Under current eligibility guidelines, paid and unpaid primary caregivers are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine- even if they live in the same household as the person they care for. Caregivers are classified as healthcare workers and are included in the highest priority group to protect Minnesotans with disabilities and others who are vulnerable to the pandemic. Eligible unpaid caregivers include primary caregivers who work in similar capacities as Personal Care Assistants, Direct Support Professionals, and nurses for people with complex medical needs.
The Minnesota Department of Health encourages caregivers to sign up as soon as possible for vaccine appointments using the Vaccine Connector Tool. There are appointments available now.
Unfortunately, the connector tool does not have a specific option for primary caregivers, but here is how you can sign up:
- Under demographic details, indicate you are a first responder who provides direct patient care.
- For the question “if you are employed, can you work from home?”, you can select “no.”
- For the question about what industry you work in, select the “other” box and write in “primary caregiver.”
You can also reach out to your local public health department to see if they are scheduling appointments. When you go to your appointment, you might be asked to show that you are the caregiver of a person with complex medical needs. Here are some examples of what you can do:
- If you provide care through Community Directed Community Support (CDCS), you might provide paperwork showing inclusion in that plan.
- You could also provide a letter either from a physician or other involved party- a sample letter is available on the MDH website.
To learn more about who is getting vaccinated now and when you will be eligible, please visit the Minnesota Department of Health.