Family carers devastated after being left out of changes to vaccine priority list
Yesterday the government announced people with underlying conditions that put them at high risk have been moved up the priority list. By Michelle Hennessy Wednesday 24 Feb 2021, 2:21 PM Feb 24th 2021, 2:21 PM 20,427 Views 40 Comments
David Nolan is a carer for his son Ollie.
David Nolan is a carer for his son Ollie.
FAMILY CARERS HAVE said the government is ignoring them and the role they play in society after changes to the vaccination priority list announced yesterday failed to include any mention of which phase these carers should be included in.
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Recent research from Family Carers Ireland has shown that almost 67,000 young people (aged between 10 and 17) across the country provide regular unpaid care for loved ones. Because of this, they are at greater risk than their peers of emotional and mental difficulties.
Annette Collins says her son Sean can be included in those figures as the 17-year-old has spent his entire life helping her to care for his older sister who has severe mental difficulties a duty which he carries out without complaint.
“When Kathryn (19) was younger and his dad (Donal) was working long hours, Sean was invaluable,” she says.
“I don’t think I even realised that he was doing a caring role as when he was young it would just involve keeping an eye while I had a shower or prepared dinner.
Calls to urgently vaccinate family carers against Covid
Updated / Thursday, 21 Jan 2021
22:06
The group that represents Ireland s family carers has called for their urgent vaccination against Covid-19.
It comes as one mother who is caring for her son has spoken about how difficult the last year has been trying to keep the virus out of their home.
Ten-year-old Martin Gibson O Gara has a number of underlying issues, including cerebral palsy and a chronic lung condition, and he needs 24-hour care.
His mother Sarah Gibson O Gara said they have been trying to keep Covid out of the house for months.
They wear full PPE when with him, but his parents still worry about contracting coronavirus.