Coronavirus Vaccine

Everyone with a learning disability can now have the Covid-19 vaccine

All people with a learning disability can now have the vaccine. You need to be on your GP's Learning Disability register. This is a list your GP keeps. Check if you are on your GP's Learning Disability Register. If you are not on it ask your GP to add you or speak to someone you trust. Don't miss out.

Call us on 0118 966 2518 or email office@readingmencap.org.uk if you need support to access your vaccine.

Being on the register has many benefits and entitles people to annual health checks and prioritisation for future vaccinations, as well as allowing them to get the Covid vaccine and be confident they are protected.

The news comes after months of campaigning by learning disability charities such as Mencap and Learning Disability England for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to urgently prioritise all people with a learning disability for the vaccine.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against coronavirus.

Easy read guide to the Coronavirus vaccine

Easy read guide to the Learning Disability Register

Easy read letter to joining the Learning Disability Register

 

Who can get the COVID-19 vaccine - updated February 2021

Important news: 15 February 2021

 

Surgeries across Reading are delivering vaccines on various dates, leading to differences in when your surgery will call people in.
The Government has been encouraging people in the top four priority groups - comprising people aged 70 and over, front-line health and social care workers, care home residents and the clinically extremely vulnerable to get vaccinated.

If you are aged 70 or over or are clinically extremely vulnerable (this includes adults with Down’s syndrome) and have not yet had a jab you can now contact the NHS directly.

The easiest way to arrange a vaccination is through the national booking service which can be accessed at
www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. The system allows patients to choose a time slot and location that suits them. Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge.

The over-50s and people with underlying health conditions are due to be vaccinated by May.

People with underlying health conditions

There is good evidence that certain underlying health conditions increase the risk from COVID-19. Included in the risk groups are people with:

• Down’s syndrome
• severe and profound learning disability.

People in these groups are priority number 6.

 

Priority for unpaid family carers

Unpaid family carers are in priority group 6 for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes carers under the age of 65 and young carers aged 16 and 17.

The Government’s vaccine committee has recommended that unpaid carers who receive Carer’s Allowance or who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled child or adult whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill should be prioritised alongside people with underlying health conditions.

Unpaid carers over the age of 65 will be able to access the vaccine earlier as they are included in earlier priority groups.

 

What can you do as a carer? 

1. Apply for your free Reading Carers' Card. This card identifies you as an unpaid family carer. It's easy to apply, we just need a head and shoulders selfie of yourself. Email communications@readingmencap.org.uk 

2. Make sure your GP knows you are a family carer. Visit your surgery website to see if you can inform them online.

3. Check if you are eligible for Carer's Allowance.

Hundreds of thousands of people caring for friends or relatives are missing out on their Carer’s Allowance entitlements.

The benefit is worth £67.25 a week, meaning some carers are losing out on as much as £3,497 a year. In 2018, almost £1.3 billion was unclaimed.

You are entitled to Carer's Allowance if:

• You care for 35 hours a week or more
• You do not earn more than £128 a week
• The person you care for receives Attendance Allowance, the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) middle or highest rate care component or Armed Forces Independence Payment.

If you get State Pension

• You cannot get the full amount of both Carer’s Allowance and your State Pension at the same time.
• If your pension is £67.25 a week or more, you will not get a Carer’s Allowance payment.
• If your pension is less than £67.25 a week, you’ll get a Carer’s Allowance payment to make up the difference.

 

How the COVID-19 vaccine is given

The COVID-19 vaccine is given as an injection into your upper arm.

It's given as 2 doses. You will have the 2nd dose 3 to 12 weeks after having the 1st dose.

 

Watch out for scams

A false NHS text message has been circulating requesting that you click on a link to apply for a vaccine.

It then takes you through to a false NHS website platform requesting more information. For further details on how to spot this, see this helpful link from Which: https://conversation.which.co.uk/scams/scam-nhs-covid-vaccine-text-message/. We would also urge you to spread the word among friends and family.

Cold calls regarding the vaccine are also beginning to take place – Which has already had reports of scammers asking people to pay for it over the phone.

The NHS will not ask you to pay for the vaccine.