Immunisation of migrants in EU/EEA countries: Policies and practices

Giambi, Cristina; Manso, Martina Del; Marchetti, Giulia; Olsson, Kate; Ali, Karam Adel; Declich, Silvia; Tiefengraber, Daniel; Grammens, Tine; Wyndham-Thomas, Chloé; Neyts, Mie; Top, Geert; Carrillo-Santisteve, Paloma; Vladimirova, Nadezhda; Jordanova, Sonia; Parmakova, Kremena; Petrović, Goranka; Vučina, Vesna Višekruna; Koliou, Maria; Cástková, J; Knudsen, Lisbet Krause; Valentiner‐Branth, Palle; Filippova, Irina; Tiittala, Paula; Nohynek, Hanna; Bouscaillou, Julie; Herida, Magid; Lévy-Brühl, Daniel; Wichmann, Ole; Vygen-Bonnet, Sabine; Georgakopoulou, Theano; Panagiotopoulos, Takis; Stavrou, Theodora; Molnár, Zsolt; Guðnason, Þórólfur; Cotter, Suzanne; Clarke, Anna; Fitzgerald, Margaret; Iannazzo, Stefania; Kantsone, Ieva; Kuprevičienė, Nerija; Berthet, Françoise; Weicherding, Pierre; Melillo, Tanya; Melillo, Jackie Maistre; Veldhuijzen, Irene; Melker, Hester E. de; Bergsaker, Marianne A. Riise; Paradowska-Stankiewicz, Iwona; Calé, Etelvina; Valente, Paula; Fernandes, Teresa; Stănescu, Aurora; Hudecová, Helena; Bakoss, Ivan; Vitek, Marta Grgič; Limia, Aurora; Cejudo, Laura Sánchez-Cambronero; Lindstrand, Ann; Saliba, Vanessa; Crawshaw, Alison F; Ramsay, Mary

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.06.068

Cited by 35 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In particular, protective antibody titers were reported in a range of 12-95% for measles, 61-94% for rubella, 48-79% for mumps, and 30-100% for varicella. Our data/results were in accordance with the results of previous studies [6,11,[14][15][16][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Immunization Status against Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella in a Large Population of Internationally Adopted Children Referred to Meyer Children’s University Hospital from 2009 to 2018

et al. 2020

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Control of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) is a challenge for healthcare systems. Different studies highlighted the suboptimal immunization of internationally adopted children (IAC). To evaluate the immunization status against measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and varicella (V) in a large cohort of IAC, data at first screening visit of all IAC (<18 years) consecutively referred to Meyer Children’s University Hospital (Florence, Italy) from 2009 to 2018 were collected and analyzed. In total, 1927 children (median age: 5.99 years, interquartile range: 3.33–8.21) were enrolled. More than half of IAC were unprotected against MMR-V. The reliability of the vaccination documentation of the country of origin was poor, since more than a quarter of the IAC serologically tested were not protected against MMR-V, despite the vaccination documentation attesting previous vaccination. This was significantly more pronounced in children aged 15–18 years and in those originating from Africa. High rate of discordant serological results/documentation brings up questions regarding the optimal management of IACs, and suggests a rapid, careful, and complete assessment of immunization status timely after IAC’s arrival. Serological testing of IAC of all ages followed by vaccination of seronegative children should be provided.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Proper documentation of immunization is a worldwide problem for IAC and also for migrants and asylum seekers [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunization Status against Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella in a Large Population of Internationally Adopted Children Referred to Meyer Children’s University Hospital from 2009 to 2018

et al. 2020

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“…This was partly explained by the large influx of refugees from Eastern Europe [ 28 ]. Currently, like many developed countries, measles vaccines are offered free of charge to all Thai children and children of migrants who are a beneficiary of the Migrant Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) managed by the MOPH [ 29 , 30 ]. However, for migrant workers coming into Thailand to seek jobs, there is no policy to assess if they already have immunity to certain diseases (including measles) before obtaining a work permit [ 31 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Measles Outbreak among Thai and Migrant Workers in Two Factories in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, 2019

Wongsanuphat

Thitichai

Jaiyong

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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On 22 March 2019 the Thai Department of Disease Control (DDC) was notified that 16 workers, including Thai and Myanmar migrant workers, from two factories located in Nakhon Phathom Province, had presented with a fever with rash during the previous 2 weeks. Active case finding was conducted among workers in both factories using face-to-face interviews. Suspected cases were defined as a worker who developed fever with rash with one of the following symptoms: cough, coryza or conjunctivitis. Testing for measles IgM antibodies and viral identification through throat swabs by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to confirm diagnosis. Vaccination history among cases was reviewed. Nationality and age-specific attack rates (AR) were calculated. An environmental study and a social network analysis were conducted to better understand the transmission process. A total 56 cases (AR = 0.97%) were identified. Of 21 serum measles IgM collected, 8 (38.0%) were positive. Of 8 throat swabs collected, 5 (62.5%) were positive for measles genotype D8. The disease attack rate in migrant employees was twice as large as the rate in Thai counterparts (AR = 0.7 and 1.4%). The first case was identified as a Myanmar worker who arrived in Thailand two weeks prior to his illness. The Myanmar workers’ accommodation was more crowded than that for Thai workers. The hot spots of transmission were found at a drinking water tank which had shared glasses. Among the cases, 62.5% could not recall their vaccination history, and 25% had never had an injection containing a measles vaccination. The majority of migrant cases had never completed a two-dose measles vaccination. To halt the outbreak, measles vaccines were administered to the employees, particularly those working in the same sections with the cases and shared glasses were removed. For future policy action, a vaccination program should be incorporated into the work permit issuance process.

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“…Data on vaccination coverage among migrants are not collected or monitored in European Union (EU) [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaccination concerns, beliefs and practices among Ukrainian migrants in Poland: A qualitative study

Gańczak

Bielecki

Drozd-Dąbrowska

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Ukrainians numbering approximately 1.2 million are the largest migrant group in Poland. Data on vaccination coverage among migrants are not collected in EU, including Poland. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to identify vaccination practices in this migrant group, to explore facilitators and barriers to vaccination and related access to Polish healthcare services.Methods: In September 2019, a qualitative study of Ukrainian migrants (UMs) living in Szczecin, Poland, and recruited through a snowball sampling method, was conducted. Using a semi-structured topic guide, four focus groups were held with 22 UMs aged 18-45. Participants were asked about their attitudes towards vaccination in general with comparison between services in Poland and Ukraine. Following transcription and translation, a thematic analysis was conducted.Results: Respondents were distrustful of Ukrainian vaccination policy, medical personnel and individual vaccines, however, they often returned to Ukraine for dental and gynaecological appoint-ments. While critical with regards to registering with Polish GPs practices, UMs were confident in health professionals, as well as vaccine delivery. Vaccines were perceived as safer and of better quality than in Ukraine. Difficulties in translating vaccination records were rarely reported, verbal communi-cation was not problematic due to language similarities. All UM parents reported vaccinating their children according to the Polish schedule. However, a significant number of adult UMs have not completed mandatory vaccinations, although they may have obtained false immunization certificates; according to UMs those can be obtained by bribing. Participants reported lower acceptance of the influenza vaccine, mainly due to perceptions around its importance; none had been vaccinated against influenza. None of UMs had heard of the HPV vaccine. UMs experienced challenges in accessing credible online vaccination information in Ukrainian, no official local health authority vaccination material existed either, except for information about measles.Conclusions: This study pinpointed positive UM attitudes and practices regarding child vaccination in the Polish healthcare system and identified issues for improvement, such as adult vaccination. Health communication should be more tailored within UMs information delivery systems to enable migrants to make informed choices about vaccination. Further research is needed to better assess factors affecting vaccine uptake identified in this study.

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Immunisation of migrants in EU/EEA countries: Policies and practices

Cited by 35 publications

References 15 publications

Immunization Status against Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella in a Large Population of Internationally Adopted Children Referred to Meyer Children’s University Hospital from 2009 to 2018

Immunization Status against Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella in a Large Population of Internationally Adopted Children Referred to Meyer Children’s University Hospital from 2009 to 2018

Investigation of Measles Outbreak among Thai and Migrant Workers in Two Factories in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, 2019

Vaccination concerns, beliefs and practices among Ukrainian migrants in Poland: A qualitative study

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