The questions we have received from carers and the answers are based on the current information provided by the authorities, as of today, 11/03/2021; we will update the page with any changes. Thank you for your support.
We teamed up with Bubble Hub – Community Project to create the Q&A Bubble Hub and AWF Video, please click here to watch , were Mandy, the parent carer behind Bubble Hub and Gwen, from the All Wales Forum talk about the Q&A, written below, around the Carers’ Eligibility criteria for the Covid-19 vaccine and the self-referral forms.
Q: Am I eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine as a carer in priority group 6?
A: Three main factors came into play for you to be eligible for the covid-19 vaccine. The Welsh Government sets them out to be:
- The vulnerability of the person being cared for (is one of):
- is 65 years old and over (group 5)
- is deemed extremely clinically vulnerable (group 4)
- has a defined underlying health condition including mental illness (qualifying as group 6)
- is a child under 16 with complex medical needs / severe neuro-disabilities
- The nature of the care provided to those 16 and over:
- includes, but is not restricted to, helping with eating, bathing, shaving, managing continence, dressing and walking. It may include intervening in challenging or risky behaviour. It may include providing significant levels of support and supervision at home or in the community and where social distancing is not possible.
or
The nature of the care provided to children under 16 with complex medical needs/ severe neuro-disabilities:
- is beyond the care and support parents ordinarily provide for a child. It is likely to include tasks like tracheostomy tube care, airway suction, repositioning to manage pressure areas and care interventions such as respiratory physiotherapy. It may include intensive personal care such as daily washing and continence care and /or managing behaviours that challenge.
III. The unpaid carer is the sole or primary carer
- We recognise that caring for some people may require two people to assist with such tasks as positioning, hoisting, bathing and changing. There may be arrangements whereby two people evenly divide the caring responsibilities. In such instances, both unpaid carers may be considered as the primary carers.
To be prioritised for vaccination, an unpaid carer should satisfy all three factors.
You can read the Welsh Governments full information on COVID-19 vaccine for carers here: https://gov.wales/covid-19-vaccination-unpaid-carers-html
Q: I’m in receipt of Carers Allowance. Will I be automatically called to get the vaccine?
A: No, if you are in receipt of Carers Allowance you are not automatically registered as an unpaid carer with your GP. If you are in receipt of Carers Allowance, meet the eligibility criteria but you are unsure whether your GP is aware of your caring role, please fill out the form.
Q: We, as the parents, are our child’s supporter, would we both be eligible for the covid-19 vaccine in priority group 6?
A: By the guidance, if you both provide close-contact care and your child is 16+ or if your child is younger than 16 but has complex medical needs, such as severe neuro-disabilities, than you both would meet the criteria to be eligible and would have to fill in your individual forms stating your caring responsibilities, if you are not already known to your GP.
Q: I am not the sole carer, we both give close-contact care to our loved one. Can we both be self-referred through the form to receive the covid-19 vaccine in priority group 6?
A: Yes, the Welsh Government recognises that there are people who will need close-contact support from more than one person and that certain families jointly share caring responsibilities. Please explain your caring responsibilities in your individual forms. Each eligible carer will need to complete their own form.
Q: Can I explain on my form about my partners caring responsibilities to refer them for the vaccine?
A: No, you will have to fill out individual forms stating your shared caring responsibilities.
Q: In our household, also the brother/sister who lives with us, has caring responsibilities and gives close-contact care, are they eligible?
A: Yes, if they are 16+ and give close contact care, they could meet the eligibility criteria. Because as a family you share caring responsibilities and you live all together. Again, they will need to complete their own form.
Q: I can’t leave my loved one to go and receive the covid vaccine. Can I request for someone to come here?
A: On the form there is a “Specific Needs” section, please state in this section your accessibility requirements and/or reasons for requiring a home vaccine visit. Different Health Boards will have different arrangements to meet your requirements.
Q: I know of a carer who doesn’t have access to the internet and/or a computer but knows they are eligible for the vaccine. How can they apply?
A: Every Health Board has been requested to organise a non-digital solution. For now, this consists of a phone number to call where the person on the other end can fill out the form for the carer. Information regarding this service will be on the Health Boards dedicated webpage.
Q: Where can I find the form for my Health Boards?
A: If you visit the webpage: https://gov.wales/get-covid-19-vaccine-unpaid-carer you will find at the end of the page a list of links to the Health Boards Webpages. Some Health Boards have called the form an “eligibility toolkit” but it is the same form.
Q: I have just checked, and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board doesn’t have a form. What do I do?
A: As of today, 10/03/2021 when these Q&As were written, we have been advised that ABUHB will be publishing their form on Monday the 15th of March, please try the link again then. In the meantime, you can still check if your own GP has a carer registration form for that surgery.
Q: Can I sign up as a carer with my GP when I fill-out this form?
A: Yes, at the bottom of the form it should ask you whether you want your information to be passed on to your GP.
Q: Do I need proof of caring?
A: No. Not all unpaid carer will be eligible to receive the vaccine in priori 6 but the WG approved the self-referral form as means for unknown eligible carers to be identified. There will be no need for further proof if you met the criteria set out in the guidance. (See question 1)
Q: The Welsh Government’s advice says that if we think our GP is aware of our role to not fill in the form, but my local Health Board has advised me to fill it out anyway. What do I do?
A: Each Health Board could be organising it slightly differently, so if the Health Board advises you to fill-out the form anyway we recommend you do to make sure you are flagged up as a carer who is eligible for the vaccine.
Q: My GP knows I am a carer, and I am eligible, but I haven’t received an invitation letter yet, shall I fill the form out?
A: The invitations for group 6 will keep going out until mid-April, however, if you haven’t received a letter, you’re not sure if your GP knows about your caring role and you can’t get in contact with your GP to check, we recommend filling out the form, especially if your local health board are advising you the same. However, if you are known to your GP, you may wish to wait a few days for your invite before completing the form.
Q: Our loved one doesn’t live with us, but they come home for the weekend or short period of time on a regular basis, am I eligible for the vaccine since they don’t live with us 24/7 but we do give close-contact care even if for brief periods of time?
A: Because you give close-contact care on a regular basis there are grounds for you to be eligible for the vaccine, please explain it on your self-referral form.
Can’t find what you were looking for?
We have a webpage with a Flowchart and FAQs around the covid-19 Vaccine.
For further information around the covid-19 vaccine, please visit the Public Health Wales FAQs page about the vaccine.
About the vaccine – Public Health Wales (nhs.wales)
If your question is around your carer role, please get in contact through our email admin@allwalesforum.org.uk
