In order to vaccinate the largest number of people living in the national territory against covid-19, the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), as executing agency of the national vaccination strategy, immunizes migrants (regular and irregular) and refugee applicants who comply with the requirements established in the current regulations endorsed by the National Vaccination and Epidemiology Commission, emphasized the Presidential House of Costa Rica, to clarify confusion and clear doubts about the new group that has access to that country to immunization against the virus. “There is no vaccine tourism,” they insist.
This initiative is developed jointly by the Ministry of Health and the United Nations System. The process is carried out according to what is regulated in the Manual of procedures for the execution of vaccination against COVID-19 in the health establishments of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund in its version 10, in its requirements section.
Thus, migrants with regular status, refugees and refugee applicants, must present their identification documents (DIMEX – residence card-, work permit, refugee card, refugee applicant card, special category of complementary protection, SITLAM card , special category of worker in the agricultural sector, Ngäbe-Buglé dependent person card, cross-border worker card, as well as DIDI), or the UNHCR certification indicating that the refugee application process was carried out prior to September 15, 2021 .
Migrants with irregular status must demonstrate in the health area that corresponds to them, according to place of residence, their rootedness in the country through the analysis of the local level of the health facilities of the CCSS. Some examples of the evidence that can be presented for the rooting analysis are:
● Be included in the EDUS Family File
● Have a record of children enrolled in educational centers
● Note from the place where you work that indicates the period of time worked
● Property records nationwide
● Among others.
For any of the above cases, if the person has not previously used the services of the CCSS, they must carry out the due process of identification in the validation offices of rights and medical records in the corresponding health area and later go to the vaccination center. The condition of insurance is not a requirement for vaccination.
All the details of the migratory categories and the requirements can be found in the Manual of Procedures for the execution of vaccination against covid-19 available in the Caja Costarricense website.
Read also: Three reasons why you should get vaccinated against covid-19
Data from the Health Statistics area of the CCSS show that as of September 16, 2021, 408,454 doses of the vaccine against covid-19 have been applied to foreigners, of these 280,812 correspond to first doses and 127,642 to second doses .
Nicaraguan, Venezuelan, Colombian, American, Salvadoran, Chinese, Panamanian, Honduran, Peruvian and Cuban people are among the more than 23 nationalities of migrants who have been inoculated against COVID-19.
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