Any vaccinators on here ?

[Dolciedolly]

Sorry I just want to confirm something I am 47 and my parents are in their 70's I do all their shopping , cook for them and help my mum with housework , basically been helping to care for them since March 20

My friend said I can get a vaccine as an unpaid carer?

Obviously I have no proof of this but I help my parents a lot

Do you know what I can do ?

I'm not sure if you do qualify as a carer based upon your description.

You say your father has a health condition but I would assume your mother is classed as his carer. Prior to Coronavirus it seems like they were doing their own shopping etc as you say you have helped them since last March.

I've been helping my mum since March but I'm not her carer. I'm helping keep her safe in a pandemic - like many others are doing for elderly relatives.

To be classed as a carer the person you are caring for usually needs a specific medical reason to need care.

I'm classed as a carer for my daughter but she receives DLA for her disability and has a medical diagnosis. I've been registered as her carer for longer than just the last year. DH can't be classed as her carer because only 1 person can be named as the carer, not both parents.

If helping an elderly relative with shopping since last March qualified someone as being a carer then I think almost everyone with older parents would qualify!

In Scotland you just fill out a form. They don't want a copy of my sons DLA forms (I asked) so you should be fine to register.

@Woodandsky

Do they ask for proof when you turn up for the vaccine though?

I know a genuine unpaid carer who has booked via the website because the gp was no use and I'm worried they will have problems at the vaccine center.

They may have issues and shouldn't really have booked. You need to be registered as a carer with your GP to qualify.

I am registered with my GP as a carer for my daughter and have been for several years. The GP required details of who I was caring for and why before adding me to the registered carer list.

You can't just self declare yourself as a carer to get the vaccine early. There is a huge difference between helping a vulnerable person out and actually caring for a disabled child or adult.

Based upon how having a child with a disability and having to be a carer impacts on my life (and in fact everyone in my family lives) I am a bit about people who think shopping or popping in to check up on someone from time to time now suddenly means they are also a carer.

Never heard of being registered with the local authority but you’d need to be registered as a carer with the GP.

@Woodandsky - I’m an unpaid carer for my son. They asked for nothing at the vaccine centre as proof.

Hi Lindy,
This person is a genuine carer to their disabled partner (who has a serious condition that means they are shielding).
They have only been living together for a year and financially are not eligible for carers allowance so until now there was no other reason to register as a carer.
I am worried that the vaccinator will assume like you that they are queue jumping (they are in their 20s).

And I found this on carers.org: carers.org/guidance-on-coronavirus/coronavirus-vaccine-faqs-for-unpaid-carers

Specifically it says:

The vaccination programme recognises that these sources will not identify all eligible unpaid carers.
Unpaid carers over the age of 18 who are not already known to health and care services can contact the National Booking Service at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by ringing 119 to answer a few questions to determine if they are eligible to book their vaccination appointment.

So am hoping it should be OK?

@Lindy2

I'm not sure if you do qualify as a carer based upon your description.

You say your father has a health condition but I would assume your mother is classed as his carer. Prior to Coronavirus it seems like they were doing their own shopping etc as you say you have helped them since last March.

I've been helping my mum since March but I'm not her carer. I'm helping keep her safe in a pandemic - like many others are doing for elderly relatives.

To be classed as a carer the person you are caring for usually needs a specific medical reason to need care.

I'm classed as a carer for my daughter but she receives DLA for her disability and has a medical diagnosis. I've been registered as her carer for longer than just the last year. DH can't be classed as her carer because only 1 person can be named as the carer, not both parents.

If helping an elderly relative with shopping since last March qualified someone as being a carer then I think almost everyone with older parents would qualify!

My mum has slid into depression unfortunately so I have to help my father which means going to the house but she won't go to the doctor as I had bad withdrawals last year from an anti depressant so she is scared

@notrub

You need to either be in receipt of carer's allowance or registered with your council's Carers Support Centre - if you aren't you can register now and then they'll contact you to book an appointment.

This isn’t true. I care for my Dad but I’m bot registered with my council and don’t get carer’s allowance. However, my GP lists me as a carer (and I get the free flu jab). Contact your GP and talk to them about this. They should be able to be able to add this to your records and enable you to get the vaccine.

Woodandsky's post above seems to have the right source to go to then.

Based upon what you've just said I would think you should qualify. It does seem a bit of a vague area though and if some centres aren't checking eligibility it would seem like some queue jumpers will take advantage. It would be worth getting on the carer's list to make sure it is official. Being a registered carer will also help you access support.

They seem to have set things wider than the usual definition of carers I think, the main point being if you are ill then you won't be able to provide the help they need, therefore you should be eligible for the vaccine.

Agree it could be open to abuse though.

Hi, don't know where you are @Dolciedolly but in Scotland unpaid carers are being done just now, similarly to a previous poster a think it's relying on people not taking advantage. It sounds as if you'd qualify for the vaccine here.