THE right to health is a basic human right enjoyed by everyone. The access to healthcare, including vaccines, is an essential aspect of the right to health. The vulnerable communities, the refugees, migrant and undocumented workers and stateless persons face the risk of falling through the cracks in the current health system for many reasons including their status and nationality, and inability to afford the healthcare costs.
Thus, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) urges the Government to provide free COVID-19 vaccine for all including the vulnerable communities, refugees, migrants, stateless persons, the detainees in the detention centres and prison inmates, without discrimination based on their nationality status.
SUHAKAM notes that the Government has established the Special Committee on Ensuring Access to COVID-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) in 2020 to look into the matters relating to the procurement and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the updates provided by the Government in December 2020, the current supply of the COVID-19 vaccine will allow 82.8% of Malaysians to receive the vaccine.
Meanwhile, it was reported that there are approximately 2.5 million documented migrant workers in the country, and this does not include the number of undocumented migrant workers as there is no clear data on this. In addition, there have been cases of COVID-19 infections in the detention centres and prisons. It is therefore important to take this into consideration when the Government distributes the COVID-19 vaccine.
“COVID-19 does not discriminate; it affects everyone including these vulnerable communities. SUHAKAM takes note of the news reports in the first week of January 2021 that JKJAV planned to suggest free vaccination for migrant workers in the country,” SUHAKAM said in a statement.
“In this regard, SUHAKAM hopes that JKJAV will look into this matter and ensure free COVID-19 vaccination for all including migrant and undocumented workers, refugees, stateless persons and the detainees in the detention centres and prison inmates.” – Jan 27, 2021
