Unpaid and paid carers promised 'priority access' at vaccination sites

NHS England has instructed all vaccination centres to give 'priority access' to unpaid carers and paid social care staff.

This includes ‘priority lines’ to make it easier for all receiving or giving care to get their booster vaccine.

Carers may be asked to provide a valid ID such as a workplace photo ID or a recent letter or payslip from their employer to get priority access.

Unpaid carers can use a letter issued to the care sector as proof of ID.

The government has said uptake is lower amongst staff with only 34 per cent of care staff having taken up the booster vaccine mid-December.

Care minister Gillian Keegan said: “Our fantastic social care workforce have shown time and time again during this pandemic the lengths they will go to deliver high-quality care in the most challenging circumstances – showing true dedication and professionalism – and I can’t thank them enough for all their hard work.

“We are calling on them to step up once again to come forward and protect themselves and those around them by getting boosted now, giving those they care

“We’re all in this together - please play your part.”

Data published by the UK Health Security Agency shows vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection is ‘substantially reduced’ against Omicron with just two doses over time, but a third dose boosts protection back up to over 70 per cent.