Immunization offer targeting migrants: Policies and practices in Italy

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 15, Issue 5, 2018

Immunization offer targeting migrants: Policies and practices in Italy (Article) (Open Access)

Zuanna T.D. , Del Manso M. , Giambi C. , Riccardo F. , Bella A. , Caporali M.G. , Dente M.G. , Declich S.* , Iannazzo S. , Mignuoli A.D. , Tosti A. , Ferrara L. , Pascucci M.G. , Cagarelli R. , Zuccali M.G. , Caldés M.J. , Bortoletto M. , Bevilacqua M. , Carletti P. , Tanchis P. , Prato R. , Cappelli M.G. , Gallone M.S. , Senatore S. , Brussi V. , Gallo T. , Palermo M. , Italian survey CAREWorking Group

^a Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, 35122, Italy
^b National Institute of Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS, viale Regina Elena, Rome, 299-00161, Italy
^c National Institute of Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS, viale Regina Elena, Rome, 299-00161, Italy
^d National Institute of Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS, viale Regina Elena, Rome, 299-00161, Italy
^e National Institute of Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS, viale Regina Elena, Rome, 299-00161, Italy
^f National Institute of Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS, viale Regina Elena, Rome, 299-00161, Italy
^g National Institute of Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS, viale Regina Elena, Rome, 299-00161, Italy
^h National Institute of Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS, viale Regina Elena, Rome, 299-00161, Italy
ⁱ Ministery of Health
^j Calabria Region, Italy
^k Umbria Region, Italy
^l Local Health Unit of Alessandria, Piemonte Region, Italy
^m Emilia Romagna Region, Italy
ⁿ Emilia Romagna Region, Italy
^o Trento Autonomous Province, Italy
^p Global Health Center, Toscania Region, Italy
^q Veneto Region, Italy
^r Bolzano Autonomous Province, Italy
^s Observatory on Health Inequalities, Marche Region, Italy
^t Sardegna Region, Italy
^u University of Foggia, Puglia Region, Italy
^v University of Foggia, Puglia Region, Italy
^w University of Bari, Puglia Region, Italy
^x Lombardia Region, Italy
^y Local Health Unit of Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Italy
^z Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Italy
^a Sicilia Region, Italy
^b [Affiliation not available]

Abstract

The unprecedented flow of migrants over the last three years places Italy in front of new issues regarding medical care from the rescue phase up to the integration into the national health services, including preventive actions. We used online questionnaires to investigate the Italian national and regional policies for immunization offer targeting asylum seekers, refugees, irregular migrants and unaccompanied minors. Another questionnaire was used to assess how these policies are translated into practice in migrant reception centres and community health services. Questionnaires were filled out at the national level, in 14 out of 21 Regions/Autonomous Provinces, and in 36 community health services and 28 migrant reception centres. Almost all responders stated that all vaccinations included in the National Immunization Plan are offered to migrant children and adolescents. The situation concerning adults is fragmented, with most of the Regions and local centres offering more vaccines than the national offer—which include polio, tetanus and measles–mumps-rubella. Data on immunized immigrants is archived at the regional/local level with different methods and not available at the national level. Further efforts to ensure consistency in vaccine provision and adequate mechanisms of exchanging data are needed to guarantee a complete vaccination offer and avoid unnecessary health actions, including unnecessary re-vaccination. © 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Migrants Italy Asylum seekers Vaccination Refugee health Infectious diseases

Index Keywords

refugee public health service health care policy Community Health Services community care infectious disease human Refugees statistics and numerical data procedures national health service Cross-Sectional Studies Surveys and Questionnaires asylum seeker migrant worker cross-sectional study migrant Humans Adolescent Infant, Newborn male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child female Infant Child, Preschool newborn poliomyelitis vaccine medical documentation tetanus toxoid questionnaire health services standards Article minor (person) adult migration measles mumps rubella vaccine Italy Health Policy Transients and Migrants vaccination immunization Health Services Accessibility health care delivery Child

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047065877&doi=10.3390%2fijerph15050968&partnerID=40&md5=fca4aa54f8dd9a1ee728cb7ffcfffe9d

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15050968

ISSN: 16617827

Cited by: 5

Original Language: English