Vaccine booking for carers ‘right approach’ despite abuse concerns

The vaccination programme was expanded in Northern Ireland on Friday to include all carers of any age.

But with no defined registry of carers in Northern Ireland, concerns were raised on BBC Radio Ulster on Monday that the system could be abused by people trying to skip the queue and get their vaccination before they are entitled.

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, who sits on the Stormont health committee, told the News Letter that while the system could be open to abuse she said people would likely “self-manage”.

“I think there has to be a degree to which people self-manage this.

“People who are the lifeline to an elderly family member, who do their shopping for them or prescriptions, they are the people who will be included as carers.

“I think the Department have got this right, actually, in the sense that if those indivudal carers were to fall ill the person they are caring for could be very vulnerable.”

She continued: “On the reverse of that, there are issues about checks and balances because a lot of carers aren’t in receipt of carer’s allowance.

“That’s something that myself and Kellie Armstrong are trying to campaign for — a registry of carers in each area.

“But that isn’t in place now and there isn’t going to be the time to get a proper, robust and comprehensive carers’ register in place. I think, on balance, people will be altruistic and only put themselves forward for a vaccine if they are satisfied they meet the criteria of carer.”

She added: “The head of the vaccine roll-out, Patricia Donnelly, will be at the health committee on Thursday and I do intend to ask her about this issue.”

Another committee member, UUP MLA Alan Chambers, said: “Like all things, maybe it is open to abuse, but quite honestly I don’t think there’s that many people who would be of a mind to do that.

“I’m certainly seeing or hearing no evidence of it being abused in a major way.”

He continued: “People should only book if they are entitled, but if you are in a category that is entitled then get your appointment and go and get it done.”