Miami, Florida
Florida imposed a requirement to show proof of residency to vaccinate against Covid-19, in an effort to contain the call “vaccine tourismBut this does not allow thousands of undocumented immigrants, as well as homeless or low-income people, to remain immunized.
“It is very unfortunate that the consequence of this new regulation is leading to the exclusion of some of the most vulnerable people in our community, namely those who do not have documents,” Lily Ostrer, a family physician at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, told Friday. AFP. and member of the medical union CIR / SEIU.
Florida, a state marked culturally and economically by immigration – one in five residents was foreign-born – limited its Thursday vaccinations to permanent or temporary residents. The latter are called “hibernators” (migratory birds) because they only hibernate in this area of the American Southeast.
The decision came after cases of tourists from the United States or abroad traveling to the state – which is currently already vaccinating those over the age of 65 – were reported merely to be immunized, in a new phenomenon called “vaccine tourism.”
But although Florida has administered more than 1.3 million doses, the process is noted to be slow and chaotic.
Therefore, the warning has been signed by the head of Health Florida, Scott Rivkees, indicates that due to vaccine shortages, applicants must show proof of residency.
This can be a driver’s license, a utility bill or a letter from a bank.
But undocumented immigrants cannot hold a driver’s license Florida and in the absence of documentation, they often register public services in the name of a third party.
A study from August last year by the American Immigration Council showed that in Florida There are approximately 775,000 undocumented foreigners, representing 18% of the immigrant population.
In addition to them, homeless or extremely poor citizens can also be excluded from the vaccination.
– “It’s not a good health policy” –
Thomas Kennedy, coordinator of the Florida children’s rights organization immigrants United We Dream said the new measure “creates a cruel and deliberate barrier for many Florida residents, including undocumented immigrants, but also for many people without access to housing.”
They are also usually essential workers with a high risk of contracting coronavirus, because of their job and because in many cases they live with several people in small houses. Moreover, undocumented migrants have no right to public health.
“Access to the vaccine must be available to everyone regardless of where they live or their immigration status,” Kennedy told AFP.
Ostrer, the physician and union member, added that it makes no sense to leave a significant portion of the population out of the vaccination program.
“For vaccines to be effective, we need to vaccinate as many people as possible,” he said. “Any policy that excludes people from vaccination is not a good public health policy.”
“I understand the goal is to make a reservation vaccinations for Florida residents, but I don’t think they will achieve this by implementing this policy, ”said the doctor.
As of the beginning of the month, the local press has reported that some tourists benefited from Florida’s vaccination program. The Tampa Bay Times reported on Thursday that there were about 41,000 people vaccinated in Florida without being residents.
Ostrer also highlighted the social inequality that means that the “hibernators”, who usually have second homes in Florida, will have access to the vaccine thanks to this new facility, while many essential workers living in the state will not be qualified to use it.
Finally, the residency requirement also places an unnecessary burden on vaccine administration staff, who are already overwhelmed by the daunting task of vaccinating a population of 21.5 million as soon as possible.
Kenneth Goodman, director of the Florida Bioethics Network, asked in comments to the Tampa Bay Times that vaccine providers should be responsible “to begin reviewing, collecting, and investigating this type of residency documentation.”