COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

This is for those who are not familiar with situation regarding the availability of vaccinations for foreigners living in these glorious islands.

Being well over 60years of age I enquired at the Marikina Office For Senior Citizens Affairs about vaccinations for a spouse of a Filipina.
The response was that only Philippine Citizens by Birth, Naturalised or Dual Citizen are eligible for vaccinations.

This morning I sent the following email to Her Majesty's Embassy in Manila;

"British Citizens (particularly those classed as Senior Citizens) who are residing in the Philippines have no access to COVID19 vaccinations.
Understandably the Philippine government is giving it’s citizens priority.
As the United Kingdom will probably donate vaccines to the Philippines either nation to nation to via WHO or similar, what plans does the Government of the United Kingdom have to protect it’s citizens? "

To which I received the expected automated response which included "The Embassy is working closely with the Philippines Government and local governments to ensure equitable access to vaccines for British Nationals resident in the Philippines.

The details of the roll-out plan are still being finalised, but the Philippine Department of Health has issued an online Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)on vaccine-related queries. You may also wish to contact your Local Government Unit to seek an update on their plans.

There are no plans to roll out the UK’s NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme to British nationals living abroad. Wherever possible British nationals who are resident here should aim to be vaccinated in the Philippines. We will share information on local vaccines rollouts on our travel advice pages and social media platforms as they are announced. Please sign up to get email notifications when our travel advice pages are updated."

In conclusion nothing has changed in respect of support and concern of its citizens in foreign lands.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

From a quick Google It seems that in Spain the government is saying everyone resident can get one, although there are some doubts about how. Expats will.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

British embassy has not changed in over 40 years, in Iran in 1979 after the troubles kicked off we decided to contact the British embassy on how was the best way to get out of the country, only to receive a recorded message that "Unfortunately there is no one here at present that can attend to your inquiry", basically they had all fled leaving us to escape which ever way we could. We were helped by an Iranian fisherman who eventually did recon that our government assistance was probably worse than theirs. Most likely the only way of getting a vaccine here will be with the appearance of your wallet.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

I'm based in Saudi. Vaccine is available to all free of charge via registration through the government health ministry app. I know that in many countries, especially poorer ones this isn't possible.

For expats in the PPPs is there the possibility of paying privately? Are private hospitals allowed to provide that service currently?

Otherwise, I guess people will have to stay safe, return to the UK to receive a jab, or travel to a place where it is available privately if they're that bothered by not having the vaccine.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

Travel to the UK? 10 days quarantine minimum in a hotel at what 150UKP per day if your lucky, plus cost of swabs and airfare. You are not serious.
Yes paying will be the most likely option when available. Perhaps in about four months.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

In Spain, any expat of whatever nationality who is registered with the public health system (if working and paying social security contributions, a pensioner whose public healthcare is funded by their home country, or if paying into the public health system via what's called the Convenio Especial) is being contacted and given vaccine appointments, when it is the turn of their age group, in exactly the same way as Spanish citizens are. I had my first Astra Zeneca jab last week, and my husband is having his first Moderna one today.

Originally there was a lot of uncertainty around how foreign residents who only have private health insurance would be able to access the vaccination programme. It mainly affects early retired people who have to provide proof of private health insurance in order to register as residents (which, in the case of UK citizens, they had to do even before Brexit). Within the last few weeks a system has been set up whereby they can register on a temporary basis, purely for vaccination purposes, at their local health centre by completing a form and supplying that together with their residence permit, copy of passport and their registration on their town's "padrón" (a register of all the inhabitants in a particular municipality), plus proof of their private health insurance poliicy. Judging from comments on social media it seems to be working well, although health centres are having to explain that people cannot register until the time for their age group to be vaccinated starts, as the temporary registration only lasts for 3 months.

That leaves those expats who, for whatever reason, have chosen not to register as residents or sign on the padrón, and have relied either on their EHIC (which is not valid for use by residents) or travelled back to their own country. I don't know how they will get access to vaccinations. Probably they'll be treated in the same way as any other undocumented migrant.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

That's why I said if you're that bothered by not having the vaccine. If you're not, then just wait like you said. Which was also why I asked if it was available privately yet.

I wouldn't quarantine just for the vaccine, but if traveling to the UK anyway worth getting.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

Thank you Lynn for that full report on Spain.

You seem to have almost got there, albeit with a hastily put together temporary scheme.

We have said before here that it makes public health sense to get as many people vaccinated as possible, especially as herd immunity will be difficult to achieve here.
But this is the land of the former motorcycle perspex barrier and the rule that you are violating if you drive a car solo maskless with the window down.

British Expats and Expats in general are much more important in Spain than they are here and presumably the Spanish government got some pressure from other European countries.
I don't think many foreign governments have much influence here at present, except maybe Russia and especially China. The country's leader is a volatile autocrat and they all tread carefully. They want to see some pushback to China and Britain needs its nurses even more now after Brexit and the pandemic.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

Exactly the same here in Hungary. We have both had our first shots (AZ & Pfizer, respectively), following the simplest of registration procedures. Interestingly, our GP shut down last autumn and although we arranged for my wife's prescriptions to be renewed privately we are currently without a GP. Nevertheless the system picked us up and allocated my wife to a GP and I was directed to the local university hospital.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

Personally I don't regard myself as being "important" to Spain. Contrary to popular belief, less than 2% of properties in Spain are bought by British citizens. I don't believe the Spanish Government's attitude to foreign residents and the vaccine is as the result of any pressure from other European countries, either. Pedro Sánchez said right from the start that all residents would receive vaccinations at the appropriate time, and although people are naturally anxious they must just be patient and wait until their turn (according to age) comes around. The idea of better-off people paying to get the vaccine would be a complete non-starter here, and in other European countries (although there have been regrettable incidents of people - mainly local politicians - using their positions to ensure that they, and in some cases their family and friends, got vaccinated sooner than they should have). I suppose, human nature being what it is, there will be similar occurrences everywhere.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

It's good to know Lynn that you have a clear statement from the top there that all residents are to be included in the vaccination plan. We haven't had any statement, though it's normal here either to be told nothing or something confusing. But I wouldn't expect anything else from Spain, an advanced European country with a socialist coalition government now in charge, a surprise to me. But even if the right in Spain assumed power I wouldn't expect anything else on this public health matter. Why I say that is partly because of the undeniable importance of foreign residents and holiday makers to the country, more precisely mostly living in and visiting the Costas. You yourself may not feel or see that, but foreign residents play an important part in those local economies. I am sure also in the local property markets. Certainly much more than 2%.

I don't think Expats here have anywhere near such an important presence in any area of the country. Many western Expats seem to prefer the Visayan Islands and like to retire there in the same way as they do to the Costa del Sol. I am not very familiar with the Visayas and so others here can correct me but I don't think they have anything like the Expat presence that can be observed in some Spanish coastal areas. Otherwise we only have concentrations of Chinese and Korean Expats in some areas. Mostly in business. They tend to be overlooked. In addition there are some short term resident Expats in Manila in well paid positions. Another difference is that we have far less younger Expats coming to start businesses than in Spain. Western Expats here mostly come for the availability of younger women.....as evidenced by many discussions on this thread! They settle down all over the country rather than concentrate, as in most cases there is a need, or it is convenient, to be near family.

So if a Spanish government ever tried to exclude Expats from vaccinations or anything else as important the in boxes of politicians and representatives in many European countries and the EU would fill up with complaints. If the issue persisted there are many ways pressure can be brought to bear. Because we are far away here, our Expat numbers are smaller, the type of Expat different and, for the reasons I gave at the end of my last post we ae generally just tolerated in the country and ignored when policies are being formulated. Though there may often be better treatment at a local level as one thing you often see here is inconsistency of policy implementation around the nation.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

The importance of foreign holidaymakers (nor second home owners) really isn't relevant to the question of foreign residents getting the Covid19 vaccinations, as they would never be vaccinated here anyway. I live quite near to the coast in Southern Spain (Andalucia) and in my municipality of over 80,000 people less than 10% of the residents are non-Spanish (and the two largest groups of foreign residents are Morroccan and Romanian, as they are for Spain as a whole).

Tell you what, I won't try to tell you how things are in the Phillipines, because I have no idea never having been there (although it's interesting to read your take on it) - and you don't try to tell someone who has lived in Spain for 15 years that you know better about things here.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

I think that over the next few years many foreign holiday makers, tour companies would like to know that a destination has tried to vaccinate as much of the population as possible.

Telling us about your one municipality in Andalucia doesn't change the facts that there are a lot of Expats residing in Spain. Thinking it was so obvious I didn't bother to look for numbers to put in my previous posts, but it seems to be around 5m. in total. Allowing for Moroccans etc and Americans leaves us with about 1m Brits, a few hundred thousand Germans plus some from other European countries, especially Scandinavia. They are mostly living in the Costas and Islands. An influential number surely? A useful back up if the government doesn't treat them well, yes?

I don't know why you want to downplay the importance of Expats in Spain. I visited Spain a few times in the 80s and 90s before settling in the Philippines. Drove once all the way from Catalonia to Andalucia. I saw some areas where there were many British residents first hand. Stayed with a cousin who lived in one. Even someone just staying in the UK and who followed the property market knew how popular Spain was, at least up to Brexit. Estate agents windows with many Spanish properties offered.

I think It is possible for someone not living in a country to know more about another country than someone who lives there. Either from previous experience and/or research. Other readers apart from you can judge if that applies here.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

Your "guesstimate" of 1m Brits living in Spain is well out - it was actually 300,987 in 2020.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/...%20Venezuelans.

The number of Americans is tiny, less than 48,000.

So certainly, other readers can judge if you or I know more about the country. "I think it's possible for someone not living in a country to know more about another country than someone who lives there", on the strength of a few visits, is one of the more ludicrous statements I've ever read on BE.

Re: COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS
 

Living in another country means assimilating the lifestyle, culture and understanding how day to day life works, Knowledge through research is an academic exercise. Ever wonder why so many university professors could not be a success outside academia.