Sheffield Green Party supports call for “Vaccines for All”

29th June 2021

Sheffield Green Party supports call for “Vaccines for All” Patients-Not-Passports-logo

Regarding Covid and vaccinations, the principle that “no-one is safe until everyone is safe” applies. Sheffield Green Party is joining the call for Vaccines for All, regardless of immigration status and without the need for ID or proof of address.

The Hostile Environment creates a culture of fear and discourages people from getting vaccinated.

Therefore, the Department of Health and Social Care must:

  1. Guarantee a firewall that prevents any patient information gathered by the NHS or Test and Trace being used for the purposes of immigration enforcement.

  2. End all Hostile Environment measures in the NHS, including charging for migrants, to combat the fear and mistrust these policies have created.

  3. Provide specific support to all GP surgeries to register everyone, including undocumented and under-documented migrants and those without secure accommodation, and ensure that all other routes to vaccination are accessible to everyone.

  4. Fund a public information campaign to ensure that communities impacted by the Hostile Environment are aware of their right to access the vaccine and the steps taken above.

Alexi Dimond, Green Councillor for Gleadless Valley said,

“Sheffield Green Party are proud to be a signatory to the demands put together by Patients Not Passports Campaign Network. A health worker’s duty is to care for their patients, not to act as border guards. The UK is one of the wealthiest countries in the world; so the denial of healthcare to anyone is a political choice. Healthcare must be available to all, free at the point of need. The Hostile Environment has a devastating impact on peoples’ health and the NHS itself, as treatment is often delayed until there is acute need, or worse.”

Maroof Raouf, Green Councillor for Nether Edge and Sharrow said,

“Sheffielders would be shocked at the trauma inflicted by the Hostile Environment, which discourages people from accessing healthcare. Helping everyone get vaccinated against Covid-19 keeps us all safe. The “Vaccines for All” campaign sets out how to do that. Hopefully the Department of Health and Social Care will follow their lead.”

ENDS

For more information please contact Alexi Dimond on 07766 541 528 or at alexi.dimond@sheffieldgreenparty.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Please see website for more details: The Call | Vaccines For All (vaccine for all.co.uk)