Vaccination Issues for home carers.

[pam290358]

I am my 90 year old mum’s carer - she lives with myself and my partner and has recently been diagnosed with vascular dementia. Both my partner and myself have serious underlying health conditions. We’ve been shielding for months. Mum has recently had the first part of her Covid vaccination but I have been advised that it will probably be spring before myself and my partner will get ours - if all goes according to plan.

I have already had to cancel two hospital appointments and a routine medical procedure for mum, as I am the only one who can take her and there are a couple more appointments coming up in the next few weeks. If I take her to these appointments as normal I am putting myself and my partner at risk - and possibly mum herself for a little while as she is only partially protected. One procedure I have cancelled would have meant admitting her to a ward for a whole day, and our local hospital is reported as being overwhelmed with Covid inpatients. The hospital are in agreement that the best course of action in the circumstances would be to cancel everything until we are all vaccinated.

My GP informs me that I am registered as a carer with them but they are unable to help until they are authorised to vaccinate the appropriate categories - vaccine supplies are restricted to the various priority groups as they are rolled out. If anything were to happen to me, mum would certainly end up in care so it doesn’t seem to make sense that home carers have to wait for protection despite the duty of care. In one way I feel ungrateful as - in our area at least - NHS services are available despite Covid and we’re lucky to be offered treatment, but I’m wondering just how many people are in a similar situation. So my question is am I being unreasonable to think that the government has completely failed to consider the needs of a vast army of unpaid home carers, without whom there would certainly be a lot more of our elderly folk needing full time care ?

If you have been asked to shield then you will get the first vaccination over the next few weeks rather than spring.

There are millions of people with a very valid reason to have a vaccine. As you say, it’s a vast army of people who are home carers needing the vaccine. It’s just not possible.

I thought home carers had been moved up the list?

Why don't you qualify in your own right to be in group 6, if not top 4?

According to my GP there is no priority given simply for being a home carer and the government website appears to bear this out, as there is absolutely no mention of carers other than in the context of front line health and social care staff. I’m in category 4 and therefore some way down the list from where mum is - roll out for this group is estimated to be early spring. My main concern is that should anything happen to me, mum would end up in care. There must be thousands in the same situation and it doesn’t seem to make much sense to me.

No, shielding - having been identified as extremely clinically vulnerable - puts you in group 4 to be vaccinated by the 15th Feb.

Like me.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-55045639

Sorry - pressed send too early. My other concern is that I’m being put in a position where I have to decide between my own and my partners’ safety and what’s best for mum’s healthcare. Ideally she should be attending these appointments and I imagine lots of people are having to make similar decisions. Unpaid home carers fall through the safety net in a lot of areas - anyone who has navigated the carers benefits system will know you have to jump through hoops to qualify. We save the tax payer massive amounts in social care costs and it just seems that this is yet another example of how undervalued we are. Sorry - just moaning now !!

It’s hard, hang in there your turn will come. The problem is many many people have an urgent need and they are going as fast as they can. I’m scandalised that school staff, nursery staff, firefighters and the police are still waiting and they are actively going out facing many members of the public and can’t stay safe at home. I believe you will be a higher priority than any of these groups.

@pam290358

According to my GP there is no priority given simply for being a home carer and the government website appears to bear this out, as there is absolutely no mention of carers other than in the context of front line health and social care staff. I’m in category 4 and therefore some way down the list from where mum is - roll out for this group is estimated to be early spring. My main concern is that should anything happen to me, mum would end up in care. There must be thousands in the same situation and it doesn’t seem to make much sense to me.

Group 4 will very likely receive their vaccination in February. The roll out is going fast. My mum has already been contacted directly by her GP. I know different areas of the country is different but where I live they are already half way through group 2.

*are

Apologies! They’re actually already down to group 3 and some over 70s in group 4 who I know have already had it. The delay may come if you are having it at home but I think it will likely be February.

Social carers - carers working for others eg: carers paid for as part of Direct Payments or a Personal Budget - tier 2. These can get a form from the Local Authority to confirm this and are being vaccinated now. (I know people who have appointments) This is useful to know for teachers and LSAs, who also have second jobs as carers.

Family carers - tier 6.

Both of the above have forms that you can complete to lodge with your GP

Whatever you've been doing to attend appointments and keep safe, since last March, will just have to continue for a little longer.

The top four groups are supposed to be vaccinated by mid-Feb so it sounds like that includes you.

If your mum needs to attend an appointment and you can't take her, phone the surgery or hospital and ask for help as there are volunteers and charities who exist for this purpose.

I am a teacher working full time with a class of 25 even now that schools are supposed to be closed, and we are discouraged even from wearing masks. Since I have two shielding family members I am desperate to be vaccinated. It is very hard. Lists and priorities have to be created somehow and the rollout is designed primarily to protect the nhs.

Can you ask your GP if they have, or would be willing to start a "wastage" list. The vaccines are fairly delicate and have to be disposed of after a certain period. As people are idiots and are not turning up to their appointments there is more wastage than expected. Some vaccination centres, instead of wasting it are offering people not entitled to vaccines- 1 place rang their local school and vaccinated the teachers, we (hospital) vaccinate patients not on the list and contact workers (e.g. not employees) but as a hospital vaccination hub we have minimal wastage. The downside is that when they call you have to get vaccination right that second!

@rawlikesushi. We’re running behind in our area according to my GP, and still vaccinating in the over 80s group. Not clear on the reasons for this but Mum is 90 and only received her letter on Monday - vaccinated on Tuesday. I know quite a few over 80’s couples including sisters in law who haven’t yet had letters and I think I saw in the press a few days ago that quite a few areas are playing catch up while others are ahead. On the bright side, as I said in my OP, at least NHS treatments are available here so we’re lucky in that respect, which is why I feel so awful about having to cancel while others are desperate for treatment. I do take your point about volunteer groups to take mum to appointments but she can be very difficult to handle because of the dementia and one of the triggers for panic and distress is going out of the house, so I’m very reluctant to leave her with people who won’t recognise the warning signs or know how to deal with it,

@WatchWatch. Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll make enquiries when the surgery opens today. I can do short notice so that wont be a problem.

I just need to clarify that not everyone that doesn't turn up for their vaccine is not an idiot - we've just had a number refusing because "its untested" (not true), it "doesn't work" (not true) and "I'll wait for the British one".

Carers outside care homes are priority 6

So I think you'll have to wait a bit longer (currently doing 1 - 4)

Cohabitants of the CEV might be added to that category (as it is possible some co-morbidities mean you do not form a proper response, and vaccinating those around them will make itna bit safer. But that won't happen until they have decided the extent that the jabs prevent transmission

If target is 15th feb for cat 4 it's only just over 3 weeks for you to wait. There are millions of people to vaccinate. Just wait - you will get yours sooner than most.

Its very much a dependent on your local area thing

I live in a very "old people" area where there's lots of the first groups and care homes thus they are still vaccinating the over 80's and will be for.some time

My mother who lives in a different area has got the jab much quicker than she would here just because there were less local people in the queue in front of her.

Some areas for example area rural sussex gps have only recently begun giving it out to anyone on mass as only a few gps recieved any.

I realise other posters might be trying to help or repeating what they see In the news about where things are supposed to be by now but it doesnt make a difference if you are in a slow area

Also local gps here are requesting people do not call to go on wastage lists as they are becoming overwhelmed by people contacting them thus can't get patient calls, or turning up on the off
chance/hanging around the car park.

Unfortunately there's been some cases where gps have been able to give it to people like carers or just in general have been given some because it made sense due to spares, however they are now finding that people are expecting this and believe they should be offered it

@RettyPriddle
Can I ask where you get this form please?
I'm tier 6 in Wales...(carer to a disabled child)...don't want to miss my turn as not in any other category!
Ta