16 and 17 year old unpaid carers who have been identified through DWP or Local Authority data are eligible for boosters and are able to book booster appointments through the national booking system or to attend walk-in services.

Previously, national letters have been sent to 16 and 17 year old unpaid carers which they have been able to use as evidence of their eligibility for a booster at vaccination sites. In future this group may now only get an SMS message or email prompting them to arrange their booster vaccination. 

The SMS message sent to 16/17 year old unpaid carers will not reference their eligibility as an unpaid carer but should still be accepted as evidence of their eligibility if they present at a vaccination site including walk-in services.  The national invite SMS is already accepted as evidence of eligibility for boosters for 16/17 year olds who are clinically at risk. 

The current SMS message is:

“You can now book your COVID-19 booster vaccination. Visit https://www.nhs.uk/book-covid-booster or call 119. Choose a time and a place that suits you. You can also get your booster at a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination service without an appointment, 91 days (3 months) or more after your second dose. Find a walk-in service offering booster doses near you at https://www.nhs.uk/vaccine-walk-in.”

If a 16/17 year old books a booster appointment through the NBS it should be assumed they have been able to do so due to their eligibility through being clinically at risk or through being an unpaid carer.

Following recent JCVI guidance we expect to give a booster to all 16/17 year olds shortly.  In advance of that, we want to ensure 16/17 year olds who are already eligible as unpaid carers are able to get their vaccinations.