Jabs ‘nightmare’ as unpaid carers bombard GPs for vaccines
There are calls for mandatory Covid jabs as thousands of care home workers remain unvaccinated, reports Rob Harries
AREVISION of vaccination rules that gives greater priority to unpaid carers has led to a logistical nightmare in the health service, according to a NHS whistleblower.
New guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation describes unpaid carers as “those who are eligible for a carer’s allowance, or those who are the sole or primary carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of Covid-19 mortality and therefore clinically vulnerable”.
Eligible carers should be vaccinated in priority group 6.
The guidance says: “The aim . . . is to provide clarity and consistency and ensure we vaccinate those unpaid carers that will have the greatest impact on preventing deaths. Due to the large numbers of unpaid carers across Wales – estimates vary but are often in excess of 400,000 – and the importance of vaccinating those at the highest risk, we cannot vaccinate everyone who provides care for a friend or family member. This is not to devalue the significant caring role undertaken by so many, rather it is to maintain the clear focus of the vaccination programme on preventing deaths and protecting our vital health and social care systems.
“Many unpaid carers will receive an earlier vaccination depending on their age. Unpaid carers aged 50 years and over, who are not prioritised for vaccination as an unpaid carer, will nevertheless be offered the vaccine in priority groupings 7-9. Our aim is to offer vaccination to all those in these priority groups by the middle of April 2021.”
A NHS worker in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The latest concern is the capacity of the health boards to supply the vaccine.
“It is very ad hoc at the moment in relation to who receives it and who will provide it and where.
“GP surgeries get weekly emails from the health board about supplies and who is to be vaccinated.
“Then announcements are made on TV that, for example, unpaid carers are in the next category, when those aged 65-70 are still being vaccinated. This results in loads of phone calls to GP surgeries. Numerous people are registering as unpaid carers as they try to get the vaccine – everyone is panicking. It’s a nightmare for the frontline.”
Ros Jervis, director of public health at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We have openly communicated with our population and GP practices that a slowdown in vaccine supply was expected in the latter part of February.
“This has been incorporated into our planning and we are expecting these supplies to increase very soon.
“As soon as vaccine is supplied, this is distributed as a matter of urgency to GP practices based on patient numbers within the cohorts and our mass vaccination centres for delivery.
“Regarding unpaid carers, we have a very well-established carers programme here in Hywel Dda and consider ourselves in a strong position to already have many unpaid carers registered with GP practices.
“Unpaid carers are a significant source of care and support and it is in everyone’s interest that they are supported and protected.
“Taking on a caring role can mean facing poverty, isolation, frustration, ill health and depression. Many carers give up an income, future employment prospects and pension rights. If this vaccination programme means more people start to identify themselves as unpaid carers and understand the vital role they contribute to, then this is a very positive outcome as we will be able to support these people. Carer support concerns everyone.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “As already demonstrated by the fantastic efforts seen across Wales, our health boards are ready and able to rapidly deploy vaccines as supplies allow.
“We are on track to deliver the commitments set out in our Vaccination Strategy for Wales.
“We are now working to offer the vaccine to everyone in priority cohorts 5 to 9 and – subject to sufficient, predictable and timely vaccine supplies – our aim is to do this by mid-April. If you are in this group, please do not contact your local health service unless asked to do so – no one will be left behind.”
CALLS have been made to make coronavirus vaccines compulsory for new care home staff in Wales, as thousands of people who work in care homes across the country remain unvaccinated.
According to latest Welsh vaccination data, 36,610 care home workers have received a first dose of a vaccine, which is 86% of the group.
However, that means that there are almost 6,000 care home workers that have not been vaccinated – despite the group being number one on the Welsh Government’s priority list.
And it comes as vaccination rates in Wales have slowed significantly over the past week.
Despite Covid-19 rates falling in Wales – the most recent seven-day infection rate is 75.7 per 100,000 people – concerns have now been raised about the potential of the virus spreading in care homes where members of staff have refused to be vaccinated, with one organisation even calling for care homes to only hire staff who have already received a vaccine.
Care Forum Wales, which represents nearly 500 independent care providers, commended care home owners and managers who were encouraging staff to be vaccinated, but also said that “it was clear there are some who were reluctant to get the jab”.
This is despite the fact that, since March 1, 2020, more than 1,700 care home residents have died with suspected or confirmed Covid-19.
“I think there are general concerns about this right across Wales,” said Mario Kreft, chair of Care Forum Wales. “Some homes are doing incredibly well; we’ve heard stories of 100% take-up, but others are struggling. It only takes one person to bring one of the new strains of the virus in to vulnerable people.
“We know the more contagious Kent variant is now the dominant strain in Wales and there is also some evidence that it is also more lethal. We are also having to contend with the dangers posed by other mutant strains.
“I think everybody who works in social care should, unless there’s a very good reason otherwise, get the jab and importantly be ready for a culture where we might have to have this each year for some years to come. “It is clearly sensible that care homes should be allowed t o refuse t o recruit anybody who has not been vaccinated.
“It is clear that, quite understandably, the families of residents will want assurances that the staff looking after their loved ones are vaccinated so that they are less likely to be able pass on the infection.”
One member of Care Forum Wales said care home workers’ main job was to protect care home residents, and that means being vaccinated to ensure that coronavirus does not once again spread in care settings like it did throughout 2020.
“Why would you not have the vaccine if it reduces the chances of you having a serious illness or dying?” asked council member Sanjiv Joshi.
“If we were dealing with smallpox nobody would be arguing about the need to have a jab.
“If you’re working in a care home, your mission is to care and protect your residents – that’s your solemn promise.
“The science is very clear that the vaccine reduces serious symptoms and the number of deaths. Unless you have a legitimate reason like a medical issue or a religious objection, you should be rushing to be vaccinated.”
As well as refusing to have the vaccine, other reasons why people may not yet have received it include if they have tested positive for Covid-19 in the previous 28 days, if they have recently had a flu vaccine, or if they are currently on maternity or sick leave.
However, it remains true that 5,971 care home workers have not received a first dose in Wales (according to data correct up to 10pm on Tuesday).
When pressed on the matter, the Welsh Government said it does not hold data on the specific reasons why some people choose not to be vaccinated, and added that it does not currently intend to make vaccinations compulsory to any group in Wales.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The overwhelming majority of care home workers have had the vaccine. Whilst we have no plans to change the law to make vaccinations
compulsory, we would urge every eligible adult to take-up the offer of the vaccine when it is their turn.
“If anyone in the top priority groups has missed an appointment for whatever reason or they have changed their mind about having the vaccine, a new appointment can be made for them.”
Meanwhile, Public Health Wales has reiterated its insistence that all the Covid-19 vaccinations being offered in Wales are safe.
Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for coronavirus pandemic response at Public Health Wales, said: “We want to reassure people in Wales that none of the vaccines available contain any animal products or traces of foetal matter and it is safe for all ethnic minority and faith communities.
“Thousands of people from black, Asian and other ethnic groups have already been vaccinated in Wales.
“Having the vaccine will help protect you from this awful virus and will help us limit the spread within families and our communities.”
ANGLESEY MP Virginia Crosbie is calling on people across Britain to stand up against “cowardly” online trolls who target female public figures.
Since being elected Conservative MP for the island, Mrs Crosbie has reported around 30 threats, abusive emails and social media posts to the police. Some abusers are Anglesey residents, others are not, and the vast majority stay anonymous.
On Twitter the mother of three was called “slag” so often she cancelled her account because, she said, “it didn’t seem very healthy to remain on it”.
Despite this, she continues to receive hate-filled abuse on other platforms, and via email.
Last month a troll who routed an email via Austria, to stay anonymous, labelled her a “perfect moral argument for abortion”.
Routinely she is called a c*** and often the insults are personal, many mocking her appearance. There are threats too, such as that from a regular online critic who called her the “most useless incomer to Anglesey since the grey squirrel – that horrible invasive species that should be culled to protect the natives”.
Mrs Crosbie drew parallels with the social media abuse currently directed towards black footballers such as Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial and black Labour MP Diane Abbott who, she said, suffers “terrible levels” of racist and sexist abuse online.
“Other women politicians on Anglesey also suffer too,” she said. “Sadly it’s everywhere. It is also corroding the foundations of public life, especially for women, who bear much of the abuse for everything from their politics, to their looks, to deeply offensive and false accusations about their sexual conduct.
“In the 21st century we would hope to move on but the misogynists remain a powerful force.
“Abusers might not like Conservatives but when they call me a slag they are not expressing their political opposition they are hating women and this needs to be said more.”
Her support for fellow female politicians is nothing new: she is director of Women2Win, a group campaigning for more female Tory parliamentarians.
Mrs Crosbie is far from alone in being targeted on social media but she suspects there are three reasons she is picked on: “I am a woman, I am a Conservative MP and I am English – I’m actually half Welsh on my father’s side but I sound English.
“Women politicians receive far more abuse than their male counterparts, although men are certainly not immune.”
Mrs Crosbie is well aware the job comes with criticism and, where constructive, this is a gulf apart from the vile smears thrown at female politicians. She is clear that, despite the harassment and abuse, she does not in any way consider herself a “victim”.
“I don’t wear it as a badge of honour, but I will never crumble in the face of it,” she said. “I am proud to be the MP for this great island and its overwhelmingly wonderful people. Anglesey is not any more racist or sexist than any other part of the country. And it clearly isn’t that anti-Conservative, otherwise I wouldn’t be its MP.
“We are talking about a tiny minority who I actually feel quite sorry for in so many ways, not least because their misogyny and racism is so tediously predictable and cowardly.
“The vast majority of the public are supportive and would be shocked if they knew just how much abuse I get, because they are decent people. Whatever happens to me, I always keep faith in the innate kindness of the majority.”
Mrs Crosbie is also concerned about the impact on her “fantastic, hard-working staff ”, who witness low-level abuse most days.
“We all know people do not walk up to others in the street and call them a whore or slag or liar or sex abuser. The real world just doesn’t allow it,” the MP said. “But online, anonymous accounts can do just that.”
Everyone – not just the Government or social media companies – needs to confront this “cancer in our society”, she said.
Right-minded people everywhere have a collective responsibility to “stand up” and report abuse to the authorities, to social media platforms, to friends, neighbours, politicians and local groups, said Mrs Crosbie.
“Abuse is not freedom of expression or a joke,” she said. “It’s not a bit of fun. It has the same effect on people as the bully in the playground.
“It is taking lives and is ruining childhoods and diminishing achievement and talent because everything is lowered to the level of skin colour, appearance, opinions, nationality or gender or who we choose to love.”