European Institute for Socio-Economic Development

PROMOVAX

The aim of the PROMOVAX project is to examine community immunization policies for immigrants among member states, identifying the immunization needs of immigrant adults and children and determining the specific resources that should be available to healthcare providers to promote vaccination among immigrants.

Children, adolescents, and adult refugees or immigrants represent a vulnerable population, and preventing infectious diseases through their vaccination poses an ambitious challenge. Factors preceding or following migration play a significant role, as many new immigrants and refugees come from countries with fragile primary healthcare infrastructure. As a result, they have a higher incidence of certain infectious diseases and irregular primary immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases. Additionally, immigrants often lack awareness of their vaccination status and do not maintain reliable documentation. Furthermore, after arriving in the host country, various events can occur, such as police detention, language barriers, and/or a lack of knowledge about new healthcare service programs, which further impede their access to available healthcare.

Moreover, healthcare regulations for immigrants and refugees vary significantly between member states. Education and support for healthcare providers to facilitate the administration of vaccinations for immigrants and refugees are often limited. Different immunization practices and programs among countries complicate the vaccination process.

With the goal of facilitating the exchange of best practices among member states, a review of immunization practices for immigrants and refugees in various European countries will be planned, and existing gaps in immigrant health will be identified. This objective will be achieved through a detailed study of current health policies and legislation in different countries, analyzing a readily accessible sample of adult immigrants.

Subsequently, to assist healthcare providers in improving the percentage of immigrants and refugees accessing immunization services (and based on the best practices identified during the first part of the project), tools will be developed and provided, such as reference guidelines for the immunization of immigrants/refugees and a brief manual on recommended vaccines for immigrants. This will aim to educate and encourage them to vaccinate themselves and their children, taking into account their country and culture of origin.

In this context, and in line with the decisions jointly adopted by the European Parliament and the Council (October 23, 2007), the PROMOVAX project will support the development of a culture of prevention, vaccination, and immunization policies among hard-to-reach groups, namely immigrants and refugees. During the partnership and project activities, educational materials and tools will be created to facilitate the immunization of immigrants and refugees.

For more information, visit the website: www.promovax.eu

or write to: dolores.forgione@associazioneises.org