 All
migrants living in UK eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
Send a link to a friend
[February 08, 2021]
LONDON (Reuters) - Migrants living in
Britain will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines regardless of
whether they have the legal right to live and work in the country, the
government said on Monday, adding that getting the shot would not
trigger immigration checks.
|
|
 The Daily Mail newspaper has reported that those living in Britain
who entered the country illegally would be encouraged to register
with their local doctor so they could be vaccinated when their turn
comes.
Asked about that report, which described the policy as an "amnesty",
a government spokeswoman said: "Coronavirus vaccines will be offered
to everyone living in the UK free of charge, regardless of
immigration status.
"Those registered with a GP (General Practitioner) are being
contacted at the earliest opportunity and we are working closely
with partners and external organisations to contact those who are
not registered with a GP to ensure they are also offered the
vaccine."
The government said patients undergoing vaccinations, treatment or
testing for the coronavirus were not subject to immigration status
checks.
Britain has already given first vaccine shots to more than 12
million people. The vaccination programme is running ahead of its
European peers, in part due because Britain was the first to approve
shots from Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
[to top of second column] |
 Britain's vaccination strategy
makes no formal priority of migrants, instead
focusing on reaching the eldest and most
vulnerable first.
However, some European countries have made a
priority of vaccinating refugees, given the risk
that new arrivals being housed in asylum centres
could spread infection.
In Germany, asylum seekers have been included in
the second group to be vaccinated - along with
people over 70 and police officers - and should
start getting shots in March, according to the
government's vaccination strategy.
(Reporting by William James; editing by Michael
Holden)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content |
