FAKE: Refugees will not be vaccinated against COVID-19

Although refugees are not explicitly mentioned in the National Vaccination Plan announced on 4 December 2020, Bulgaria is one of the countries where refugees and asylum seekers will have access to COVID-19 vaccination under the terms and conditions for Bulgarian citizens, as announced by Dr. Angel Kunchev, National Health Inspector, during the National Forum "Protection and Integration of Refugees in the COVID-19 Context" which took place on 18 November 2020. Voluntary vaccination will take place in 5 phases. The first people to receive the vaccine are medical staff, followed by beneficiaries and staff of social services (institutions), pedagogical specialists and staff of mink farms. Thirdly, personnel involved in maintaining the functioning of basic public life activities will be vaccinated, followed by elderly people aged 65 and over and, finally, people with concomitant chronic diseases and vulnerable groups due to the high epidemiological risk of infection related to their living conditions and lifestyle. Refugees and migrants falling into these groups will be vaccinated in accordance with the above categorization. According to preliminary information, those willing to have the vaccine, will be able to register with their general practitioner (family doctor).  The Head of the National Vaccination Committee is the Director General of the Bulgarian Red Cross, Prof. Dr. Krasimir Gigov. As the Red Cross has vast experience in working with refugees in Bulgaria, knowing their needs and concerns, there is a high chanc...