Does NHS Flu jab mean you are in group 6?

[AtLastEarwax]

Hey everyone

Ok I'm eligible for a free flu jab every year - they send me a text to remind me due to have epilepsy. I looked on the website and it classes neurology as a pre existing condition in group 6 but not sure if this means epilepsy??

Hubby seems to think that if you are eligible for a free flu jab - due to a health condition that's the target for group 6?

What's people opinions?

Thanks 😊

The Carer's Allowance thing is totally wrong. Obviously if you get it, you are a carer.
But not getting it doesn't mean you are not a carer. Plenty of carers don't qualify on financial grounds as it is means tested. Access to the vaccine is not means tested though, so getting a certain state benefit cannot be used to exclude unpaid carers.

My vaccine -

So if I ring my gp how do I go about asking them if I'm in group 6? They just told me they have nothing to do with it ring 119??

I'm epileptic and was told by my GP that I was group 6

Purple haze did you ring and ask your gp or 119?

Another example of carers and disabled people not being thought of. Do they think 20 people for each patient will be trying to get a jab by claiming carer status?

Had mine at 2pm, sorted 😜

I did, he said I would be group 6 but not the start of it x

I rang 119 because I tried to book on website and it said I had missed an appointment Trent but wouldn’t then let me book (prob because the online system doesn’t book Group 6 at moment...I was just seeing what happened)
119 told me to contact GP as they can only see alerts next to names (which allow you to book online) if it is the one being accepted at that time (ie Group 5 and above)
I phoned GP and receptionist said I hadn’t missed an appointment and didn’t understand what that message was. But I do have an a,earth next to my name as group 6. Said they are working on Group 5 at moment and I will get text when it’s my turn.

Group 6 are massive - 7.3m.

Group 5 are 2.3m.

So I’m thinking it will take this week to do Group 5 (I know some already had it last week) and there will be some Group 6 as well this week, varying by area. Next week they will make significant inroads into Group 6.

After 1 March I think they have to offer the 2nd vaccine to all those who are 12 weeks on, so the amount of first vaccines will probably drop before all of Group 6 are done. But I’d imagine they will be able to move into Group 7 certainly by mid March.

Does that timescale sound about right? Clearly regional variations with some areas going faster than others/having different numbers in the various groups to get through.

So I’m hoping I might get called in Last week of Feb as a Group 6 person, but expecting it to be early March .

Sounds about right. My GP surgery have said they expect group 5 and 6 to be invited in "the next few weeks." They have 5000 group 6 in a total patient population of 44000, so similar percentage to the population as a whole.

Just an update in terms of a slight change in what the NGS booking service is showing.

It specifies those who can book online (65+ and careers and CEV ) and for the first time states that those who are moderately vulnerable (which is what they call those who are CV but not CEV and in Group 6) won’t use the booking system but will individually be contacted by the NHS.

So if I get carers allowance, can i book on NHS website as a social care worker? Does that mean paid carers to a disabled ds? Its letting me book if I say I am, but I don't want to book if Im not allowed, but there seems to be availability.

It will only let you book if you are eligible. So if you've answered honestly there's no problem.
I think you need to take ID as a carer....it gives you the details on the booking site.

Websites crashed!!!! aghhhhhhhhh

"So if I get carers allowance, can i book on NHS website as a social care worker? Does that mean paid carers to a disabled ds?"

It is paid carers only.

So carers allowance is a paid carer is it not? (so confusing)

Im taking it from this, I think?
www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/01/C1125-Self-referral-for-social-care-worker-vaccination-11-February-2021.pdf

Annex A: The government "Green Book" for immunisation against infectious disease includes the following definition for frontline social workers:
Occupational Group
Example of roles in scope
Direct care – these roles involve directly working with people who need care and support
• Care worker
• Personal Assistant
• Rehabilitation, reablement, enablement worker
• Shared lives Carer

Carers allowance is unpaid carer.

Does anyone know what a "shared lives carer" is?

It's when an adult who needs some extra help comes to live with you. A bit like fostering but for adults. It could be a young person leaving the child care system or someone with a disability or dementia.

Thank you Sock x

@callmeadoctor

So if I get carers allowance, can i book on NHS website as a social care worker? Does that mean paid carers to a disabled ds? Its letting me book if I say I am, but I don't want to book if Im not allowed, but there seems to be availability.

The section about being a healthcare worker/social care worker is for people whose job is one of these things, not carers.

People whose job is a healthcare worker/social care worker are in group2 so they can get vaccinated immediately (work ID will probably be required).

Carers are in group 6 and don't seem to be able to book on the national booking site just yet, although I think they are supposed to be able to. Maybe it will just be another few days?

I'm going to feel a total fraud if I get offered a vaccination at the same time as the rest of group 6. But I do get offered a flu jab every year (that I've never actually got around to having). I have mild allergic asthma that I manage by staying away from cats (which is pretty easy because I can't stand cats) and vacuuming all the time. I haven't had a steroid inhaler in years - but it's still on my repeat prescription even though I have ignored requests for a going for an asthma review. I've asked several times to be taken off their asthma list to save me having to ignore the requests!