Unpaid carers are a priority for the COVID-19 vaccine. The information below will tell you where you are on the priority list.
Unpaid carers aged 16 – 64 are included in group 6 on the priority list for the COVID-19 vaccine. Unpaid carers aged 65 and over will be offered the vaccine earlier as they are included in groups 2-5 which cover the whole population aged 65 and above.
PRIORITY GROUPS;
- Priority Group 1 – Residents in a care home for older adults Staff working in care homes for older adults
- Priority Group 2 – All those 80 years of age and over Frontline health and social care workers
- Priority Group 3 – All those 75 years of age and over
- Priority Group 4 – All those 70 years of age and over and anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age)
- Priority Group 5 – All those 65 years of age and over
- Priority Group 6 – Adults aged 16 to 64 years in an at-risk group, including unpaid carers. See links below for further information on those who will be included in group 6
- Priority Group 7 – All those 60 years of age and over
- Priority Group 8 – All those 55 years of age and over
- Priority Group 9 – All those 50 years of age and over
When will I get the vaccine?
Everyone in the priority list will be offered the vaccine as soon as possible. Exact timing for each group will depend on supplies arriving. It is the Scottish Government’s intention to cover the priority list above by Spring 2021, as vaccine supply allows.
The Scottish Government, national and local carer organisations will provide further information on timing for unpaid carers under 65 (priority group 6) when available.
Unpaid carers aged 16-64 will be offered the vaccine as part of priority group 6 unless their age places in them in priority groups 2-5.
Who Qualify as Unpaid Carers?
Priority group 6 covers all adult unpaid carers so anyone aged 16 and over who provides, or intends to provide, care to someone else will be eligible to receive the vaccination in group 6. You are included even if;
- • you don’t receive Carers Allowance
- • you are a parent carer
- • you are not registered as an unpaid carer with your GP
- • you are not the only carer providing care to one person
How will you let carers know when it is their turn to get the vaccine?
The Scottish Government will write out to as many unpaid carers as possible and provide them with details of how to book their appointment. To ensure carers who don’t receive the letter are informed, the Scottish Government will work with organisations such as national and local carer organisations, including local carer centres and condition specific charities to ensure that information is made available.
You do not need to be registered as a carer with your GP to receive the vaccination in priority group 6. You may wish to tell them about your caring role the next time you speak with them but there is no need to make an appointment especially for this.
For more information on vaccine safety, who should not get the vaccine, and all other information, please follow the links below;
There is further information on unpaid carers and the COVID-19 vaccination on the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 advice for unpaid carers web-page. NHS Inform coronavirus vaccine web-page
For further information, see the NHS Inform coronavirus vaccine web-page. If you have any enquiries about the COVID-19 vaccine, you can contact the Coronavirus Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013 (available 8am – 8pm all week). Leaflets are available in accessible formats and languages via the helpline. Scottish Government’s COVID-19 advice for unpaid carers web-page.
