Foreigners confirmed eligible for free COVID-19 vaccine in Mexico
Mexico’s federal government has confirmed that foreigners residing in the country are entitled to free COVID-19 vaccines.
This policy was confirmed via email to Yucatán Magazine by Olivia Baker Gómez from the office of Yucatán’s governor.
Uncertainty surrounded the issue after users on social media reported that some vaccination sites had denied inoculations to individuals on the basis of nationality.
On a Facebook group for foreigners, a resident from Canada suggested the government could be favoring the segment of the population that can vote.
Misunderstandings were likely the result of poor communication between local and federal authorities, an official told Yucatán Magazine over the phone.
Earlier: Mexico’s vaccination site crashes again as doses run out
Voter ID cards, known as INEs, are the most common form of identification in Mexico. As these ID cards are only available to Mexican nationals, authorities who require them effectively shut out all foreign nationals.
In Yucatán, AstraZeneca vaccines are currently being offered to people over 60 in Valladolid, Motul and Conkal.
It is unknown when vaccination efforts will begin in cities such as Mérida, Progreso or Telchac, where the largest numbers of foreign nationals in Yucatán reside. Several expats and snowbirds have flown to their home countries just to get vaccinated.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer and adventure leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds multimedia, philosophy, and translation degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada and Norway.
