Tyler HaydenThis story was originally published by the Santa Barbara Independent and is reproduced here in partnership with Edhat.
By Tyler Hayden of The Independent
It was her first day on the job as a COVID-19 vaccination site volunteer when Elizabeth Wilbanks was told by Santa Barbara County Public Health Department supervisors to turn away a 92-year-old undocumented woman because she couldn’t produce a photo ID. The woman was advised to return with a library card or other form of identification to prove her eligibility as a county resident 75 or above.
“It broke my heart,” said Wilbanks, a biology professor at UCSB. “We should have been able to do better. We know that voter photo ID laws discriminate against Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Chicanx communities with what courts have called ‘surgical precision.’ Why allow such practices to go forward when it’s a matter of life and death?”
The encounter took place February 3 in Santa Maria, said Wilbanks, whose role was to greet residents and ask them a handful of preliminary questions as they lined up for their shots. It was toward the end of a slow day, and there were plenty of extra vaccines on hand, she said.
The elderly woman remained in her car while her granddaughter spoke to the Public Health team, explaining her grandmother had only ever owned a Mexican ID, which was stolen, along with her purse, shortly before the pandemic began. She’d lost family and friends to the virus, the granddaughter said, and was so afraid of falling ill that she hadn’t left the house since March.
After reading through Public Health’s website, she continued, the pair decided not to make an appointment so they wouldn’t take one of the limited spots from someone with the proper documentation. They were hoping the county would still be willing to help them.
Jackie Ruiz, the Public Health Department’s spokesperson, said the site team “worked with the individual to discuss if there were utility bills, insurance medical cards, as well as library cards that list a county address. Additionally, our team recommended a medical bill statement that would have the individual’s name and a county address.” As a general rule, Ruiz said, “We are committed to making sure that documentation is not a barrier to getting vaccinated.”
But that’s unfortunately what happened that day, Wilbanks said, as the request was sent up the ranks of Public Health and ultimately denied. “We didn’t do anything to remove the barrier,” she lamented. “What concerns me is that we gave this woman the burden of doing something more. Granted, many vaccines are now going to be routed through hospitals ― like Marian, Cottage, Sansum ― which may have different policies, but Public Health sets the tone.”
The woman’s granddaughter was brave enough to make her case in person, Wilbanks went on. What about all the other undocumented residents who may read Public Health’s website and decide to not even try?
Wilbanks acknowledged the heroic work performed daily at the public vaccination sites across the county. “Generally, everyone is doing their damndest to get shots in arms,” she said. But she worries if the county’s hard-and-fast photo ID rule may be putting vulnerable populations off from receiving their vaccines. “Even asking for ID is intimidating and discouraging,” she said. “This is something as a community we should be talking about.”
Ruiz said she was unaware of other such incidents. “Our team works very carefully to ensure we can get persons eligible and with appointments vaccinated,” she said. “We are open to being flexible and responsive to help ensure our vulnerable community members are vaccinated.”
At a virtual town hall meeting hosted by the Public Health Department last week, however, representatives of CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy) and MICOP (Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project) expressed concern about similar types of roadblocks.
Dalia Garcia passed along a story about a Mixteco resident of Santa Maria being asked at Albertsons for his Social Security number and proof of insurance. “These types of questions scare our community,” Garcia said. “It doesn’t allow for any comfort or trust in the vaccine.”
Public Health Director Dr. Van Do-Reynoso said she would “address that partner” and others to ensure that kind of thing didn’t happen “moving forward.”
DUKE – yes, I read that. So what? If they’re willing to take anything as ID, then no ID should not exclude you from getting a shot. An ID without a photo is pretty useless for confirming residence status. If they’re setting the bar this low, no ID should be just as acceptable.
We’re trying to vaccinate everyone Sac…having a requirement to show something (anything) that in some capacity verifies your address is good for everyone. If they abandon any/all ID’s…how do we roll out the vaccine? Have the people giving the shots “eyeball” the crowd and choose the oldest…sickest…feeblest? We kind of want to track what we’re doing to ensure everyone is getting the shot and getting the follow up shot…right? We kind of want data that is at least somewhat accurate of who got the shot…right? There has been abuse and waste…trying in some capacity to limit that makes sense. If a shot was wasted…then that is reprehensible…but public health is saying that virtually no shots have been lost so presumably another over 75 year old got this shot and this person had to wait a day or two while someone printed out something showing in some capacity their name and address in the County.
Just a lot of jumps you are taking/making there Opossum! Yes, the vaccine has a limited shelf life when it is taken to room temperature, which it is done 1 vial at a time. Each vial has 6 shots. Nowhere in the article does it state that any shots were wasted. She also didn’t have an appointment…she just showed up. So…she has no ID and no appointment. Hopefully someone followed up with her and were able to assist her in making an appointment and having something in hand to show her residency…but there is absolutely nothing in this article that in any capacity suggests a shot was lost. Her noting that the day was slow (on her first day) seemed to indicate that despite not having an appointment they could have fit her in…but to make the leap that shots were wasted is crazy and not reflective of anything written in this article.
They don’t require an ID to vote…
It’s hard to believe that the woman in question hadn’t left her house since March and yet could not produce any sort of utility bill, medical bill or card, or any sort of ID, even expired. Yes, someone should have broken the rule, given her the vax, and begged for forgiveness, but still – don’t let grandma turn 93 without getting some sort of ID, or it will just cause even more issues in her future.
AHCHOO – Fair enough…but then why not make a big push to get everyone an ID of some sort? It’s in everyone’s best interest as it’s a fundamental part of being in a society. It gives people access to government services and programs. In 2021 everyone should have an ID…and groups like CAUSE should be pushing hard for that.
But you 100% should have one. You need something to show/prove who you are. It’s a basic part of society…and not having it is quite detrimental…so let’s make a better effort to get everyone an ID!
Circling back to the 92 year old Grandma, she showed up without an ID or an appointment…that’s a tough 1-2 when the vaccine is so scarce and there is the threat of prosecution for any doctor/health care worker that gives out the vaccine in any way that is outside of the system.
DUKE, you have lost the forest for the trees. If a questionably elderly person showed up claiming they were 75+, that’s one thing, and I agree with you that LATER priority rounds do need to provide ID. But we’re talking about a one-off, CLEARLY very elderly person. Turning her away was a stupid choice. America is so sue-happy anytime anyone deviates from the rules, even when it is reasonable and justified, that medical personnel are scared to use their brains.
337pm – Well that does tie into my thinking (though maybe elucidate it…or yes of course perhaps I lost the forest for the trees…always a possibility!!). DA’s have threatened prosecution regarding misappropriation of the vaccine. Each County is slotted a certain amount and everyone is counting and assuming that will be for residents of that County, so they set up a very basic requirement for proving that. It allows the County to have a recorded name and address that is at least on a record somewhere…it’s not just asking someones name and getting their phone number. Considering we are expecting SB Public Health to adminster 500k shots (plus 500k follow up shots), it’s somewhat important to keep track of who got it and when…right? I hate data entry and would rather gouge my eyes out then do it regularly…but we kind of need it done in a reasonable and consistent manner so as to push through this altogether, right?
It’s a sad/weird situation that she showed up without an ID and appointment and her family expected her to get a shot. I’d imagine with very little effort they can get her something passable and an appointment…but that’s on the family, not the Public Health admin who knows it’s their job as well as a prosecutable offense to misappropriate shots. I know I would have given her the shot…in the same way that I would say yes to pretty much anyone who came in requesting a permit if I worked in the building department and would let most people out of a ticket if I was a police officer…but since every shot has to be recorded and paperwork filled out and verified, weird/strange circumstances that require a “no” will pop up. I’m hopeful someone followed up with her and got her an appointment and something to verify an address with…but I don’t think you could show up at any vaccine distribution shot in the world right now without an appointment or an ID and get a shot (unless you brought a good amount of money).
If the shot was wasted…that’s reprehensible and it changes everything. But presumably another 75+ high risk SB County resident who had made an appointment got it…and if they had given it to her that would have been 1 less verified SB County high risk resident that wouldn’t have had access to it for slightly longer.
Lastly, this was the volunteers first day…they literally had no experience or understanding of the situation. Considering it was the end of the day and the lady didn’t have an appointment, there is also a possibility that to giver her a shot they would have had to open a new vial as all the doses were accounted for via appointment and as such that would have opened up the possibility of either wasting 5 of the 6 doses or having to scramble to find eligible people.
I’ve spent time in countries where I would feel at least somewhat confident in showing up at a medical site without an appointment or an ID and getting a vaccine… but not without a large amount of cash! That’s a pretty bold/rough combo to show up with… NO APPOINTMENT and NO ID!
Well God Bless America…..and perfect Santa Barbara County. This entire vaccine program in SB HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A XXXX-SHOW!
We honestly refused her? Because of no ID? Really? WHY? The entire world needs to be vaccinated! Do you think someone in Kenya, or people in Vanuatu are going to show a drivers license or a library card! Let’s line people up, give them the dang shot and get on with our lives. We don’t need the typical Santa Barbara red tape in this situation.
LOL – but let’s torture her with non-sensical questions, demands and delays first!
She had no appointment or ID (and pretty much any paper with her name on it was sufficient as an ID). There is no absolutely nowhere in the world where you could show up today wi try out an appointment or anything showing who you are and get the vaccine. That is ridiculous of her family to put her through that. Leave her home and show up to ask what’s needed and how to work around/through the issue… showing up and demanding it without an appointment or ID is crazy.
This is her family torturing her. They didn’t book her an appointment and didn’t bring anything to show who she is. That’s crazy. There is absolutely no spot in the world where you can show up without an appointment and get this vaccine… and if there is it’s a 3rd world country in which you brought a bag of cash with you.
Without some form of ID, what would prevent a person with dementia from going to different clinics and getting repeatedly injected with the vaccine? Maybe they call a different person to give them a ride each time, so no one friend or family member is keeping track. The only people keeping track of the vaccinations in an official capacity are the county/state health departments. At least I hope there is a database that goes along with the number of administered doses on the county and state dashboards. It seems reasonable they need at least one document that has the woman’s name printed on it so they’re not liable for any harm should someone seek repeated vaccinations for any reasons. I’m wondering if a utility bill would even suffice, though at 92 I’d bet family members handle all of that for her. It’s a shame, since she needs the vaccine and should get one ASAP, but I also see why they’d insist on something with her name on it.
CSF- Dig your intellect.
regardless of the age, undocumented people should not receive vaccines before citizens. I know this will generate hate responses, but law breakers should not be rewarded!
Tell me more as I am genuinely baffled!!!! Why the push against an ID from the far right and right? It’s a fundamental aspect of being part of a society… I truly don’t see any logical explanation for not having an id…
I agree OOPS. The “undocumented” term to begin with is misleading, as it isn’t simply a clerical error or lack of hard copy paperwork declaring the bearer is in this country legally. People who are not here legally should not have equal footing when it comes to receiving benefits provided by the tax payer, whether it be health benefit, food or housing. For these “undocumented” people requesting the vaccination, there should be some arrangement involving a fee for those who can’t show they’re residents of this country. To deny them the opportunity to pay for the vaccine in lieu of “missing documents” is a bit harsh.
I was in Louisiana for a month helping post Katrina… so I understand and appreciate your point. But we are 11 months into a Pandemic and 3 months into a rickety vaccination roll-out… her family driving her to a vaccination spot without an appointment or an ID is crazy. There was no chance of success there. The bar is quite low for establishing residency… her family made absolutely no effort. Hopefully someone followed up and got her set up… but to just show up with nothing expecting the most sought after thing in the world right now is pretty spectacular confidence…
@Duke, you are very passionate about this ID situation. There are many barriers to obtaining identification post-911, which many find insurmountable. Perhaps you could look into spearheading this effort in our county? I would help.
Maybe to keep people from driving up from LA?
Counties are allocated vaccine by population.
I could see why you’d requre ID in Imperial and San Diego County.
Not to be cruel but if the vaccine is dispensed by US population, you can’t have the populations of Tecate, Mexicali and Tijuana lining up and getting the vaccine before the people whose taxes pay for it. It also make the whole vaccination process very disorganized. Its like a rock concert back in the day when people would gate crash…. why buy a ticket? Just fight you way to the front and stomp over anyone who is in your way.
The other issue is that in order to get her signed up for her second stab, they need to verify name, address, phone number. Sure you could give her the first shot, but it is wasted if she doesn’t return.
Yes the system is biased towards people who are self organized, bring doculments, utility bills, prescriptions, something so they can get paperwork done for second visit.
It seems fundamental and foundational. I’ve never understood why groups like CAUSE find every reason to fight against it…it truly is a way for people to enter and be a part of society. Let’s get everyone an ID and do it in a non election year as that seems to make everyone insane.
So the issue really wasn’t that she was undocumented it was that she had no ID at all.
Why would you need ID? It’s a global pandemic. We should be vaccinating everyone as quickly as possible.
Requiring that someone show at least a library card to get something as sought after as the vaccine seems pretty reasonable in 2021…that’s a pretty low/easy bar to clear! And for record keeping and tracking they need something definitive to record the person for the follow up shot.
DUKE – why can’t they just give them their name and phone # for the follow up? No need to verify people like this when we ALL need a vaccine. As someone mentioned, undocumented people generally don’t have ID for fear of being deported if they should apply for one. They’re here and part of our community now, we can’t help that at this point. A shot should not be treated as a reward, but as a basic human necessity at this point. If we want kids back in school and everything to open up, we need to get as many people vaxxed as possible!
Documented vs Undocumented shouldn’t matter. But, the County does need to ensure that it is giving doses to residents first. We won’t get to herd immunity by vaccinating people from outside communities. Who’s to say that she didn’t pick up her Grandma from Sonora and drive up here for a vaccine. While it likely wasn’t the case here. You can’t always make exceptions. The organizations supporting these communities should be doing more to provide information to their community on how to get a vaccine and not expect the PH to bend the rules.
Yeah, like those SB residents driving down to Dodger stadium aren’t exceptions. We follow the golden rule, those that have the gold, rule.
I’m speechless. What ever happened to compassion and common sense? “It was a slow day” at the vaccination center with “there were plenty of extra vaccines on hand.” The Public Health Dept is behind the rules and it’s time to dismantle that county department from the top. If those “extra doses” were disposed of I’d move forward with legal action. There needs to be accountability. What is happening is unconscionable. She’s 92 friggin years old and they need a picture ID with birth year on it to prove that?
Maybe she only looked 74 and 1/2? Government and their rules! I know plenty of people that have accessed the vaccine with semi-unethical behavior. Like Non-profits with only a few people involved with medical services and they have done their entire staff. Salud Carbajal at age 56 getting vaccinated after having had Covid and recovering. It pays to be connected, and this 96-yr old wasn’t.
Sac – They are asking and accepting pretty much anything…from license to passport to birth certificate (American or foreign) to library card or…well seemingly damn near anything! That doesn’t seem unreasonable to me…not saying the shot should be a reward, but showing something so the government can track the vaccine rollout in some capacity does make sense. Beyond that, everyone needs to have something in some capacity showing who they are…right? Even the Dude could produce a Ralphs club card…
Ginger1 – They literally asked for anything…with a library card being acceptable. If any shots were wasted or lost that is unconscionable …but in 2021 having to produce something that shows who are is seemingly pretty reasonable. To effectively vaccinate the whole population there needs to be some tracking and logging of info…no?
I would agree with you regarding vaccines going to waste. But I don’t think that is the case.
I believe the supply is still rather limited. They need to ensure the vaccines are going to the community.
Rather than just “expressing concern” why don’t CAUSE and MICOP come up with a solution? How about giving all undocumented a library card? Or verify residency and provide the clinic with a list?
Duke and Bosco: Yes vaccine was wasted. The article states that it was the end of the day, with plenty left over. Guess what? It doesn’t keep overnight and has to be tossed. Something to do with having come up to room temperature. It’s insane not to use it. And a 92 yr old? Who cares about proof of age or address? It’s a human being!
BOSCO – she IS part of our community.
Opossum – Nowhere in the article does it state that doses were wasted. If they were…that is obviously a salient point that would have been mentioned. In the article they stated they were literally asking and accepting pretty much anything as proof of age. In 2021 the ability/capacity to produce something/anything seems pretty reasonable…even a bill would have been sufficient! We want the shots given to people who live in the County as they are allocated by County…this is obviously an extreme example…but asking for literally anything seems like a pretty fair and reasonable baseline.
DUKE – No need to track. Just ask her name and get her number so she’s on the list and they can follow up for the 2nd dose. Why should people need to prove who they are in order to get a vaccine? We all need it, regardless of who we are.
Is it wrong to ask/request something (and they literally were open to anything!) to show/record that though? This is obviously an extreme example, but considering how crazy the global demand is for this vaccine, requiring that people show something/anything to get it and as such be recorded/logged just makes sense.
Sac – That’s not a reasonable data collection method…we’re talking about 330 million people in America that we want to get vaccinated. Setting the baseline of a library card for actually processing and recording vaccination records seems pretty damn easy/lenient. In 2021 everyone should have something they can produce to in some capacity say who they are. That is what CAUSE should be helping with…helping everyone to have an ID so that they can be a part of society and have access to school, government aid/programs, etc.
They asked for something/literally anything be shown…that is ultra legalistic and short sighted? Considering how Public Health has noted that abuse has popped up in SB County with multiple instances of people jumping the line and getting the vaccine early, requiring people show ANYTHING seems like the very least we should be doing.
It’s a shame there is y enough vaccine to service the entire country or world, yet.
There are people traveling g to other areas to get vaccines and thereby taking the vaccine away from residents.
And law requires a person to have a form of govt identification on them at all times.
I’m confused by this stmt on the article “ voter photo ID laws discriminate against Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Chicanx communities”
How is that discrimination requiring everyone e to have id?
Is this the same rhetoric that states Covid is racist? That it attacks minorities differently because of their skin color.
I didn’t know viruses could be racists.
Why is ok to enforce laws and rules on some but not all?
Who gets to choose those who can break the laws & rules? Can I break those same laws or will I be persecuted because of my skin color?
Who decides?
DUKE – asking people to provide ID is fine, but denying them a shot because they have none, or it isn’t an “acceptable” form of ID is not cool.
Sac – But it literally says they were willing to accept damn near anything as an ID! A bill…a medical record…a library card…I mean almost anything from any government, utility company, medical company, etc! That’s an insanely low bar! Again, the Public Health has made numerous mention of trying to curb abuse where people are jumping the line (or coming from out of County to get in a different line) to get the vaccine…
I agree. If someone who is a human shows up and even looks over 75, what harm is done? If one addition person susceptible to the COVID virus is inoculated, doesn’t that protect all of us? I know all about bureaucratic necessities so everyone gets paid during “normal” times. These are not normal times, and one shot for one fragile, elderly lady without photo ID harms nobody. I don’t want to hear, “What if everybody did that? It would be anarchy”. This was one lady. Sheesh1
So your compassion means my grandmother can’t get the vaccine, because you gave it to someone who is illegally in the country. Where’s your compassion for my grandmother?
au·thor·i·tar·i·an
/əˌTHôrəˈterēən/
adjective
favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, especially that of the government, at the expense of personal freedom.
Agree with you IDESOFMARCH!!
Jesus would approve of your comments. Not. Lucky we are not really a Christian nation any more.
It seems easy to view these people as law breakers deserving punishment. The harder question is what has the US done throughout history to meddle in these other countries and make conditions worse there, driving them to migrate in desperate circumstances? And what part does the Catholic Church play in overpopulation which also is a factor in migration?
Yeah, sure, this is a big concern. Vaccine addicts. Now I’ve heard everything.
I can think a lot of adjectives to describe Trump but the cancel culture progressive left, and Newsom in particular, is a much better fit to the actual definition of authoritarian. Remember, just because a journalist (used loosely these days) says something doesn’t make it true.
You should be ashamed of this comment. Xenophobia and racism are alive and well in Santa Barbara, my friends. We are in a global pandemic. Get over your fears and hatred and try to learn compassion.
OOPS, so if you are swimming along and begin to drown, and a lifeguard pulls you in, you are in a ‘coma’, nobody knows you… so they cannot help you, or take you to a hospital because you don’t have a card? – huh?
CSR: Voter ID and suppression laws are only in GOP states, that’s just a fact. Their voter base is dying off and for some reason racist nationalist nostalgia doesn’t play well with minorities. It’s weird the GOP is so worried about becoming a minority in the US, is that a bad thing or something? Lol
Where’s the compassion for the 75+ legal resident that CAN’T get the vaccine due to limited supply? It’s easy to say, “just give it to her”. What about legitimate local residents that get sent away? Where’s the compassion for them?
The consequences of sanctuary state BS
Chillin – your comment here is just all kinds of crazy!!! Almost everyone over 18 in our society has an ID… which makes sense and is good for them. You need an ID to access much of what America has to offer… Limiting and making excuses for people not to get an ID under the guise of insane conspiracy theories is reprehensible.
Chillin – Everyone having an ID isn’t racist… it’s just logical. Considering the trillions in stimulus checks going out that you presumably need an ID to get/cash… not to mention enrolling your kids in school and just generally being a part of society and enjoying/benefiting from it. This constant fight to keep people from having an ID via conspiracy theories is crazy and unbelievably short sighted. It’s not a political issue at all… get this lady an ID and help her!
Hey CHILLIN You don’t travel much do you. Ever tried getting anything done in another country without your passport or visa?
No SBwalker, that was not his point at all.
This analogy makes no sense. This situation is much more akin to someone swimming along and noticing a nice kayak. They demand it be given to them at once and when asked for an ID as a means to encourage them to bring it back at some point they are outraged.
And yet you still live here. Must like it more than you let on . I heard Texas is a nice place to live right now.
CHILLIN: “Conservatives only want IDs to make voting harder…”
Didn’t a record number of Americans just vote by mail a couple of months ago…no ID required?
She didn’t have an appointment… which was probably as big of an issue as not having an ID. You can’t just show up and get the vaccine without an appointment or ID… it might be possible to get it without one of the above, but not both. Would they have had to cancel on someone over 75 the following day who had an appointment because now they were down a shot?