Vaccine Access for Undocumented Workers

This article by the Toronto Star highlights the concerns of undocumented workers in regards to vaccine access. Many undocumented workers are afraid that by getting vaccinated they could end up losing their job or being deported. Getting vaccinated would involve providing personal information to public health officials and many workers fear it may be shared with immigration authorities, resulting in detention or removal from Canada.

According to the Toronto Star, anyone booking a vaccine appointment in Ontario is currently required to present an OHIP card or some other form of government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s licence or passport. 

​“We need a clear plan, otherwise we’ll have a very large number of people who will not be vaccinated — especially in the GTA — and that’s a problem from a public health perspective,” said Denise Gastaldo, a Professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health who has researched undocumented workers in Ontario.