Unpaid carers are to be offered the vaccine next, say NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Carers who do not receive carers’ benefits, and who have not been identified by GPs, will be asked to come forward to register for their vaccine soon through an online portal or by calling the national vaccination helpline.

Clinics will be open for carers from Tuesday, March 9.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran has been inviting those aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions (JCVI priority group 6) to roll up their sleeves for their coronavirus vaccinations since Saturday, February 20.

They say they have made good progress with this cohort and are now able to offer the vaccine to unpaid carers too.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran Chief Executive John Burns said: “The vaccination programme is running very well and I want to thank our vaccination teams who have stepped forward to help us deliver this important programme as well as the 138,000 people who have taken up their appointment to roll up their sleeve and be vaccinated.

"I know from the enquiries we are receiving that people are keen to know when they will get an appointment and I want to reassure that appointments will be sent in accordance with the JCVI guidance.

"We would also ask that when you are invited for the vaccine that you please come forward to your appointment. It provides the best protection against coronavirus.”

Letters have been dropping to Ayrshire addresses to invite those eligible to come forward for an appointment at one of the local vaccination centres.

The mass vaccination programme has been running since Monday, February 1 and NHS Ayrshire and Arran are working through the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) list of priority groups to vaccinate those most at risk of COVID-19.

Since the first vaccines were administered on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 to care home residents and priority health and care staff, there have been 138,465 people vaccinated in Ayrshire and Arran.

In the current cohort (JCVI priority group 6), the first to be invited are the people who have conditions which are included on both the JCVI priority list and the flu vaccine list.

Although there is some overlap, the two lists are not exactly the same. This cohort also includes unpaid carers who receive carers’ benefits or who have been identified by GPs.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran will then work through the remaining list of those who have underlying health conditions but who do not receive the free flu vaccine.

Anyone aged 70 or over who has not yet been invited for their vaccine should visit nhsinform.scot for further advice, or call the national helpline on 0800 030 8013.

JCVI priority group 6 includes people aged 16 to 64 with the following conditions:

  • a blood cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)
  • diabetes
  • dementia
  • a heart problem
  • a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma
  • a kidney disease
  • a liver disease
  • lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as HIV infection, steroid medication, chemotherapy or radiotherapy)
  • rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriasis (who may require long term immunosuppressive treatments)
  • who have had an organ transplant
  • have had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
  • a neurological or muscle wasting condition
  • a learning disability**
  • a problem with  the  spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or those who have had their  spleen removed
  • have a BMI of above 40
  • are severely mentally ill