Grandma granted visa after facing deportation from Australia over vaccine status

A grandmother will be allowed to stay in Australia after facing deportation over her vaccine status, despite being granted a medical exemption.

The government has backflipped on a decision to detain and deport a grandmother who travelled to Western Australia from the UK to visit her family.

Claire Henderson, 64, hasn’t seen her family in almost three years due to the pandemic and had planned a trip to Australia to finally be reunited.

However, what was meant to be a lovely holiday quickly turned sour when the Manchester woman landed in Perth on Monday night.

Her son, Michael, told Nine News that his mother was stopped by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers and denied entry to the country due to her vaccine status, despite Ms Henderson having an approved vaccine exemption.

The 64-year-old has a medical condition called temporal arteritis which causes the arteries in her head to become inflamed.

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Claire Henderson has a condition called temporal arteritis which exempts her from getting the Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: Nine News/Channel 9

She is currently being held at the Holiday Inn in Perth. Picture: Nine News/Channel 9

Michael said his mother being denied entry into Australia “didn’t make any sense”.

His mother was taken to the Holiday Inn in Perth to await her deportation in isolation.

Ms Henderson’s G2G pass, visa and medical exemption were approved in November last year, but the issue arose because border rules had since been tightened due to a rise in Covid-19 cases.

But, on Wednesday night, Ms Henderson’s family received the happy news that she had been granted a 12 month visa to remain in Australia.

However, the grandmother will have to complete a stint in hotel quarantine before she can be reunited with her family.

She is due to be released on Anzac Day.

Earlier, Western Australia Police Minister Paul Papalia told Nine News Ms Henderson was being deported as a result of the Federal government’s traveller entry requirements.

“It is the federal government’s responsibility with respect to the international borders and it is their rules that have resulted in her being deported,” he said.

An Australian Border Force spokesperson told news.com.au that they would not discuss personal circumstances in order to protect the privacy of individuals.

“Australia has strict border rules, including for unvaccinated travellers,” the spokesperson said.

“The Australian Border Force ensures that people arriving at the border comply with our laws and entry requirements, and will continue to do so.”

The Australian Department of Home Affairs website states a unvaccinated person wishing to travel to Australia must provide “acceptable proof that you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons”.

Western Australia is currently dealing with rising Covid-19 cases. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tony McDonough

Travellers that do not have a medical contraindication recorded in the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) will need to show airline or vessel staff a medical certificate that indicates you are unable to be vaccinated because of a medical condition.

The certificate must be in English and include your name, date of medical consultation and details of your medical practitioner and details that clearly outline that you have a medical condition which means you cannot receive a Covid-19 vaccination.

Michael revealed his mother had been left distraught over the whole ordeal.

“I have been speaking to her on the phone and she was like a broken woman,” he told the news outlet.

“Three times she was questioned on record, she had her fingerprints taken, they took her belongings.”

Michael said his mother was like a ‘broken woman’ as a result of the ordeal. Picture: Nine News/Channel 9

The situation comes as Western Australia continues to deal with rising Covid-19 cases.

The state confirmed 8080 new infections on Wednesday, a huge spike from the 6107 cases recorded the day before.

Premier Mark McGowan has been forced into isolation after a family member tested positive to the virus.

In a statement, Mark McGowan said a family member of his tested positive on Tuesday and he was deemed a close contact.

Mr McGowan said his negative PCR test result came in on Wednesday morning after attending Rockingham General Hospital to get swabbed.

The Premier said he would continue to abide by public health and safety measures and would work from home during his seven day isolation period.

“Western Australians have done such a great job of doing the right thing and following the health advice to keep the spread of the virus to a minimum and reach the soft-landing we all sought out to achieve,” he said.

He also thanked staff at WA testing clinics and all health workers as the state navigated its way through its Omicron wave.