An update on Covid-19 vaccinations for unpaid carers

We are pleased to update you on the current situation about the availability of Covid-19 vaccinations for unpaid carers. This follows the Government announcement that vaccinations will be made available to adults who are the main carer for an adult at high risk from coronavirus.

Background

Devon Carers is commissioned jointly by Devon County Council and the NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group to provide support services and assessments to unpaid carers across Devon. The NHS has recently issued a Data Provision Notice under section 259(1) of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (the Act). It requires the local authority to provide information about unpaid carers with whom they, and Devon Carers as their service provider, are engaged with.

The Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination (JCVI) definition of an unpaid carer has now been further clarified in Public Health England’s Green Book for COVID-19.

‘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’.

A definition of the conditions that might lead to a person being identified as at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality and therefore clinically vulnerable is included in the Public Health England’s Green Book for COVID-19, Table 3 Page 10. A combined list where the following information is held by Devon Carers or Devon County Council has now been securely passed to the NHS containing: First name, Surname, Gender, Postcode and DoB.

What happens next

The NHS will match the information we have provided with their existing records to try and ensure you are contacted only once. The information will then be passed to the Immunisation Management Service, who will contact you by either letter, text (from NHSvaccine) or phone (0300 561 0240), inviting you to have your vaccination.

The vaccination is optional, and you do not have to have it if you don’t want to. Please wait to be contacted.

If you meet the above criteria but have not yet been invited for vaccination, you can also register with the Devon Vaccine Query Line who will arrange a COVID-19 vaccination appointment for you.  Please complete this simple form or phone 01752 398836 to provide your details and a member of the team will be in touch to arrange an appointment. Alternatively you can self-refer https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/ or call 119.