Carers urged to get their Covid-19 jab

Thursday, 29 July 2021 18:00

Carers are being urged to get both doses of the life-saving Covid-19 vaccine – to protect themselves and the people they look after.

Over three-quarters of unpaid carers in Wolverhampton – 75.7% – have now been vaccinated, and the rest are urged to get their jab as soon as possible.

Councillor Linda Leach, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "The vaccine is the best protection people can get from becoming seriously ill with Covid-19. It also helps to cut transmission of the virus from one person to another.

"Our city's unpaid carers, young and old, do an incredible job caring for a friend or relative, and having their jab will give them the reassurance they need to continue looking after their loved ones.

"We know how concerned carers can be about what would happen to the person they care for if they were to fall ill themselves.

“Having the vaccine will significantly reduce their chances of becoming seriously ill if they were to contract this virus, leaving them better placed to continue their vital caring role.

"Please remember that people need to have both doses of the vaccine in order to have maximum protection."

All adults are eligible for vaccination, along with young carers aged 16 and 17.

People can book their vaccine by visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus-vaccine or calling 119. There are also over 30 walk-in clinics taking place this week, offering first or second doses to anyone aged 18 and over. Full details, including locations, opening times and vaccine type, are available at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/localvaccine.
If you are an eligible unpaid carer aged 16 or 17, your GP will contact you. If you are not sure if your GP knows you are a carer, you should contact them.

Latest figures show there were 318.6 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the last seven days. That means 838 people in the city tested positive for the virus in that same period – though the true number of new cases will likely be higher.