COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among undocumented migrants during the early phase of the vaccination campaign: a multicentric cross-sectional study
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2022
Citazione:
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among undocumented migrants during the early phase of the vaccination campaign: a multicentric cross-sectional study / K.R. Page, E. Genovese, M. Franchi, S.G. Cella, G. Fiorini, R. Tlili, S. Salazar, A. Duvoisin, J. Cailhol, Y. Jackson. - In: BMJ OPEN. - ISSN 2044-6055. - 12:3(2022 Mar 17), pp. e056591.1-e056591.23. [10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056591]
Abstract:
Study objectives
The marginalisation of undocumented migrants raises concerns about equitable access to COVID-19 vaccination. This study aims to describe migrants’ hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccination during the early phase of the vaccination campaign.
Setting
This multicentric cross-sectional survey was conducted in health facilities providing care to undocumented migrants in the USA, Switzerland, Italy and France in February–May 2021.
Participants
Eligibility criteria included age >16 years, being of foreign origin and living without valid residency permit in the country of recruitment. A convenience sample of minimum 100 patients per study site was targeted.
Primary and secondary outcome measures
Data were collected using an anonymous structured questionnaire. The main outcomes were perceived access to the local COVID-19 vaccination programme and demand for vaccination.
Results
Altogether, 812 undocumented migrants participated (54.3% Geneva, 17.5% Baltimore, 15.5% Milano and 12.7% Paris). Most (60.9%) were women.
The median age was 39 years (interquartile range 1). Participants originated from the Americas (55.9%), Africa (12.7%), Western Pacific (11.2%) Eastern Mediterranean
(7.9%), Europe (7.6%) and South-East Asia (4.7%). Overall, 14.1% and 26.2% of participants, respectively, reported prior COVID-19 infection and fear of developing severe COVID-19 infection. Risk factors for severe infection were frequently reported (29.5%). Self-perceived accessibility of COVID-19 vaccination was high (86.4%), yet demand was low (41.1%) correlating with age, comorbidity and views on vaccination which were better for vaccination in general (77.3%) than vaccination against COVID-19
(56.5%). Participants mainly searched for information about vaccination in the traditional and social media.
Conclusions
We found a mismatch between perceived accessibility and demand for the COVID-19 vaccination.Public health interventions using different communication modes should build on trust about vaccination in general to tackle undocumented migrants’ hesitancy for COVID-19 vaccination with a specific attention to men, younger migrants and those at low clinical risk of severe infection.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Undocumented migrants; COVID 19; Vaccination; Vaccine hexitancy
Elenco autori:
K.R. Page, E. Genovese, M. Franchi, S.G. Cella, G. Fiorini, R. Tlili, S. Salazar, A. Duvoisin, J. Cailhol, Y. Jackson
Link alla scheda completa:
Link al Full Text: