Special Populations-Undocumented Immigrant Communities

For undocumented immigrant communities, fears of deportation practices at vaccination sites are of legitimate concern and draw individuals away from vaccination opportunities [ 1] even though the Department of Homeland Security deems vaccination and testing sites as “protected areas” [ 2]. For those within this community that do become infected and ill with the Coronavirus, access to healthcare is limited due to financial, health insurance, and public benefit restrictions [ 3]. Further, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Federal public benefits, including welfare, health, unemployment, housing, and food assistance [ 4]. Ultimately, regardless of income, insurance coverage, or benefit eligibility, undocumented peoples face various barriers to vaccination including disparities in socioeconomic status, large household sizes, isolated living conditions, as well as limited English proficiency and health literacy [ 5].

WI Foreign-Born Population Map


Source: Wisconsin Foreign-Born Population as a Share of Total Population by County
Long, D., Malia, J., & Ewald, M. (2017, November 20). Wisconsin’s foreign-born population.https://apl.wisc.edu/data-briefs/foreign-born-wi-17


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