Unpaid carers and vaccine

[pinkearedcow]

I didn't realise that unpaid carers are now in category 6 for the vaccine, so I thought I would post this in case there are any other unpaid carers out there who don't yet know this.

Oh and the advice is to make sure your GP has noted that you are an unpaid carer.

Oh please say this is true! I'm an unpaid carer for my partner, I have been eligible for the flu jab in the past, does this mean I'm in group 6?

I think they should have got it along with paid carers if I’m being honest . Group 6 isn’t good enough .

It’s definitely true. See footnote 3 against cohort 6
here

“This also includes those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill“

Also confirmed in the Covid chapter of the Green Book if any one need to reference it (see page 10):

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-the-green-book-chapter-14a

I hope this means SEN staff might get bumped up the priority list too. They also often do physical care of pupils, just like a carer.

This is fabulous news. Thanks OP.

SEN staff are unlikely to count as the “main carer”. And the reason to vaccinate unpaid carers is because of the pressure on public services/social care if the carer was unable to care for the person, not actually because of their personal risk (and if they are at personal risk, they will be picked up through being in another cohort). But there might be further decisions on other professional groups, like teachers, police offices etc, and SEN staff might feature in those discussions.