Carers urged to get their COVID-19 and flu vaccines

Health and care leaders in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are calling on carers and unpaid carers to take up their offer of a free NHS flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this winter. Carers provide vital day-to-day support for relatives, friends and neighbours, often without a break, and even a short illness like flu can make it difficult to provide care.

Both viruses spread quickly and cause severe illness, particularly in people who are older, disabled, or living with long-term health conditions.

• The flu vaccination can reduce the risk of hospitalisation by almost 50% in otherwise healthy adults, and even more for those living with long-term conditions.
• The COVID-19 vaccine remains the best protection against serious illness and complications.

When carers become unwell, the impact extends beyond their own health and can leave the person they care for without essential support. A simple vaccination can significantly reduce this risk, helping carers stay well and protect those who depend on them.

How to get your vaccines
If you are the main carer of an older or disabled person, or who receives Carer’s Allowance, you are eligible for a free flu and COVID-19 vaccination. Eligible people can book an appointment through their GP practice, local pharmacy, or via the national booking service online or by calling 119 (free, 7am-11pm)

If you think you should be eligible but cannot book online, speak to your GP surgery. They can arrange an appointment locally and update your record to show you are a carer ensuring priority for future vaccines.

Rachel Gallyot, Cluster Chief Medical Officer for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent, said: "When carers become unwell, the consequences can be serious both for them and for the person they support.

“The flu and COVID-19 vaccine are safe, effective and the best protection we have against flu-related complications. If you are an unpaid carer or receive Carer’s Allowance, please come forward as soon as possible. Protecting yourself helps protect the person you care for, your loved ones, and the wider community.”

Jayne from Shropshire cares for her husband, Mark. For her, staying well is essential, not just for herself, but for him.

“It’s so much easier to have the vaccine than to have the illness. 

“As a carer, you don’t really have the option to be unwell. Someone depends on you every day, and even a short illness can turn everything upside down.

“Getting vaccinated gives me confidence that I’m doing everything I can to protect myself and my husband. It’s quick, it’s simple, and it helps keep our home life stable. It just makes sense.”

Who is eligible?
Those eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine include:

• All adults aged 65 or over
• People aged 18 to 64 with certain long-term health conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, respiratory conditions)
• Pregnant women
• People living in a care home
• Carers
• Frontline health and social care staff
• Those who are immunocompromised or living with someone who is
• Children aged 2-3 years old, school aged or at clinical risk.

Those eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccination include:

• adults aged 75 years and over
• residents in care homes for older adults
• individuals who are immunosuppressed aged 6 months and over

Book your flu jab today and protect yourself this winter. You can find more information about recommended vaccinations at nhs.uk/vaccinations.