In the next phase of the Covid-19 vaccination rollout, GPs will be asked to offer the vaccination to clinically vulnerable patients and their carers.
People aged 65 and over will in the first instance be invited to book a vaccination at one of the vaccination centres
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “The Government, NHS and those administering the COVID-19 vaccines have made excellent progress in the last 10 weeks.
“Being called for the vaccine in this next phase will bring many unpaid carers a huge sense of relief, having carefully managed the risk of the virus to themselves and their older or disabled relatives for almost a year.
“Carers should wait to be called to book an appointment, and once vaccinated some of the hardest-pressed carers will be able to access support with their caring role for the first time in many months.
“This will be the biggest identification programme of unpaid carers ever carried out and should see more carers connected to local support systems.”
People who have received a letter can log on to the national booking service at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination and choose from more than 100 large scale vaccination centres or almost 200 pharmacy services.
Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.
