Unpaid carers can now apply for Covid vaccine
UNPAID carers in Wales can now apply to get a Covid-19 vaccine.
The Welsh Government has launched a new online self-referral form for people who provide care but who may not be registered as an unpaid carer with their GP.
Those already registered as unpaid carers with their GP don’t have to apply as they will be contacted by their practice in the next couple of weeks.
Last month, unpaid carers in Wales were added to vaccination priority group six, which is targeted at people aged 16-65 with underlying health conditions.
To qualify for a priority jab, unpaid carers must meet three criteria (see below).
The new self-referral forms are now available on local health board websites.
Applicants should complete the form with the health board area in which they live - or the health board area in which their GP is based.
Once the form is submitted, the health board will arrange for the information to be uploaded to the Welsh Immunisation System (WIS) and a vaccine appointment will be issued.
Carers Trust Wales said it was pleased the Welsh Government had listened to feedback from carers in creating the online form.
Its director Claire Morgan said: “Having put their lives on hold caring for vulnerable people, we know that many unpaid carers will feel relieved to be called for their vaccination.”
Eligible unpaid carers are those who are the sole or primary carer of someone who is at increased risk were they to catch coronavirus.
Those clinically vulnerable to Covid-19 include children with sever en euro disabilities, those who are designated clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV), adults who have underlying health conditions and those who need care because of advanced age.
More details of the qualifying criteria:
1. The vulnerability of the person being cared for: The person must be 65 years old and over and deemed extremely clinically vulnerable, with a defined underlying health condition, including mental illness.
Also included are carers of children under 16 with complex medical needs or severe neuro-disabilities.
2. The nature of the care provided: Carers are eligible if they are required to help people aged 16 or over with, for example, eating, bathing, shaving, managing continence, dressing and walking.
It may also include carers who have to grapple with challenging or risky behaviour, or provide supervision when social distancing is not possible.
For those who look after children under 16, they must do so in a way that is “beyond the care and support parents ordinarily provide for a child”. Tasks could include tracheostomy tube care, airway suction, managing pressure areas and respiratory physiotherapy.
Others may include personal care such as daily washing or managing challenging behaviours.
3. Unpaid carer must be the sole or primary carer: There are exceptions to this rule, such as situations two people are needed with such tasks as positioning, hoisting, bathing and changing.
In other cases two people might evenly divide the caring responsibilities.
In these instances, both unpaid carers may be considered as the primary carers.
Carers under 16 will not be offered the vaccination as children under 16 are not being vaccinated except in exceptional circumstances due to severe-neuro disabilities. Eligibility for prioritisation is not dependant on receipt of carer’s allowance, membership of a carers’ organisation or being known to social services. Local health boards have ultimate responsibility for identifying unpaid carers.