Published 20th December 2021
The Government has taken steps to ensure carers, who look after a family member or friend, can use a specific letter to identify themselves to gain priority for the booster jabs for COVID-19, if there are long queues.
If you are going to be going for a booster and are concerned about having to queue please contact us on 0800 083 1148 or at info@carersmatternorfolk.org.uk so you can access this letter*.
Support is also available with getting to a coronavirus vaccination or booster appointment, including with having a care worker look after the person you care for while you have your appointment. See www.caringtogether.org/coronavirus-covid-19/support-for-carers-to-attend-covid-19-vaccinations
*Since the plans for COVID-19 boosters have been speeded up, Carers UK became worried about unpaid carers who cannot leave the person they care for alone for very long, or cannot stand in queues with the person they care for because they may become upset, agitated or exhausted.
They raised this urgently with the Government in England and the vaccination leads about how to ensure that unpaid carers get quick access to the COVID-19 booster jab. The Government has listened and carers can now use a letter to prove that they are an unpaid carer to get priority access in queues.