I have posted a thread about elderly over 80s housebound patients not seeming to be a priority for vaccination at home even with the Oxford Vaccine rollout.
I am my dad’s only carer and he lives with me. I teach for 1 1/2 days per week so earn too much to receive Carer’s Allowance. Luckiky my school has let me shield at home with my dad. When I contacted our GP the receptionist said that she didn’t know how to register me as his carer and was unaware about carers being moved into priority group 6. I am 53. Will I be able to ask to have my vaccine when my 84 year old dad does? If something happens to me there is no one else to care for him and I’m afraid he would be put into care until I recovered.
https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/health/looking-after-your-health/your-gp
Telling your GP
Let your GP know that you are a carer and ask if this could be registered on your medical record. All GP practices will have a carer registration form. As a carer you are entitled to a free flu vaccination and your surgery may also offer the following:
some flexibility with appointment times, for both yourself and/or the person you care for to accommodate your caring situation
agreement to share information about the condition of the person you care for (with their consent)
At the g.p. surgery as to speak with the
practice manager.
Hi Carol,
Ask to speak to the practice manager as they should know how / where to record this on the system.
If you accompany your Dad for his jab you may be able to get yours done at the same; seems to depend on local processes.
It looks like teacher unions are pushing for teachers to receive the vaccine in priority group 2, so worth keeping an eye on the TES or your union website to see updates on this.
Melly1
I wanted to let everyone know, I went with my husband for his vaccination on Thursday, the gp who checked him in asked if I was his carer? I told him yes, I had taken my NHS number with me, just in case. The doctor asked if I would like the vaccine at the same time. So there we are, both had our first vaccinations.
So my advice to any carers going along is to maybe just ask.
So happy to have both had this now.
Thanks for letting us know, Marjorie.
Worth taking NHS number along then.
Have you taken paracetamol to offset any side effects?
Melly1
My 84 year old dad had his vaccine on Friday 22nd Jan. He asked about me getting the vaccine when he had his but they said no. I am his only carer, have asked for this to go on both our records with the GP and I have a letter to prove I’ve had Carers’ Allowance. Should we ask for the vaccine for me again? The first time I mentioned Priority Group 6 fir carers the surgery didn’t know what I was talking about. Is there some sort of information sheet from Carers UK explaining this which I could give to the GP?
That’s a good idea.
Thanks for coming back and updated us. This will also help others.
I think carers being offered the vaccine along with the person they care for is probably influenced by age. I am under 55 and in group 8 so quite a while for me to wait yet. If a carer is nearer in age to the over 80s, over 70s or clinically vulnerable it would make sense to vaccinate them at the same time as they might only have to wait a week or so before being called as part of their age group.
Does anyone know how you will be able to tell if you should have been called when they get to group 6 or if they have missed you out because they didn’t check that you were a carer?
It’s interesting to see how things seem to be done differently in different vaccination sites and in different parts of the country.
We didn’t need any paracetamol, bit of an achy arm was all
Oh that was good.
Melly1
Hubby aged 75 had his jab on Saturday. Obviously I had to accompany him as he struggles at walking, dressing etc. Had asked why I couldn’t get the jab at the same time but told definite no, I was in group 6! So when they eventually get to group 6 I will have to go along with hubby as he can’t be left - so 4 trips outside the home for 2 jabs each. Absolutely ridiculous situation. I am his carer and gave up work to look after him 4 years go, gp surgery fully aware as he can’t speak for himself etc but still couldn’t get the jab at the same time.
Took hubby to hospital last week and they said I should get the vaccine as it was silly us having to go out 4 times.
Just heard Hancock and co on the daily briefing extolling the virtue of unpaid carers but still not saying it made sense for carers to be vaccinated at the same time as the person they have to accompany. Makes me so mad that unpaid carers are so ‘valued’ but not valued enough to be given the jab at the same time as the person they care for.
Keep saying if I get ill, it will be 2 people who need help.
Carers UK
There seems to be a big problem here. Locally I am hearing either the G.P. is ignoring the Government advice. And blaming the NHS for not making the vaccine information available to them. For carers to have the vaccine at the same time as their caree. Or the NHS is blaming the G.P. for not proving the carers details to the NHS.
It seems to me that carers need to be registered not only at their G.P. But also with the NHS under their hospital number.
It’s all very confusing. Hubby and I are both 67 and haven’t been offered the jab. We are carers for our LD adult daughter who also hasn’t been called yet. However, her PA is getting her jab this week because she works with my daughter, but she is currently not working as there is nowhere open for them to visit. We are still paying her as advised by the council. How come a PA gets priority?
My friend and her hubby are foster carers and got theirs weeks ago. I also know a young teacher (late 30s) who has had her jab weeks ago because she works in a special needs school even though she is not working as she is on maternity leave for about a year having just given birth at Xmas.
It does all seem topsy turvey. A friend of ours works for the NHS and had her’s weeks ago -she is working from home and delivers talking therapies online …
Melly1
confusing ? why is the goverment advising to say in 2 to 3 weeks after having vaccine and why when you are having vaccine are not been advised to stay in by the proffessionals who give vaccine .
with us we have not had vaccine as yet so still waiting like a lot of others but why are people with lunge disorders not any higher than list 6 are the goverment only going by age ?
Hi Sunny - I and others have found this not to be the case. After my local authority had phoned my mother (who I’m a paid carer for) and booked her in, I spoke to them and asked shouldn’t they be giving me a jab at the same time? They apologised and said the system simply doesn’t let them book the carer in until it is their designated slot- i.e - Priority Group 6.
I am not aware of anyone on Carer’s Allowance who has bypassed the vaccine roll out timetable? The only paid carer’s I know who have received the jab early are those who qualify because of their age anyway.
Do you know whether individual GP surgeries are dealing/calling up Group 6 people yet? Any advice great received.
Hi Carol. I’m a 48 year-old paid carer for my mother and our local authority booked her in for a jab at the main vaccination hub in our town. I took her to the appointment but they were unable to jab me? Apparently the booking system won’t allow it and they indicated that we need to wait until Group 6. Whether I wait for the Council or my GP to call me up now, I’ve no idea? I just know that on my GP’s records I’m down as my mother’s carer.
So the risk to ourselves continues as our loved ones stay at home half-protected, is the current situation many people find themselves in.
If ever family carers were in any doubt about where we came in the pecking order of government priorities, we know now - Rock Bottom!
If your GP has your email address, you will probably receive an email invite from them - I did.
You could also receive an invite from the NHS by snail mail - I did
I booked mine after the first email, and was able to book my wife in at the same time as we are in the same group. A few days later, my wife received a postal invite from the NHS, after another week or so I received an email inviting my wife, (we use the same email as she can’t use the PC), a couple of days later again, I received a postal invite for myself. It’s a bit confused out there.