Vaccinations for migrants during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: European journal of public health Vol. 31; no. Supplement_3
• Main Authors: Declich, S, Dente, MG, Tosti, ME, De Ponte, G, Marchetti, G, Tavoschi, L, Lopalco, PL, Russo, ML, Marceca, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 20-10-2021; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Action; Clinics; Community involvement; Community participation; Community planning; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Cultural sensitivity; Disaggregation; Health care expenditures; Health disparities; Health education; Health promotion; Health risks; Health services; Herd immunity; Immunization; Information systems; Literacy; Medical personnel; Migrants; Migration; Pandemics; Poster Sessions; Prevention; Public health; Sensitivity; Vaccines
• ISSN: 1101-1262; 1464-360X
• DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab165.150

Issue
Migrants have suboptimal vaccination coverage compared to the general population in destination countries due to several factors
-administrative barriers or lack of legal entitlements to health
-health system barriers (language, lack of cultural sensitivity and community engagement capacity, vaccination costs)
-lack of trust in the health system and misconceptions about vaccines due to misinformation or beliefs
Problem
Countries should develop national policies and ensure an inclusive, free of charge and proactive vaccination offer to migrants, irrespective of their legal status; and to extend this approach beyond the current pandemic and the sole COVID-19 vaccine
Results
To achieve COVID-19 global herd immunity all population groups, including migrants, needs to access vaccination. Tailored vaccination strategies, once devised, shall be applied to routine national vaccination plan to tackle health inequalities
Lessons
The following actions shall be implemented at national level
Action 1. Develop tailored and equitable approaches for PH vaccination services targeting migrants through:
-free of charge access
-decentralization and outreach capacity of the health system
-innovative service delivery models (mobile clinics, combined health services, mass vaccination)
-health personnel and migrants participatory approach and engagement strategies
Action 2. Increase staff engagement through:
-increasing health personnel's difference sensitivity
-strengthening health personnel's communication capacities
Action 3. Increase migrants' health and vaccine literacy through:
-establishing vaccine literacy education programmes and strategies
-offering health promotion educational interventions
Action 4. Monitor progress of inclusive vaccination offer by:
-setting strategic goals, targets and indicators for national vaccination plans
-expanding immunization information systems to monitor vaccination coverage, with appropriate disaggregation by migration status core variables
Key messages
Explicitly and proactively include migrants and displaced communities in vaccination plans and set up, test and implement new approaches in primary prevention and vaccination services.
Extend this approach beyond the current pandemic and the sole COVID-19 vaccine in order to enhance preparedness to present and future health threats.