Madison Clarke
Refugees are often excluded from vaccination plans and systems due to a lack of legal entitlements to healthcare, administrative/residence barriers, language, and cultural sensitivity issues. This exclusion puts them at a higher risk of contracting diseases. In the United States, federal funding covers most vaccination costs for refugees through the Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees (VPR). Similarly, in Serbia, vaccines were made available to refugees in camps, and in Jordan, the government included refugees in their COVID-19 response, prioritizing them alongside citizens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who funds vaccines for refugees? | Federal government funding currently covers most vaccination costs for refugees in the US. |
| The Serbian government made vaccines available to refugees in camps. | |
| The Jordanian government has included refugees in their COVID-19 response. | |
| The US foreign aid funding freeze has threatened the stability of community-based organizations working to increase access to vaccines for refugees. | |
| How do refugees access vaccines? | The Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees (VPR) provides one or two doses of some ACIP-recommended vaccines to US-bound refugees before departure. |
| The VPR program is implemented mainly by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). | |
| IOM administered vaccines in six countries from 2012-2015 and expanded to 21 countries in 2017. | |
| The International Organization for Migration and civil society organizations are strategically placed to contribute to discussions and decisions around the scale-up and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for refugees. | |
| Barriers to access | Refugees tend to have suboptimal vaccination coverage compared to the general population due to exclusion from health and vaccination plans and systems, often due to a lack of legal entitlements to healthcare or administrative/residence barriers. |
| Health system barriers due to language, lack of cultural sensitivity, lack of outreach and community engagement capacity, lack of collaboration with civil society organizations, and barriers to primary care and vaccination services access. |
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What You'll Learn
- US federal funding covers most vaccination costs for refugees
- Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees (VPR)
- Serbian government made vaccines available to refugees in camps
- Jordan's COVID-19 vaccination for Syrian refugees
- Xenophobic tendencies and governments' migration agendas impact refugees' access to vaccines
US federal funding covers most vaccination costs for refugees
Refugees seeking entry into the United States are not required to be vaccinated before their arrival in the country. However, they are required to undergo a medical examination overseas, which includes an assessment of their vaccination status. This examination is overseen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a federal agency.
Once refugees arrive in the US, they receive assistance from state agencies in finding employment and housing, and integrating into their communities. This assistance is funded by the federal government, and it includes vaccination costs. The Office of Refugee Resettlement, established within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for funding and administering programs for refugees, in consultation with the Secretary of State.
The federal government also provides Refugee Medical Assistance funds to reimburse healthcare providers for conducting refugee health assessments within 90 days of a refugee's entry into the US. These assessments include language interpretation services and participation in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program.
While the US federal government provides funding for vaccination and other health-related costs for refugees, the overall US refugee admissions program has faced challenges in recent years. The high levels of migration have strained resources and communities' abilities to assimilate refugees effectively. As a result, the US has suspended new refugee admissions and terminated agreements with resettlement organizations.
The situation highlights the complex dynamics of refugee resettlement and the need to balance the health and security of both the refugee population and the receiving communities.
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Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees (VPR)
The Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees (VPR) was initiated in December 2012 by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is a collaboration between the US CDC's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine and the US Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. The program is implemented primarily by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The VPR aims to improve the health of refugees travelling to the US and reduce costs by providing one or two doses of some age-specific Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)-recommended vaccines before their departure. This helps to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in US communities, which could lead to significant public health response costs. The program also includes transcribing valid vaccination records into official documents to be shared with health departments after the refugees arrive.
For the fiscal year (FY) 2012 through 2015, the IOM administered vaccines in six countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, and Uganda. The program was expanded to 21 countries for FY 2017. VPR is a cost-saving program, reducing vaccination costs for refugees across all age groups and lowering the risk of refugees arriving with vaccine-preventable diseases.
VPR is particularly beneficial for adult refugees, who often do not receive as much attention as children when it comes to vaccination. By providing vaccinations to adults before their departure, VPR helps to ensure that this vulnerable population is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
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Serbian government made vaccines available to refugees in camps
In the United States, the federal government currently covers most vaccination costs for refugees. The Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees (VPR) was initiated in 2012 by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve the health of refugees and reduce costs. The program is implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which administers vaccines in several countries.
In Serbia, the government has also made vaccines available to refugees in camps. This decision was made in response to public pressure and the vulnerable living conditions in the camps, which increase the risk of infection. The Asylum Protection Center (APC), a local nonprofit providing assistance to refugees and asylum seekers, played a crucial role in advocating for refugee vaccination. They launched a media campaign to raise awareness about the needs of refugees and argued that they should be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination.
Serbia has experienced a significant influx of refugees in recent years, with tens of thousands of people entering the country in 2021 alone. Many of these refugees were fleeing conflicts and economic hardships in countries like Afghanistan and Syria. While some refugees transit through Serbia towards neighboring European Union countries, others have chosen to build a new life within Serbia.
The APC has been instrumental in supporting refugee children and youth, providing them with psychosocial support, legal aid, and social inclusion activities. They also assist refugee families in navigating the challenges of enrolling their children in local schools, as the Serbian government has been accused of trying to prevent refugee children from accessing education.
Serbia's decision to provide vaccines to refugees in camps is a positive step towards ensuring the health and well-being of this vulnerable population. It is encouraging to see governments and organizations recognizing the importance of vaccine equity and accessibility, especially for those who are displaced and at risk of exploitation and health hazards.
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Jordan's COVID-19 vaccination for Syrian refugees
Jordan has demonstrated its commitment to including refugees in its vaccination plans, and this has been praised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The country hosts a large number of refugees, with around 658,000 registered Syrian refugees, and an estimated total of 1.3 million Syrians in the country. In addition, there are over 2 million registered Palestine refugees, and tens of thousands of refugees from other countries such as Iraq, Yemen, and Sudan.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Jordanian government has indicated its intention not to discriminate against refugees in its vaccine prioritization criteria. The same criteria have been applied to all, irrespective of nationality or residency status: healthcare workers, older people, and those with underlying health conditions. This has been a critical step towards universal health coverage and the right to health in general.
Despite the wide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, refugees remain last in line for vaccination. However, on January 14, 2021, Iraqi and Syrian refugees in camps began receiving their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine under government guidelines. A study conducted between January and March 2022 among Syrian refugees in the Zaatari refugee camp found a high vaccine acceptance rate of 89.6%. The participants showed a good understanding of the vaccine, the disease, and the virus.
Jordan has faced challenges in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic due to the country's demographics and the presence of refugee populations. Refugee camps are often characterized by unsanitary and cramped living conditions, which facilitate the spread of diseases. However, Jordan has continued its support through various programs such as the Sixth Regional Response Plan (RRP6) of UNCHR and the National Resilience Plan (NRP) of the Jordanian government.
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Xenophobic tendencies and governments' migration agendas impact refugees' access to vaccines
Refugees' access to vaccines is influenced by a multitude of factors, including xenophobic tendencies and governments' migration agendas. While some countries have made strides towards including refugees in their vaccination programs, others have faced challenges due to various factors, including funding, public health infrastructure, and political will.
In the United States, the federal government currently covers most vaccination costs for refugees through the Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees (VPR). This program, initiated in 2012, is a collaboration between the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. The VPR aims to improve the health of US-bound refugees and reduce the costs associated with vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
However, in other countries, refugees' access to vaccines has been impacted by xenophobic tendencies and migration policies. For example, in Serbia, refugees staying in camps did not initially have access to COVID-19 vaccines when they first became available in early 2021. It was only after public pressure that the Serbian government made vaccines available to refugees in camps, and later to refugee children once vaccines were approved for younger age groups. Serbia's asylum system, implemented in 2008, has also been criticized for attempting to prevent refugee children from enrolling in local schools, potentially discouraging refugee families from integrating into Serbian society.
Jordan, a country with a significant refugee population, has also faced challenges in its COVID-19 response due to its demographics. While the Jordanian government has indicated its intention to use the same prioritization criteria for vaccination regardless of nationality or residency status, implementing such planning is difficult due to the presence of hard-to-reach refugees and migrants. Despite these challenges, the inclusion of refugees in Jordan's COVID response has been hailed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
In Latin American countries, there have been varying approaches to including refugees and migrants in vaccination plans. For example, in Argentina, migrants and refugees were included in the vaccination campaign based on vulnerability conditions, including migratory status. In contrast, Brazil did not prioritize irregular migrants, and in Colombia, initial communication restricted vaccine availability to those with regular migration status, creating additional challenges due to a lack of insurance.
Overall, while there have been some positive steps towards including refugees in vaccination programs, xenophobic tendencies and migration policies continue to impact refugees' access to vaccines. Outreach and community engagement efforts, along with equitable distribution and access to vaccines, remain crucial in ensuring that refugee populations are not left behind.
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Frequently asked questions
The US federal government currently covers most vaccination costs for refugees. The Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees (VPR) is a federal program that provides one or two doses of some recommended vaccines to US-bound refugees before their departure.
While federal funding covers most vaccination costs for refugees, states may also contribute through programs like Medicaid. In some cases, state funding may be necessary to cover domestic vaccination costs for refugees.
Yes, some countries like Serbia and Jordan have provided vaccines to refugees. However, there have been concerns about equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for refugees, and it varies by country. International organizations like the International Organization for Migration and civil society organizations play a crucial role in advocating for vaccine inclusion.
