Fife's unpaid carers urged to check register for COVID vaccine
A self-registration service launched this week to enable people aged 16-64 to check their eligibility and register, either online or over the phone as an unpaid carer.
Letters should already been sent out, but a call has gone out to unpaid carers to check to ensure they haven’t been missed.
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Hide AdThere are an estimated 700,000 people in Scotland who care for a friend, family member or neighbour.
Many of these people may not realise they are eligible to receive the vaccine now as part of group six on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority list.
The care they provide could be anything from domestic tasks such as regularly helping with the shopping, picking up prescriptions or preparing meals, to personal care.
Benjamin Hannan, chief pharmacist, NHS Fife, said: “Carers play a crucial role in the community and we recognise that the events of the past year have put more pressure than ever before on those who provide care and support for others.
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Hide Ad“You may not consider yourself a carer, but if you provide vital face-to-face care to anyone, be it family, friend or neighbour, then you could be eligible to receive the vaccine now.
“Getting the vaccine reduces your risk of COVID and supports you to keep well and in turn, ensure those you care for are safe.”
You can check online at nhsinform.scot/carersregister or call Covid Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.