Biden’s vaccination plan includes undocumented immigrants

During President Biden’s first week in office, his administration created several strategies and action plans to mitigate the impact of the health crisis caused by the global Coronavirus pandemic on multiple sectors.

To improve the current situation and protect the local population, the Biden government focused on expanding the national vaccination project and offering immunization to the populations most vulnerable to COVID-19 such as healthcare workers, elderly people, essential workers and individuals with underlying health conditions that make them more likely to catch the virus.

Therefore, the current administration of the US introduced the “National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness,” which outlines protocols to follow in order to stimulate national immunization and gradually reduce the sanitary risk.

It’s no secret that President Biden has a different view than former President Trump when it comes to immigrant communities. In fact, in the vaccination project, the Biden government also included foreigners currently residing in the US without legal documentation, stating that it “is committed to ensuring that safe, effective, cost-free vaccines are available to the entire U.S. public—regardless of their immigration status.”

Other than that, on February 1, 2021, the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) stated that undocumented immigrants will not be detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) or any other federal entity in or near vaccination centers.

House member criticizes Biden’s vaccination project

Steve Scalise, a Republican member of the US House of Representatives criticized the Biden administration for including undocumented immigrants in the national vaccination program, stating that access to COVID-19 vaccines is currently limited and allowing undocumented foreigners to access the program would leave American citizens behind.

Scalise openly stated, “Now (the President is) saying that people who came here illegally can jump ahead of other Americans who have been waiting to get the vaccine.” Adding to that, one of his spokespersons also stated that local citizens lose the opportunity to receive the vaccine every time an undocumented immigrant receives the dose.

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HCPs support Biden to include undocumented immigrants in vaccination project

On February 10, Physician’s Weekly, an association of health care professionals (HCPs), published a report analyzing the controversy between Biden’s vaccination project and comments from Rep. Steve Scalise.

The report reveals that Scalise has received multiple criticisms from several HCPs because he is missing the main point of the vaccination program, which is to immunize all people residing in the US. Otherwise, the country might not be able to overcome the current crisis.

Adding to that, one of the HCPs states that Biden’s project includes people most vulnerable to COVID-19 such as healthcare workers or elderly. He states that “The line is not drawn by your immigration or legal status (…) It’s drawn by your vulnerability, your potential for exposure and your risk.”

The report concludes that Rep. Scalise “was misrepresenting Biden’s policy” by stating that undocumented immigrants would take priority over American citizens in the vaccination project. Adding to that, it is important to avoid misconceptions when it comes to the healthcare system and immigration to lessen social division and discrimination.

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