ARCHIVED - Covid vaccination plans for foreigners will be decided by regional governments in Spain
The Spanish Health Ministry has failed to draw up any nationwide criteria for vaccinating people from abroad, leaving the regions to come up with their own plans
There is some concern among Spain’s international population regarding when and where they will receive their coronavirus vaccinations, as some have for the time being been left in limbo by the health authorities.
The Andalusian authorities put the cat among the pigeons this week by announcing that the region will not be vaccinating anybody who isn’t registered with the Andalusian Health System (SAS) and proclaiming that those affected would either have to return to their countries of origin for vaccination or contact their consulates to regularise their situation.
Covid-19 vaccines are not currently available through private health insurance companies.
Other regions appear to be more understanding, however, with the authorities in Murcia and Valencia both quickly pointing out that they’re working on plans to ensure that the entire population is vaccinated. The problem, explained Juan José Pedreño, the head of the Murcia Health Department, is that the central government has given no clear nationwide criteria on the topic, leaving the regions to work it out for themselves. This, he said, has left many out who should already have received their vaccines such as people over the age of 80.
There are some 222,000 people from other countries, including more than 15,000 from the UK, registered as living in Murcia, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). At the moment, access to coronavirus vaccines appears to depend on having a Regional Health Identification Code (CIAS) number rather than being registered on the ‘padrón’ (town hall residents register). Those with a ‘health card’ who are fully registered with the health system should have no problem receiving their vaccination and will be contacted by the health services once it’s their turn, Pedreño said, and his department is studying how to make sure that those who don’t have cards get their injections too, as the goal is to ensure that everyone is included.
Foreign residents in the Valencian region look likely to be able to expect something similar, as the regional president, Ximo Puig, has said that British expats (and people from other countries) will all get their vaccines regardless of whether they are registered with the regional health system or not. Those registered will be contacted when it’s their group’s turn, and the Valencian health department is also working out how to deal with people not registered on the Spanish public health system. However, Puig said, the order this group will be vaccinated in has yet to be decided.
The principal problem for British nationals lies with those who technically shouldn´t even be here; those who have failed to register their residency in Spain before Brexit even though they live here full-time and are not "in the system". There are also many British nationals here who have applied for residency but are not yet "in the system" and of course, there are early retirees who are paying for private health insurance and are not technically entitled to a vaccine through these schemes.
Given the restrictions on travel between Spain and the UK due to the current pandemic, and the exit of the UK from the EU meaning that 90 days is the maximum period British nationals who are not resident in Spain or have not applied for residency should be in the country, most of those who do not fit into these 2 criteria, should have returned to the UK by now and receive their vaccines in their country of origin.
Spaniards from other parts of Spain living in Murcia and Valencia will not have the same problem as long as they are registered with their local health centres, as they are already registered on the Spanish national health system. Those who are elsewhere (at second homes, for example) when the turn for their corresponding vaccination group comes around have been advised to return to their permanent homes if possible or to contact the health authorities for advice on how to proceed.
At the moment, the lack of vaccines means that dozens of British residents for example, who should have notified their medical centres back in the UK that they have moved full-time to Spain and are no longer resident in the UK, are receiving notifications and appointments for their vaccine to be administered back in the UK!
At the moment the roll-out of vaccinations in Spain is still proceeding very slowly and as of last night, only 4.2 million vaccines had been administered across Spain,with 1.3 million people having received two doses.
Although the rate of vaccination varies considerably from region to region, many regions have completed vaccinations (both doses) in care homes, and have vaccinated the most vulnerable, and are gradually working down through the age groups of their population with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and using the Astrazeneca for health personnel, police, teachers, firemen, pharmacists etc.
Most regions have vaccinated the 90+ age group and are working on the 80+ group, or even younger in some cases.
Given the current supply of vaccines, it's unlikely that those in the 60+ age group will be vaccinated before May/June, although the supply of vaccines is due to increase substantially in the second quarter and mass roll-outs are planned in most regions depending on the supply situation.
Next week it is hoped that the EMA will approve the Janssen vaccine, giving Spain a fourth source of supply.