The question currently on everyone’s lips is when will they be vaccinated? COVID-19 and the global pandemic it caused has left many feeling isolated, scared and alone. But with the announcement made first by Pfizer/BioNTech, then Oxford/AstraZeneca, and with more being made each week, there is an end in sight.
Those who have been hardest hit are the most at risk. Care homes, in particular, have struggled to deal with the outbreak from the outset, often suffering shortages of staff and key PPE whilst trying to reassure residents.
Home carers have also faced unprecedented safety concerns and challenges whilst administering vital care.
But now that a solution is on the horizon, the question becomes when are people going to be vaccinated, rather than if.
Age is a Crucial Factor
Both the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary have gone on record as saying that age is the biggest priority when allocating vaccines in the early stages. A tiered system has been introduced, outlining the priority for vaccinations.
- Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
- All those aged 80+ and frontline health & social workers
- All those aged 75+
- All those aged 70+ and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
- All of those aged 65+
- All people aged 16-64 with underlying health problems
- Those aged 60+
- Those aged 55+
- Those aged 50+
This new vaccine for coronavirus was only approved on the 2nd of December, yet immunisations began on the 9th, with 91-year-old Margaret Keenan the first to receive the jab on what Matt Hancock dubbed ‘V-Day’.
Does Receiving Home Care Move You up the List?
Not currently, no. The order of priority is as above, regardless of whether or not a person is receiving care at home.
People will be given the coronavirus vaccine depending on age. So if your loved one is of the eligible age, they will be given it regardless of care circumstances.
It is important to remember that any carers who are entering homes to administer care will be given the jab as a priority, leading to a safer environment for your loved one.
When Will My Loved one Receive Their Jab?
The UK is the first country in the world to approve the groundbreaking vaccine and as such anyone receiving care here is already near the front of the queue.
However, as this is the largest role out of a vaccine ever undertaken in this country, it will take time. According to the prime minister, we will be many months into 2021 before enough of the population has been immunised for it to have an effect, with Easter set as a cautious target.
Despite this time scale, people at risk and high on the priority list will, of course, be immunised sooner, although any specific dates are currently speculation.
Homecare During Coronavirus
We have seen an increase in the use of our home care services during the pandemic, particularly when it became apparent the UK was entering into a second wave.
Despite this, our teams responsible for live-in care and domiciliary care have been able to continue to operate safely and effectively.
If you or someone you know is considering care options, then you can read about Sova’s process and specialist care services. For more information, please head to our blog, our FAQ page or contact us today. You can also find information regarding financial care and funding.
It’s important to remember that the situation surrounding COVID is ever changing. Everything in this blog post was correct at the time of writing.