for a private jab that is the issue for me - it is getting to the nearest place that offers it . A town 7 miles away. Yes I could get there by public transport but do not feel able to leave E for long and it would take too long . A taxi would be around ÂŁ50 return. Added to cost of jab that is high for me and many others.

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Most of all though, it’s completely and utterly wrong to expect unpaid carers to pay for themselves when paid carers get it for free. After all E needs you by his side constantly, so what would happen to him if you became ill. From what your are saying the cost of taxi and jab is almost your entire Carers Allowance for the whole week?! Maybe that would be a good angle for CUK to take?

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@bowlingbun I did not get the price of the jab but Victoria said usually between ÂŁ40-ÂŁ100. So yes it would probably be more than Carers Allowance. Had there a place in town that offers the jab or if one becomes available I would re consider as then it would be around a ÂŁ11 return taxi.

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I was initially offered only a flu vaccine, which I booked in.

My caree, my Dad, was offered both Covid and Flu, so I booked him in.

Then, I contacted my GP surgery to ask if my Dad and I could just have our flu jabs at the same time… and I enquired if I was eligible for the Covid vaccine too as an unpaid carer…

… so, the surgery called me back the same day to try to unify our appointments and, I am now booked in for both flu and covid jabs!

It’s definitely worth making contact with your GP surgery, rather than just assuming you can’t get the vaccine.

(Although, it may be too late for me and my circumstance as I’m currently on day 11 of my own personal Covid journey!)

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I am not eligible for the vaccine either this Autumn. However, I booked one anyway at my local pharmacy using the NHS website, fully prepared to fight my corner when it came to it or accept defeat.

My appointment was yesterday. I told the person administering the vaccine that I am a carer when she asked how I am eligible. She scrolled up and down the eligibility list twice, saying each category out loud, then just clicked one and said “ok, that one”. I could not see which one she chose.

I was given the vaccine and no questions were asked other than the usual.

I am grateful to have got it.

Good luck to everyone this winter.

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Its disgusting ,saving money thats what is at the bottom of this. I only got it because i am diabetic.

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