Living in the Shadows: Vaccine access uncertain for undocumented migrants

Living in the Shadows: Vaccine access uncertain for undocumented migrants

Syed Hussan, Migrant Workers Alliance

By Irish Mae Silvestre
The Philippine Reporter

When Lily arrived in Canada in 2014 as a care worker, she had hoped to become a permanent resident within a few years and reunite with her family. But after working several jobs and going through the immigration application process, Lily found herself out of status and undocumented.

“I didn’t realize that my journey towards getting my PR would still be out of reach seven years later,” she said. Lily was one of the speakers during the February 24 press conference by the Migrant Rights Network on vaccine denial to migrants.

The organization estimates that there are over 1.6 million people in Canada who don’t have permanent status. And for undocumented migrants like Lily, their already precarious status in Canada has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Worse still, she works at a senior care facility where she was recently denied the COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Danyaal Raza, Chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare

“Residents and staff received the two-dose vaccinations, but I haven’t because I don’t have an OHIP card,” she said. “I’m in the frontlines like everyone else… but while they’re now better protected from the virus spread, I am not.”

Despite government promises that vaccines will be universal, policies and practices have not changed, according to Syed Hussan, executive director at Migrant Workers Alliance.

“Vaccination must not require a health card or health coverage,” said Hussan during the online event. “Even when provinces like Ontario promised free access to emergency healthcare during COVID19, many hospitals and clinics continue to turn undocumented migrants away or charge them high fees.”

Since forms of identification are often required, many are hesitant to access healthcare for fear of being turned over to immigration enforcement.

“There have been numerous reports where undocumented people were turned over to immigration enforcement while accessing services,” said Hussan.

Unless these policies change, Dr. Danyaal Raza, board chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare, believes that many undocumented migrants may avoid receiving the vaccine altogether. “We need to assure those affected that their privacy will be respected and enforced, and this information will not be shared,” he said. “Those coordinating our vaccine rollout must also coordinate with migrant led organizations to ensure that migrants receive a COVID-19 vaccine in a safe and accessible environment without fear.”

Byron Cruz, Sanctuary Health and Migrant Rights Network

Temporary foreign workers also struggle with access to healthcare, according to Byron Cruz from Sanctuary Health & Migrant Rights Network. “Some provinces have a three-month waiting period for healthcare and, as a result, workers are getting sick,” he said. “There were workers repatriated while they were still sick with COVID-19.”

He added that unless the government makes the necessary policy changes, “thousands of workers will be infected again this year.”

During a phone interview with The Philippine Reporter, Marco Luciano, director of Migrante Alberta, said that the changes should be made by both the provincial and federal government.

“Immigration policies are regulated federally; however, healthcare services are regulated provincially and accessed provincially,” he said. “The province decides who gets what in terms of healthcare.”

A letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and provincial leaders was signed by 270 organizations and outlines the necessary measures that must be implemented in order to make vaccines more accessible for migrants and undocumented residents alike.

“Undocumented workers make up part of Canadian society and this needs to be acknowledged by the government,” said Lily. “The vaccine should be a basic human right for all who live here.”