UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS in the UK are being urged to register with GPs in order to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

The government claims taking the step will not affect their immigration status, as NHS trusts across the country have been told to undertake “no immigration status checks” on patients who come forward for a vaccination.

This latest announcement is part of plans to vaccinate as much of the population as possible, and ease the nation’s third lockdown.

Natalie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover, said: “Once people are in our country, it’s in all our interests to contain the virus. So, vaccinating everyone whose turn it is on public health grounds, in the end, will protect us all.”

The same measures are in place for anyone having a COVID-19 test or undergoing treatment for the virus.

Still, it has been made clear that taking the vaccine will not give immigrants permission to remain in the country.

Vaccine’s effectiveness against new variant

The news comes as a new study on a small group of participants suggests that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine does not protect against mild and moderate cases of the new South African variant of COVID-19.

However, the vaccination has fared better against the variant of the virus which emerged in the UK.

The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax vaccines have all been approved for use in the UK and are expected to be delivered.

Their effectiveness against new COVID-19 variants is still being tested.

So far, The NHS has administered 12 million doses of the vaccine and more than 100,000 people have died from coronavirus in the UK.

Black people dying less disproportionately from COVID-19

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) the risk of COVID-19-related death for Black African and Black Caribbean groups has reduced.

You can read the full report here, but it is important to note it has not yet been peer reviewed.

Dr Kamlesh Kunti, a Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine said: “In second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, there is now no difference in mortality between white and black ethnicities.”

Churches urge people to take vaccine

Recently, the pastor of the UK’s biggest black majority church, Agu Irukwu of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, spoke out to encourage vaccine take up within the Black and minority ethnic community and to dispel misinformation.

Speaking to The Observer, he said: “Our message is to encourage our congregations to take the vaccines, and to provide information that answers the many legitimate questions raised.”