New NHS guidance states “JCVI also determined that those with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or any mental illness that causes severe functional impairment are within cohort 6, and we would encourage GPs to takea similar approach for this group of people, to that being proposed for learning disability, working in partnership with secondary care mental health services and VCS partners to ensure appropriate outreach mechanisms are in place.”
From NSUN – “we share members’ concerns about the broad but vague nature of the definition “any mental illness that causes severe functional impairment” and the fact it is now up to local NHS services to ensure they reach out to anyone who might be eligible along with severely stretched VCS organisations. We will have a chance to feed back to the NHS communications team soon so please feel free to share any experiences with us via info@nsun.org.uk (any concerns passed on would be anonymised).
Cohort 6 are the Group being called for the vaccination NOW
Note that unpaid CARERS are also in Cohort 6.
You can book online at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ or wait to be contacted by your GP. Contact your GP if they do not or may not know of your illness or that you are a carer (not to ask directly for a vaccination appointment).
