Guidance for carers
Here, you can find answers to common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters.
Do I qualify for a booster vaccine?
If you are new to caring, we would suggest you contact your GP and let them know that you are a carer. We also recommend contacting your local carers’ organisation to find out how carers can be supported if you need to arrange this on behalf of someone.
You can read about the latest recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), and which groups will be prioritised for the spring booster here.
The spring booster COVID-19 vaccination has been recommended by the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) for:
● adults aged 75 years and over
● residents in a care home for older adults, and
● individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (defined as
immunosuppressed in tables 3 or 4)
As with the flu vaccine, you will be able to receive your booster jab at a local medical practice such as your GP practice or pharmacy.
If you are new to caring, we would suggest you contact your GP and let them know that you are a carer. We also recommend contacting your local carers’ organisation to find out how carers are being identified locally. You will be contacted when it’s your turn or you can check if you can book one directly (see links above).
The JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) recommends that the following should be offered a booster for spring 2024:
- everyone over six months with a weakened immune system
- adults aged 75 and over
- residents in a care home for older adults.
You can opt to receive NHS notifications about vaccinations: here.
There are lots of benefits to being recorded as an unpaid carer on your GP record. It helps your GP to know, so that you can be advised of local support services and prioritised for certain vaccines including COVID-19 and the flu vaccine. You can refer to this government guidance for more information. It may be helpful to clarify your status as a carer – see our template letter.
If you wish to receive your vaccination at the same time, you must make this known to the GP surgery in advance to confirm an appointment. Note that the vaccination sites are not able to support walk-in appointments.
Every effort should be made to ensure that you can be vaccinated at the same time as someone you care for if you are accompanying them to their appointment.
When notified about your vaccine, book your appointment as soon as possible.
Take steps to arrange alternative support for the person you are caring for while you are at your vaccination appointment. If you need help to arrange this, please contact your local council (trust in Northern Ireland) or local carers’ organisation.
Read the coronavirus vaccination leaflet so you know what to expect when being vaccinated.
Ensure you have some time to rest afterwards.
Seeking information
If you have any questions about the vaccine, it may be helpful to look at reputable sources, such as the NHS site, and make a few notes in advance of your appointment so that you can gain clarity about any concerns.
You may wish to provide additional reassurance to someone you care for about the protection the vaccine could offer them, both now and in the long term.
It is also worth looking at the websites of local carers' organisations or trusts. The roll-out is likely to differ from area to area, and many of these provide useful details about what options will be available where you live.
A false NHS text message has been circulating requesting that you click on a link to apply for a vaccine. It then takes you through to a fake NHS website platform requesting more information. For further details on how to spot this, see this helpful link from Which?.
Action Fraud's website states that there has been a recent increase in medical/NHS related email and text message scams. If you feel worried that you or someone you know has been affected, you can contact Action Fraud.
We would also urge you to spread the word among friends and family about scams like this, and only follow information that's available from trustworthy sources. No one should be claiming that you need to pay for the vaccine as there are no shortcuts (see below).
You will not need to pay for the vaccine. It will be rolled out through the NHS and you will be notified about the process of getting one. It is advisable to be wary of any schemes suggesting that paying is necessary which are likely to be scams.
When it's your turn, you will be contacted by the NHS. You may be contacted by phone, email, letter or text so it's a good idea to keep an eye on all your channels.
You may be asked to go:
- to hospital
- to a local GP practice or community pharmacy
- to a vaccination centre
- or special arrangements will be made if you are unable to travel.
The vaccines cannot be approved by the UK regulator (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MHRA) until they have been rigorously tested to meet the highest safety standards. Therefore, at this stage of public roll out, we can be assured that they have met these standards.
The current recommendation is that there should be a gap of at least seven days in between the vaccines according to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
You will be contacted directly when it is possible for you, or those you care for, to receive the vaccine and it is important to discuss any concerns you might have with a medical professional.
Any side-effects from the vaccine or booster should be mild and short-term. If you continue to feel unwell, it is important to get a test for COVID-19 and self-isolate as a precautionary measure. The possible side-effects you might experience can be found on the NHS website.