Thread by @19thnews

🧵 Biden has vowed to ensure that all people, regardless of immigration status, can get a COVID-19 vaccine, but making sure people trust that promise poses its own challenge.

"My worry is maybe we give information, and they give that information to ICE." bit.ly/39jKCJF

For Jenny Prado, an undocumented worker in Philadelphia, getting the vaccine is imperative. Her job in home care means she never left the pandemic frontlines.

She's also without the critical safety net of health insurance due to her immigration status. bit.ly/39jKCJF

Like many home care workers, Prado earns little pay: $12 an hour. That money quickly dwindles as she pays for public transportation, protective masks and gloves.

She takes extra vitamins daily to guard herself against the virus. bit.ly/39jKCJF

And though she's eager for a vaccine and coronavirus immunity, Prado is terrified that getting the injection would pose a different kind of risk.

"I know Philadelphia is a sanctuary city. But we don't know how safe we really are." bit.ly/39jKCJF

Already, experts say, the health system will have to make a concerted effort to reach women on the frontlines.

Barriers such as paid time off, transportation and child care make them harder to reach. bit.ly/3prGn4l

These issues are especially complicated for immigrant women, who are overrepresented in service fields like home care and domestic work.

— About 31 percent of foreign-born women work in service jobs, compared to 19 percent of U.S.-born women. bit.ly/39jKCJF

For immigrant women, additional barriers such as

— language
— lack of health care access
— cultural differences
— fear and distrust of government (especially for undocumented immigrants)

could further complicate their access to vaccines. bit.ly/39jKCJF

Experts say the Trump administration never worked to clarify that immigrants would not be penalized for seeking coronavirus care.

Now, many worry that message could carry over to immigrants weighing a coronavirus vaccine, regardless of their legal status. bit.ly/39jKCJF

"They might be fearful that by ... putting their name on a list of people getting a vaccine, that might trigger some exposure that would compromise their ability to stay in the U.S.," said @CenterOnBudget's Shelby Gonzales.

More from @ChabeliH + @Shefalil:bit.ly/39jKCJF