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What is the definition and criteria I need to satisfy to be vaccinated as an unpaid carer in group 6?

To be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination as an unpaid carer under group 6, you must come under the UK’s Green Book definition of unpaid carer, and meet all three Welsh Government Vaccination Board criteria outlined below.

Green Book definition

The JCVI Green Book states that an unpaid carer is someone who is:

  • eligible for a carer’s allowance (you don’t have to receive an allowance to qualify)

OR

  • is the sole or primary carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality and so are clinically vulnerable.

Welsh Government criteria

As well as the definition above, three factors are considered in deciding which unpaid carers should be prioritised for vaccination. To be prioritised for vaccination, an unpaid carer should satisfy all three factors.

The first factor is the vulnerability of the person being cared for:

  • is 65 years old and over (group 5)
  • is deemed extremely clinically vulnerable (group 4)
  • has a defined underlying health condition including mental illness (qualifying as group 6)
  • is a child under 16 with complex medical needs/ severe neuro-disabilities 

The second factor is the nature of the care provided to those 16 and over. It includes, but is not restricted to, helping with eating, bathing, shaving, managing continence, dressing and walking. It may include intervening in challenging or risky behaviour.

It may also include providing significant levels of support and supervision at home or in the community and where social distancing is not possible

If the care is being provided to children under 16 with complex medical needs/ severe neuro-disabilities, it should be beyond the care and support parents ordinarily provide for a child.

It is likely to include tasks like tracheostomy tube care, airway suction, repositioning to manage pressure areas and care interventions such as respiratory physiotherapy. It may include intensive personal care such as daily washing and continence care and /or managing behaviours that challenge.

The third factor is that the unpaid carer is the sole or primary carer.

In assessing this factor, it is recognised that caring for some people may require two people to assist with such tasks as positioning, hoisting, bathing and changing. There may be arrangements whereby two people evenly divide the caring responsibilities. In such instances, both unpaid carers may be considered as the primary carers.

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