Since last week that “those who are here illegally can come forward to receive a vaccine,” Ali , a Pakistani delivery driver in London, has been discussing the so-called amnesty with other migrants in a WhatsApp group. In the chat of more than 80 people – all of whom have precarious immigration status – Ali says that “everyone is scared to go and get the vaccine,” despite the government’s assurances.
These feelings reflect research published recently by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), which found that 43% of the migrants surveyed fear accessing healthcare during the coronavirus pandemic because of treatment charges or having their data shared with the Home Office – with data sharing being the predominant fear.