Vaccinating an Expat

Portugal Rollout

I have received questions from several readers regarding our ability to get the coronavirus vaccine in Portugal. Because you asked, here is what we believe will happen.

Critical Steps

Let me emphasize that this is what we think will happen. We have not spoken with anyone within the health authority to confirm what we are telling you. But based on our conversations with our immigration advisors (RTP), Portuguese residents, and other expats…this is what we expect.

• Step 1: Acquire Temporary Residency - We were fortunate to have received an appointment for our SEF meeting when we received our D7 Visas. Both Denise and I are scheduled for this meeting later this month. SEF, Serviço de Estrangeiros Fronteiras, is the immigration and border control service for Portugal. During our meeting later this month they will review the information we provided during the visa application process (such as our criminal record) and want to see more current information related to finances and accommodations. Assuming this information is acceptable, we will be provided temporary residency status.

• Step 2: Enroll in the Portuguese Health System - All residents of Portugal, even temporary ones such as us, are eligible to receive services from the country’s public health care system. It should be noted, however, that we were told we should purchase private health coverage. [First, it is recommended for the SEF meeting. Second, we have been told access (particularly to specialists) for non-urgent care is much faster in the private system. While Denise and I have never been big consumers of healthcare, we can afford the cost of private insurance. We also feel, as visitors, we shouldn’t take health resources away from citizens who pay taxes.] Even though we have private insurance the vaccine distribution is being administered through the public system. As such, we must enroll in the public system to get the vaccine.

• Step 3: Get in Line - We are being told once we have our health number we will be entered into the Portuguese vaccine queue just like every citizen/resident of Portugal. If Portugal is able to maintain the published schedule we will be in Phase 2 which is planned for April - June. We are told we will get an email or text telling us when it is our turn (with an appointment at the local clinic).

Public System

As we have watched the pandemic around the world we are struck by how countries have responded. Clearly, there are cultural and political differences that impact how countries respond. Mask wearing is commonplace in much of Asia … no one views it as an infringement on their rights. (Honestly, I don’t either.) China’s authoritarian system enables it to isolate cities the size of LA within a day. Yes, there are cultural and government differences such as these. But I don’t think you can overlook the impact a public health system can have on a country’s ability to respond to health emergencies.

The US is fortunate that due to its great wealth it can purchase enough vaccines for its citizens. But at the same time, its lack of a public health system has had enormous impacts. I recall speaking to a Scottish friend whose 97-year-old mother still lives alone in her own home. She is able to do this because the NHS provides home-care aides and nurses that see her 4 times every day. When Covid hit the UK, the public system not only supported her mother as it had before but added grocery delivery to the services provided. This is how you ensure that someone that shouldn’t leave their home or have outside visitors in is able to do so. She has now received the vaccine and she didn’t have to navigate the internet or travel across state lines to make it happen.

Rose Colored Glasses

Okay, I know, I wear rose-colored glasses having never lived in a country and been totally dependant on a public system. But just as the US must come to grips with its lack of mental health and drug addiction treatment services, so must it look at the lack of funding available for public health. This is not the last pandemic we will face. Just as hundred-year storms now come every decade or so, we know this will happen again…and sooner than we would like.

And on that uplifting thought…I will sign off for the day.

UPDATE: One of our readers (Susan Korthase) let us know that Portugal is allowing Visa holders to register for the vaccine even though they have not completed the SEF process. This is great and very generous news. We have followed her instructions and sent an email with the required information today. We received an automated message a few minutes later acknowledging our email. As time unfolds, we will update you here.

FURTHER UPDATE 15April: I happened to check in with Relocate to Portugal and found out there is also a website where you can register for the Covid vaccine. I am not sure, exactly, why you should do both…but happily, we completed the web form. The URL is: https://servicos.min-saude.pt/covid19/vacinacao-nao-utente

FURTHER UPDATE 20April: I continued to send emails to every public official I could find. Low and behold, this morning I got a response saying you need to send information to a sixth email address. Fingers crossed!