***For Immediate Release***
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Contact: Magdalena Cazarez
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119
C: (402) 504-0074
mcazarez@neappleseed.org
Every Nebraskan must have equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of status
Lincoln, NE – On Monday, Nebraska Governor Ricketts announced the state’s plan for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. In response to a reporter question, the Governor said the state would limit access to the vaccine for certain groups of people, based on their immigration status.
Nebraska Appleseed’s Senior Programs Director James Goddard issued the following statement:
For months, Nebraskans doing essential work have kept our tables full and our communities afloat. Now that a vaccine has arrived, we must work day and night to ensure every community member has equitable access to the vaccine as quickly as possible.
To limit access to the vaccine to our neighbors based on their immigration status is inhumane. It also frustrates public health efforts, undermining the goal of wide-spread immunity against this deadly virus.
It is unclear whether the Governor has the legal authority to place such limitations on accessing the vaccine, and we will be evaluating this in the coming days.
At this time, we should come together as a community and work toward ensuring everyone is healthy and has access to the vaccine, regardless of who they are or where they live. Anything short of this is shortsighted and undermines our ability to get through this crisis.
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