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PROMOVAX Project
Summary (main objective, strategic relevance and contribution to the EU Health Programme, methods and means, expected outcome):
The purpose of this project is to review the existing immigrant immunization policies among member states, identify the immunization needs of adult and children migrants and to make migrant-specific resources available to clinicians.
Refugee and immigrant children, adolescents and adults represent a vulnerable population and prevention of infectious diseases through vaccination among them presents special challenges. Both pre and post migration factors play significant roles. Many newly arrived immigrants and refugees come from countries with fragile primary health infrastructure. As a result, they have a higher incidence of certain infectious diseases and it is to be expected that they have had patchy primary immunization against vaccine preventable diseases. Furthermore , they are commonly unaware of their vaccination status and carry no reliable documentation. After their arrival to the host country: detention, language barriers and lack of knowledge about the new health system schedules impede further their access to available health care.
Moreover, standards for health care provision for immigrants and refugees vary greatly among the different member states. Doctors' education and support in how to provide immunizations for immigrants and refugees is frequently limited. In addition, different immunization practices and schedules among countries make vaccine administration complicated.
With the aim of identifying best practices among member states we plan to review immigrant and refugee immunization practices in different European countries and identify missed opportunities and gaps in immigrant health. This will be achieved by detailed review of current policies and legislation, collection of reports from migrant health programs, NGOs etc and by analyzing a convenience sample of adult immigrants.
Subsequently, with the goal of assisting health providers in improving immunization rates, among immigrants and refugees and based on the best practices identified during the first part of the project, we will develop and provide tools such as, practical, scenario driven guidelines re: immigrant/refugee immunization and a handbook guide to recommended vaccines for recent Immigrants (based on their country of originand popular-educational materials and resources which will be culturally and linguistically appropriate to be used by the clinicians in educating and encouraging migrants to get vaccinated and to vaccinate their children.
In this framework and in line with Decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council (Oct 23 , 2007) this project will support the development of prevention, vaccination and immunization policies among hard to reach groups, namely immigrants and refugees. During the project partnerships and networks will be created and educational material and tools will be produced that can be used to facilitate immunization of immigrants and refugees.
For further information please contact: info@associazioneises.org
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