Homeless, migrants, Roma without access to Covid-19 vaccination

Just a few days before the government opens its mass vaccination program against Covid-19 to the general population, authorities are concerned about tens of thousands of people whose social characteristics could prevent them from getting the jab.

More than 50,000 people, most of whom do not have a social security number (AMKA) do not have access to the public health system and therefore cannot or do not want to be vaccinated. These includes the homeless, failed asylum seekers and Roma.

Official data show that 732 homeless people are accommodated in dormitories around Greece, while another 54 are waiting for an available bed. George Stamatis, the Labor Ministry's General Secretary for Social Solidarity and the Elimination of Poverty, sent a request to the National Organization of Public Health (EODY) on Dec.14 for the priority vaccination of the homeless and the 213...