Access to Vaccination for Newly Arrived Migrants (AcToVx4NAM) is a 3-year European project with a mission to increase the vaccination uptake in Newly Arrived Migrants (NAM). The beneficiaries are Newly Arrived Migrants (NAM) in first line, transit and destination EU/EEA countries, regardless of their legal status. The general objective of the AcToVax4NAM project is the improvement of the health system’s Vaccination Literacy (VL) and access, by making access conditions more equitable and guaranteed, thereby leading to increased vaccination uptake by Newly Arrived Migrants (NAM).
WHY IS INCREASED ACCESS TO VACCINATION FOR NEWLY ARRIVED MIGRANTS IMPORTANT?
It is paramount to ensure equitable worldwide vaccine coverage in both native and migrant populations, to reduce and prevent the presence of under-immunised groups. Vaccines is the only scientifically proven method to protect everyone against severe or life-threatening health consequences of diseases and to break the chain of transmission. Therefore, NAMs are urgently needed to be explicitly and proactively included in the national vaccination plans. The recognition of the interdependence between migrant health and public health, offers a crucial opportunity to address wider and protracted disparities. The public health system has an important role in improving both the health and its social determinants for NAM within the EU/EEA. In this framework, it is essential the public health system continues to train health professionals to improve their cultural sensitivity, and adapt their approaches and communication, while strengthening collaboration between all stakeholders involved in migrant’s health. Lifelong universal access to vaccinations is recommended for ALL – regardless of migratory status of the individual – is aligned with the local policies and resources, as well as in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Target 3.8 “Achieve Universal Health Coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all”.
