Adults in the Midlands with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are being urged to come forward for their COVID-19 vaccination. The group was added to vaccine priority group six earlier this year, alongside people with learning disabilities.

People with a mental health illness and their carers should receive an invitation from their General Practice to get their COVID-19 vaccine. This might be by letter, text message or phone, or a combination of all three.

Adults with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or any mental illness that causes severe functional impairment are eligible now, whatever their age, because they are at greater risk from the virus. People who care for them – whether professionally or in an unpaid/family carer role – are also eligible and are being urged to come forward soon.

For people who have any concerns about the vaccine, health professionals at their local GP practice or any other vaccination service are happy to answer any questions they have when they attend their appointment, and in the meantime the NHS website has lots of useful information.

Government guidance defines serious mental illness as including people with:

• a diagnosis of schizophrenia
• a diagnosis of bipolar disorder
• any mental health illness that causes severe functional impairment. This means any mental health problem that has a big impact on your daily life and makes it hard to do day-to-day activities.

When people book their vaccination, they can say if there are any reasonable adjustments which will help or support them. These could be things like:

• A longer appointment time or one later in the day.
• Somewhere quiet to sit while waiting for the appointment.
• Support and reassurance if people are afraid of needles.
• A relative or friend being present at the vaccination appointment.

Helen Wadley, CEO for Birmingham Mind, said:

“I would urge anyone who has schizophrenia, bipolar or a serious mental illness to take up the opportunity to be vaccinated. If people are not sure if they fall into this category, then please speak to your GP or your mental health team to ask for advice. The vaccination really helps to protect you from serious illness and it helps reduce transmission. There is good evidence that people with serious mental illness are at increased risk from COVID and we are working hard to ensure that all the people we support take up the vaccine.”

Giles Tinsley, Head of Mental Health, at NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands, said:

“I would urge everyone with a serious mental illness and those who care for someone who does to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Most health and care workers have already had at least their first dose and are benefiting from the protection that it brings – we want unpaid carers to have that protection too so they can continue to be there for the people they love.

“If anyone is unsure whether their mental health illness makes them eligible, I would encourage them to contact their General Practice, or mental health team to discuss their condition and vaccination.

“Thanks to the amazing efforts of local NHS teams – as well as the volunteers and partners they are working with – most people who are at higher risk of being seriously ill if they catch COVID have now had their vital first dose. The vaccines are both safe and effective, so if anybody who is eligible but hasn’t been vaccinated yet, I’d urge them to go online or call 119 and get themselves booked in.”

People who are eligible are invited to go online to the national booking service to arrange a jab at a time and location that is convenient for them. The booking service can be accessed at http://www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. Those who cannot go online can call 119 free of charge.