Advocates call for COVID-19 vaccine access for migrant and undocumented workers
Posted February 24, 2021 8:05 am.
Last Updated February 24, 2021 8:08 am.
Advocates are calling for COVID-19 vaccine access for all migrant and undocumented workers in Canada.
The Migrant Rights Network says all levels of governments need to guarantee that the workers are able to get safely vaccinated.
While there have been promises made federally and in some provinces to ensure vaccines access, implementation has not happened. We need Vaccines for All migrants.
Sign and share: https://t.co/eHyADOzIAx pic.twitter.com/wrLm2jhWAo
— Migrant Rights Network #StatusForAll (@MigrantRightsCA) February 10, 2021
The group is expected to make the call in a news conference on Wednesday with medical and labour officials .
They say they are worried that thousands of workers will be left out of the countries vaccine plan because of their immigration status and they say the governments current rollout plan does not guarantee the workers will ever get safe access to the shot.
The Migrant Rights Network says the vaccine provision must be free, accessible not coercive and must not collect or share info with police or immigration.
The group petition ‘vaccines for all’ also calls for public education on migrant led vaccines, training for health care providers and full permanent immigration status for all.
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There has been no word from the provincial government on whether the temporary foreign workers at Ontario farms would be able to get vaccinated.
On Tuesday, Canada’s Federal Procurement Minister Anita Anand updated the country’s vaccine supply.
“This week, we are receiving a total of 643,000 doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines – the largest shipment to date,” said Anand. “The majority of which have already been delivered.”
Canada’s top public health official, Dr. Theresa Tam, said the priority vaccination of long-term care residents and front-line health-care workers is already having a positive effect.
Solicitor General Sylvia Jones said Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout could look different in each of its 34 public health units as the province receives more doses in the coming weeks.
Vaccines will be distributed to health units based on population, Jones said, and while they must follow the province’s plan to vaccinate priority populations first, they can also determine the best way to serve the needs of their communities.
As of 8:00 p.m. Monday, 585,707 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ontario and 247,042 people have been fully vaccinated.
With files from the Canadian Press
