The Flowchart and the FAQs below have been built on the current information provided by the authorities as of today 11/03/2021; we will keep the page updated as the situation develops. Thank you for your support.
I look after someone with a learning disability, am I an unpaid carer?
You might be. A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support. Please see more information around the Definition of a Carer – All Wales Forum
As a carer, you have rights. Wales has long taken a keen interest in promoting the rights of carers to be heard, respected and valued for the essential role that they play in their local communities. As such, there are a number of rights and entitlements that carers living in Wales can now benefit from. Please find out more about your rights here Carers Rights – All Wales Forum
In pre-pandemic times, there were several ways of getting registered as an unpaid carer. The most common one is through your GP, you can have the title of unpaid carer added to your medical notes. Another way is registering with Social Services in your area and request a Carer’s Assessment. Now, you also have the possibility of registering as an unpaid carer through the self-referral form – please read our dedicated Q&A
Please get in touch if you have any doubts or questions. admin@Allwalesforum.org.uk
I’m an unpaid carer – am I in a priority group?
You may be. Eligibility for unpaid carers to receive the vaccine in priority group 6:
- The vulnerability of the person being cared for
- The nature of the care provided to those 16 and over or the nature of the care provided to children under 16 with complex medical needs/ severe neuro-disabilities:
- The unpaid carer is the sole or primary carer
To see a more detailed answer to this question please visit our new webpage dedicated to Self-referral Forms and Eligibility
https://gov.wales/get-covid-19-vaccine-unpaid-carer
I am not registered as an unpaid carer but I believe I am eligible to receive the vaccine in priority group 6– how do I notify Local Authorities to get priority?
Please see our newest page dedicated to the self-referral forms and Eligibility.
When would I get the Vaccine if I’m an eligible unpaid carer in priority group 6?
The Welsh Government are expecting to be sending out invitation letters until mid-April.
Why do I have to wait to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Please find an Easy-read leaflet from Public Health Wales, answering this question, here
My child is under 16 and therefore not eligible for the vaccine. Would I be allowed to have it in their place?
The AWF campaigned for parent carers of children under 16 to be able to have the vaccine in lieu of them if the child received a shielding letter.
The Welsh Government’s criteria for eligibility for the Covid-19 Vaccine for unpaid carers mentions “nature of the care provided to children under 16 with complex medical needs/ severe neuro-disabilities”.
So, by definition of the guidance: “the nature of the care would be 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.”
If you provide any of the care mentioned above or other type of close-contact care you should be eligible for a vaccine in priority group 6.
Please, click here to see our Q&A around the most recent guidance and self-referral forms
I am elderly and considered vulnerable, does that change anything?
Currently, the Welsh Government are sending out invitation letters for priority group 6, please check your age group in the list below and if you fall in a group 1 to 5, you should have had your invitation and might want to contact your GP and/or local Health Board.
Check eligibility either using the flowchart provided above or the priority list provided below:
- residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
- all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
- all those 75 years of age and over
- all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
- all those 65 years of age and over
- all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality – *
- all those 60 years of age and over
- all those 55 years of age and over
- all those 50 years of age and over
* Adult carers, based on the eligibility criteria published by the Welsh Government on the 8th of March 2021
Why aren’t high-risk children and young people included in the list?
Some at-risk young people (16+) may be considered for vaccination but as it stands, children are not a high-risk group as they are not generally badly affected by COVID-19.
Please find this answer in the F.A.Q.’s published by Public Health Wales.
About the vaccine – Public Health Wales (nhs.wales)
How does the Covid Vaccine work?
The COVID-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of you suffering from severe COVID-19 disease. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective. Studies have shown high levels of short-term protection from two to three weeks after a single dose of vaccine, but a second dose is required for longer-term protection. Some people may still get COVID-19 after vaccination, but this should be less severe. The vaccines do not contain living organisms, and so are safe for people with disorders of the immune system. These individuals may not respond so well to the vaccine.
Please find more information at the link: Resources for health and social care professionals – Public Health Wales (nhs.wales)
BBC Asian Network debunks Covid Vaccine rumours in five South Asian languages: Urdu, Tamil, Gujarati, Sylheti and Punjabi.
Beyond Words have produced a illustrated guide to support autistic and learning disabled people through having the vaccine. For other resources around the pandemic please click here.
Does the Vaccine stop me from carrying the virus?
The evidence on whether COVID-19 vaccination reduces the chance of you passing on the virus is less clear at present. Most vaccines reduce the overall risk of infection, but some vaccinated people may get mild or asymptomatic infection and therefore be able to pass the virus on. It is possible that vaccinated health and social care staff will be less likely to pass COVID-19 infection to those they care for.
Please find more information at the link: Resources for health and social care professionals – Public Health Wales (nhs.wales)
I’ve heard about covid-19 vaccination side effects. What are the risks?
NHS England has created a document which illustrates the risks and benefits of the vaccination for different age groups- please see it here.
My GP says Carers aren’t in a priority Group?
JCVI’s advice and Public Health Wales categorically sets eligible Carers in group 6. If you can’t can’t get in contact with your GP or you if GP isn’t aware of the latest guidance, you can use the self-referral form to identify as an eligible carer.
Please find out more from our Q&A dedicated to eligibility in the new guidance and self-referral forms.
Update guidance: https://gov.wales/get-covid-19-vaccine-unpaid-carer
I received a text from the NHS about booking a Vaccine. Is it legitimate or a scam?
If you’re eligible for a vaccine, you’ll only be contacted by the NHS, usually through a phone call or a letter. If the NHS texts you, they’ll never ask for any bank details or payment.
Unfortunately, there are fraudsters running a vaccine scam – Please find all relative information on how to recognise a scam text and what to do about it in the news piece below.
How to spot ‘nasty’ coronavirus vaccine scams and what you can do about them | Wales | ITV News
What about people with a Learning Disability? When will they get the vaccine?
Learning Disability Wales has gathered information about when people with learning disabilities in Wales will get the coronavirus vaccine, please follow the link to visit their webpage – https://www.ldw.org.uk/covid-19-vaccine-new-guidance-includes-more-people-with-a-learning-disability-in-priority-group-6/
Is there any material in Easy-read around the Vaccine?
Yes, please find accessible resources around the Covid-19 Vaccination program, here
Can’t find what you were looking for?
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
We have created a webpage with questions and answers specifically around the eligibility criteria and the self-referral form, please visit it here.
