22nd February 2021 – We have issued a joint communication with Care for the Carers, Carers Support West Sussex and Amaze, providing carers with information about the Covid-19 vaccination rollout.
The NHS COVID-19 Vaccination programme is now open to adult family and friend carers.
For purposes of the Vaccination Programme adult carers (aged 16+) are defined as 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.
Those carers who are eligible are those whose cared for is clinically vulnerable:
- Children with severe neuro-disabilities;
- Those who are designated Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV);
- Adults who have underlying health conditions 9 as defined in table 3 of the green book);
- Those who have care needs because of advanced age.
Please see the Public Health England Green Book for further details.
If you’re known as a carer by your GP, in receipt or eligible for carers allowance , or known by your Local Authority, usually as a result of having contact with a social worker and/or having a carers assessment you WILL be invited by the NHS – through either the National Booking System (NBS) or your local GP-led service. It is however a large, phased process and may take several weeks so please be patient.
Carers who are eligible for the vaccination but whose caring status is currently unknown to the Local Authority or their GP will still be able to access the vaccination. However the full details on how this will be made available are still to be agreed.
Currently we are experiencing large numbers of first time contacts, we will prioritise as far as we can those with greatest need and we will get to you as quickly as possible.
If you do have specific questions about vaccinations please visit the national vaccination service via the NHS (Link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/).
Locally for more specific information relating to vaccinations but NOT bookings contact:
(Link: Sussex COVID-19 Vaccination Programme | Sussex Health & Care Partnership (sussexhealthandcare.uk) email at sxccg.vaccineenquiries@nhs.net, or call the vaccine enquiry phone line: 0800 433 4545 (open 9am – 4pm, Monday to Friday). Please remember they cannot book an appointment for you.
Other information related to the Covid-19 pandemic can be found on our regularly updated service status update page.
Furthermore, the NHS have issued some helpful videos regarding the Covid-19 vaccination rollout:
- How will I get my jab? (animation) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh4DLdKD6uw
- I have received a letter, what do I do? (animation) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ame-eJ4RUSU
- How will I be invited? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtDEiOK46GM
- What is a vaccination centre? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izprZWWYe9w
