Access to vaccines Ethical considerations linked to the introduction of vaccine passports are being debated, as they will clearly disadvantage populations unable or unwilling to access vaccination. Additional risks that may arise from excluding stateless persons As highlighted above, mitigation efforts and vaccination plans need to be as inclusive as possible of all persons residing in a country in order to sustainably slow the transmission of the virus. Excluding certain groups carries the risk of ongoing transmission not only among these populations but all groups. In addition to public health considerations, exclusion from vaccination programs risks inflaming xenophobia and stigmatization as excluded groups may be perceived to be at higher risk of contracting the virus. Being feared as a source of potential infection may also further inhibit excluded groups’ access to services and livelihoods. Good practices A number of national vaccination strategies do not differentiate between residents based on legal status or nationality: ■ ■ ■ Implications of the introduction of vaccine passports As governments around the world explore the roll out of vaccine passports in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some governments have already introduced such documentation schemes. The premise of a vaccine passport is straightforward: a document indicates that a person has been vaccinated so that he/ she can accordingly engage more freely in public life and travel without adding to the spread of the virus. Ethical considerations linked to the introduction of such schemes are being debated, as they will clearly disadvantage populations unable or unwilling to access vaccination. The health crisis has already exacerbated the vulnerability and marginalization of stateless groups and vaccine passports will make things worse still for any stateless populations unable to be vaccinated. There is a clear risk of a vicious cycle by which vulnerable groups excluded from vaccination are made even more socio-economically and generally vulnerable, including to severe consequences of the virus, as a result of exclusion. 5 ■ ■ In Spain, all persons residing on the territory, including migrants in an irregular administrative situation, are included in the national vaccination strategy. The strategy also establishes that migrants in detention are a priority group. Stateless persons in Portugal are included in the national vaccination plan on an equal footing with nationals, per priority categories established based on health risk. In Turkmenistan, both refugees and stateless persons are included in the COVID-19 national vaccination plan. In March 2021, those falling under the public health-based prioritization criteria, including undocumented stateless persons, began being invited for vaccination. In Lebanon, stateless persons are included in national vaccination plans and can register for vaccines. Following advocacy efforts, a statelessness option was added to the required nationality field in the online registration platform, enabling stateless persons to register. In Kuwait, the authorities issued a decision in December 2020 that in principle allows all persons on the territory to access medical services linked to COVID-19, including vaccination. Individuals who have not regularized their status with the government and/or do not possess an ID card are covered by this decision. A good practice was set in the United Kingdom where a firewall was created between vaccination and immigration services. Everyone is entitled to the vaccine free of charge. Undocumented migrants, including stateless people, will be able to receive the vaccine and their data will not be shared with the police. To encourage undocumented persons to get the THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON STATELESS POPULATIONS