Am I eligible for unpaid carer vaccine?

[BippityBobbityBoo]

Bit of an unusual set up but my MIL lives with us 50% of the time. Other time is spent at DHs DB. We both adapted our homes and it works well for us on a two week rotation. She’s 87 has mobility issues and advanced dementia, is now vaccinated as CEV. DH and his DB also now vaccinated because they are older than me. All disability and CA is registered to brother as he is from her home town and we are 20 miles away.

I help with all her personal care.

Am I an unpaid carer and should I book the vaccine?

I’m early 40s

I would say yes. You are providing significant personal care to someone who cannot live alone AND is CEV.

Yes you are.

Thank you, I’m just worried I’ll be asked for proof and I don’t have any. I’m certainly not but I could just be making this up.

What a wonderful setup you have for caring for you MIL.

Of course you should get it. The only thing is proving it if they start tightening up because of all the piss-takers. Does your GP know about your caring responsibilities? Maybe they could get you flagged up on the system.

My sister is booked for later this week due to providing care to DDad and he's CEV (I've had it as social care worker). She's got an email of one of his shielding letters to take with her, could you take one of your MIL's CEV letters?

@msbevvy. Aww thank you. It’s been 5 years now, we were warned she would decline rapidly but she hasn’t really and we put this down to this care, she’s really quite happy 😊
I have had to register her as a ‘temporary’ patient at my gp when we’ve had the odd scare and once when her meds were delayed and we needed an emergency prescription so maybe this could count. Actually I think I’ll email my GP and see if they can record it. And then book myself in ...eek!

@Aurorie11 the letters would have dbs address in other town so might look more suspicious than anything?

I’m probably overthinking. I just needed to hear that I AM an unpaid carer I think, I’m not cheating.

Yes! I can't believe you even need to ask.

Might be pushing the rules but if you have any adult kids in the house, I'd get them done too.

I'm sure the reason they have included unpaid carers is many elderly people's care is divided between numerous households (adult kids, siblings, neighbours) plus paid carers visiting a few times per day. It would be very easy for covid to be spread through numerous households because of this.

Now thinking I should have tried sooner (though I’m sure unpaid carer wasn’t an option when I last checked nhs booking site), I’m such a ditherer sometimes.

Right, I’m booked in for a week today. I’ll let you know if I’m challenged or refused! Thanks all

No adult kids at home or other carers.

@BippityBobbityBoo

Now thinking I should have tried sooner (though I’m sure unpaid carer wasn’t an option when I last checked nhs booking site), I’m such a ditherer sometimes.

Right, I’m booked in for a week today. I’ll let you know if I’m challenged or refused! Thanks all

In most areas unless you are in receipt of carers allowance you can;t book through the national site. The invitation comes from your doctors. You should be registered as an unpaid carer with your GP anyway as the list is meant to flag you as a carer in case you might need support etc.

Booking on the national site as a carer for someone who is CEV is a new thing I think.

Yes you definitely are. I was booked in by my GP based on looking after my CEV father. He doesn’t rely on me nearly as much as your MIL as he generally lives independently but stays with us when he is struggling. I’m really keen to get the vacc so I don’t give him covid!

I got my first jab today😊thanks to PPs for making me realising it was fine to book and in fact irresponsible not to. I got quite choked up at the appointment and feel so relieved

If you have trouble registering with your GP as a carer...

Carers UK provide template letters to help carers register with their GP...

www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/health/looking-after-your-health/register-as-an-unpaid-carer-with-your-gp-template-letter

Contact has produced a useful template letter to help parents complain if their GP tells them they are not a priority for the COVID-19 vaccine.

contact.org.uk/about-contact/news-and-views/contact-produces-template-letter-to-help-carers-struggling-to-get-the-covid-vaccine/

@bobbiester thanks for that, I’ll fill it in🙂

I’m 44 and just had mine. I do caring duties alongside my db.

The criteria was that she needed to be at risk if you were unwell and couldn’t care for her. Has that changed?