Carers, whether paid or unpaid, can now be prioritised to access a COVID-19 vaccine.

Carers are described as those in receipt of a carer’s allowance and those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.

Adult carers who are flagged as such within GP systems will be offered a vaccination at their local GP-led service and are asked to wait to be contacted.

Paid carers in receipt of a carer’s allowance and those registered with Local Authority or local Carer’s Support Agencies will have their information shared with the NHS National Booking System who will contact them by letter with advice about how to book a vaccination. In the meantime, they are asked not to contact their GP, local authority or local NHS services.

For people who believe they meet the carer criteria, but do not fall into the groups above, the NHS is working on a solution that will enable people to be identified and registered for a vaccine.

This work is underway and more information will be made available in the coming weeks. In the meantime they are asked not to contact their GP, local authority or local NHS services.