| WP 7: Vaccine preventable diseases and migrant population |
| Background |
| In the beginning of the 21th century the movement of people
around the world is constantly increasing and in parallel to it, the epidemic
risk is also growing. The Mediterranean and the Balkans are regions with
particular socio-economic problems, experiencing as the rest of the world
the consequences of the intensive migration, which poses serious risk of
importation and epidemic spread of communicable diseases, considered for
some European countries eliminated at that moment. Inadequately immunized
local migrant population and immigrants represent a potential risk for disease
transmission, including a cross-border one, to the neighboring countries.
Moreover, in the era of vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) eradication programs
there is no information to assess how the susceptibility profiles of native
and foreign-born may interact according to the population movement and immigration.
To develop specific methods for the assessment of vaccination coverage of
this vulnerable population and to plan and implement effective outreach
programmes able to ensure high and sustainable vaccination coverage, it
is necessary to bring together the available data and practical experience
of all participating countries. |
| Objectives |
| As a part of the EpiSouth project, the aim of this workpackage
is to create a framework for collaboration and exchange of information related
to the vaccine-preventable diseases and the specific approaches of the national
immunization strategies regarding under-immunized migrant population groups,
in order to improve the surveillance and control of communicable diseases
across the countries of the Mediterranean and the Balkans. The specific
objectives of WP 7 follow. - To assess the access to immunization of migrant population and immigrants. - To collect data and exchange information on cases/outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases in this target group. - To provide an overview of existing programmes for monitoring and improving migrant population's immunization coverage and to formulate recommendations facilitating the evaluation and improvement of immunization activities among migrant population and immigrants in the region. - To formulate recommendations for improving migrant population's immunisation coverage. |
| Methods and expected results |
| The main method to be used is a country based assessment
survey for vaccine preventable diseases and migrant populations among participating
countries. A questionnaire will be distributed for this purpose in order
to collect information about country specific migrant groups of people,
organization and performance of their immunizations and problems faced by
the national public health system in this area. Based on a careful analysis of the obtained information, a draft strategic document on vaccine preventable diseases and migrant populations will be produced (for easy VPD data exchange and general recommendations for improving the access to immunizations of migrant groups). After integrating Questionnaire's data received from participating countries with those available from European networks (i. e. VENICE, EUVAC, ESEN2), the final strategic document – Guidelines on Vaccine preventable diseases and migrant population will be published on the EpiSouth Web site and actively disseminated throughout Europe: to the national public health authorities, Ministries of public health in the EU and non-EU countries, and the European Commission. |