TY - JOUR
T1 - Immunization offer targeting migrants
T2 - Policies and practices in Italy
AU - Italian survey CAREWorking Group
AU - Zuanna, Teresa Dalla
AU - Del Manso, Martina
AU - Giambi, Cristina
AU - Riccardo, Flavia
AU - Bella, Antonino
AU - Caporali, Maria Grazia
AU - Dente, Maria Grazia
AU - Declich, Silvia
AU - Iannazzo, Stefania
AU - Mignuoli, Anna Domenica
AU - Tosti, Anna
AU - Ferrara, Lorenza
AU - Pascucci, Maria Grazia
AU - Cagarelli, Roberto
AU - Zuccali, Maria Grazia
AU - Caldés, Maria José
AU - Bortoletto, Martina
AU - Bevilacqua, Monica
AU - Carletti, Patrizia
AU - Tanchis, Pierina
AU - Prato, Rosa
AU - Cappelli, Maria Giovanna
AU - Gallone, Maria Serena
AU - Senatore, Sabrina
AU - Brussi, Valentina
AU - Gallo, Tolinda
AU - Palermo, Mario
PY - 2018/5/12
Y1 - 2018/5/12
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - infectious disease
KW - vaccination
KW - Italy
KW - Migrants
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U2 - 10.3390/ijerph15050968
DO - 10.3390/ijerph15050968
M3 - Article
C2 - 29757209
AN - SCOPUS:85047065877
VL - 15
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
SN - 1661-7827
IS - 5
M1 - 968
ER -