Autumn COVID-19 & flu vaccinations
The Government have announced which groups of people will be eligible for a COVID-19 autumn booster. Those eligible for a further dose will be:
- all adults aged 50 years and over
- those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women
- those aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- those aged 16 to 49 years who are carers
- residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
- frontline health and social care workers.
The Government will also be offering a free flu jab to more eligible groups than in previous years. These groups are:
- all adults aged 50 to 64 years
- secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9, who will be offered the vaccine in order of school year (starting with the youngest first)
People in these groups will only be eligible for a flu jab once the most at-risk (pre-school & primary school children, those aged over 65 and those in a clinical risk group) have been offered the jab.
The groups mentioned above are now being contacted to book a autumn COVID-19 booster. The NHS will contact you and invite you to book your autumn booster when it’s due.
Autumn COVID-19 & flu vaccinations for Croydon based carers
Anyone aged 16 and over who receives carer’s allowance, or who is the main carer for an elderly or disabled person who is at risk from flu or COVID-19, is eligible for both vaccines. This includes people who provide unpaid care, for example as a family member, close friend, or neighbour.
Carers who are known to their GPs and who have a ‘carer’s flag’ on their primary care record will receive invitations to book both their COVID-19 booster and flu vaccines as soon as they are eligible.
Carers can also self-declare and book their COVID-19 booster vaccination via the National Booking Service, by calling 119, or by finding a walk-in appointment through the online vaccination walk-in finder, and should approach their GP or pharmacy for further information about how to access the flu vaccine.
There is no requirement to provide proof that a person is a carer when attending vaccination appointments.
Autumn COVID-19 booster and flu vaccinations for Personal Assistants – East Sussex Customers
This autumn the NHS is offering a COVID-19 booster vaccination and flu vaccination to frontline health and social care staff. This includes Personal Assistants.
Health and social care staff eligible for vaccination may wish to take the following to confirm their eligibility as health and social care workers:
- work ID
- a letter from their employer
- a payslip proving who they work for
We are aware that some Personal Assistants may not have access to work ID or other means of confirming your role within adult social care.
If you require a letter to take to your appointment to prove your eligibility for these free vaccinations, please email the Community-based Social Care Infection Prevention and Control Project: PAIPCProtectCOVID19@eastsussex.gov.uk.
More information from Sussex Health and Care, including how to book appointments, on Covid-19 and flu vaccinations and flu vaccine – NHS.
For other useful information visit ESCC PA COVID-19 webpage: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/socialcare/providers/covid-19-asc/pa/.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations
Everyone over the age of 12 is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
Please click here for more information, including details on how to book your COVID-19 vaccination online.
When booking their vaccination, your PA will need to self-declare they are a frontline health and care worker and will be told to provide evidence of their employment at the vaccination site.
Please contact us on 01903 219482 for assistance with this.
Mandatory vaccinations and employment advice
Employment law advice and guidance on mandatory vaccinations has been published by Fish Insurance and ILG Support.
Please click here for FISH insurance advice.
Please click here for ILG support advice.
COVID testing
Asymptomatic testing is no longer generally required for frontline workers except as part of a rapid response testing for care homes and high-risk extra care and supported living services or as part of outbreak testing in care homes.
Ordering COVID test kits
Personal assistants who are symptomatic (or their employers on their behalf) should order tests via the online government portal.
Employers of personal assistants ordering tests on their behalf should go through the ordering journey selecting options as if they are a personal assistant. Whilst tests can be ordered on behalf of others, tests should only be used for staff and not those who are receiving care and/or support. You will not need a UON (Unique Organisation Number).
Individuals who are already part of a regular testing regime at work should not access tests through this route.
Individuals should keep enough test kits in case they need to test because they become symptomatic and they should only order more tests when needed to replenish stocks. When replenishing stocks for this purpose, they should select that they are symptomatic when going through the ordering portal.
An individual can choose which address their test kits are delivered to. Once they have placed an order, they will receive a confirmatory email.
For any issues with ordering test kits, please call the national COVID-19 contact centre on 119.
Full guidance on COVID testing in adult social care is available here.