A diverse group of migrants protected by a vaccine shield, symbolizing vaccine equity in the EU.

Vaccine Equity: Bridging the Gap for Newly Arrived Migrants in Europe

Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A systematic review reveals strategies to improve vaccination uptake and cost-effectiveness among newly arrived migrants in the EU/EEA, ensuring healthier communities for all."

In an increasingly interconnected world, migration has become a defining feature of modern societies. With over 258 million people migrating across international borders and an additional 763 million migrating internally, ensuring the health and well-being of migrant populations is a critical public health priority. In the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA), the influx of refugees and migrants between 2014 and 2016, coupled with internal migration, has created unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems.

Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) pose a significant threat, particularly among newly arrived migrants who may be under-immunized or lack documentation of previous vaccinations. Measles and polio outbreaks in the EU/EEA have been linked to under-immunized migrant populations, highlighting the urgent need for effective vaccination strategies. However, seroprevalence studies have revealed sub-optimal immunity to VPDs among both adult and child migrants, underscoring the complexity of the issue.

Recognizing the critical need for targeted interventions, a systematic review was conducted to explore strategies for improving vaccination uptake and cost-effectiveness among newly arrived migrants in the EU/EEA. This review, conforming to PRISMA guidelines, sought to identify interventions that increase vaccine uptake and assess the cost-effectiveness of vaccination strategies in this vulnerable population.

Effective Strategies to Boost Vaccination Rates Among Migrants

A diverse group of migrants protected by a vaccine shield, symbolizing vaccine equity in the EU.

The systematic review identified three primary intervention studies conducted in the EU/EEA or high-income countries. These studies shed light on promising strategies for improving vaccination uptake among migrant populations. While the impact observed was generally small, the findings offer valuable insights for designing effective interventions.

Key interventions included:

Social Mobilization/Community Outreach: Engaging communities through outreach programs to raise awareness and promote vaccination.
Planned Vaccination Programs: Implementing structured vaccination programs tailored to the specific needs of migrant populations.
Education Campaigns: Providing accessible and culturally sensitive information about the importance of vaccination.

These interventions demonstrated small but promising impact on vaccine uptake. It's important to note that the only outcome reported across these studies was vaccine uptake itself, with no data available on disease rates, enrollment in health services, or migrant acceptance of vaccination. Further research is needed to explore the broader impact of these interventions.

Moving Forward: Prioritizing Vaccination for Migrants in the EU/EEA

While data remains scarce, the review highlights the potential of social mobilization, vaccine programs, and education campaigns as promising strategies for improving vaccination rates among migrants. Further research is needed to explore the cost-effectiveness of these strategies and address the unique challenges faced by migrant populations. Vaccination of migrants must remain a public health priority in the EU/EEA, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to protect themselves and their communities from vaccine-preventable diseases.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3390/ijerph15102065, Alternate LINK

Title: Interventions To Improve Vaccination Uptake And Cost Effectiveness Of Vaccination Strategies In Newly Arrived Migrants In The Eu/Eea: A Systematic Review

Subject: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Publisher: MDPI AG

Authors: Charles Hui, Jessica Dunn, Rachael Morton, Lukas Staub, Anh Tran, Sally Hargreaves, Christina Greenaway, Beverly Biggs, Robin Christensen, Kevin Pottie

Published: 2018-09-20

Everything You Need To Know

What are vaccine-preventable diseases, and why is it important to focus on them in the context of newly arrived migrants?

Vaccine-preventable diseases, or VPDs, are illnesses that can be prevented through vaccination. They are significant because under-immunized migrant populations can lead to outbreaks of diseases like measles and polio, posing a threat to public health within the EU/EEA. Ensuring high vaccination rates among newly arrived migrants is crucial for preventing the spread of these diseases and protecting the broader community.

What is social mobilization/community outreach, and why is it important for improving vaccination rates among migrants?

Social mobilization and community outreach are strategies that involve engaging local communities to raise awareness about vaccination and promote its benefits. This is significant because it can address cultural or linguistic barriers that might prevent newly arrived migrants from accessing or understanding vaccination information. By building trust and providing culturally sensitive information, social mobilization can increase vaccine uptake within migrant communities.

What are planned vaccination programs, and how do they help in ensuring vaccination of migrant populations?

Planned vaccination programs are structured initiatives specifically designed to deliver vaccines to migrant populations. These programs are important because they can address the unique challenges faced by migrants, such as lack of documentation or unfamiliarity with the healthcare system. By offering targeted vaccination services, these programs can improve vaccination rates and ensure that newly arrived migrants are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.

What are education campaigns, and what role do they play in increasing vaccination rates among migrants?

Education campaigns involve providing accessible and culturally sensitive information about the importance of vaccination. These campaigns are important because they can address misconceptions or concerns that migrants may have about vaccines. By delivering clear and accurate information, education campaigns can empower migrants to make informed decisions about their health and increase vaccine acceptance.

What did the systematic review focus on and what type of studies were included?

The systematic review looked at intervention studies conducted in the EU/EEA or high-income countries. The review focused on identifying interventions that increase vaccine uptake and assessing the cost-effectiveness of vaccination strategies in vulnerable populations. While the impact observed was generally small, the findings offer valuable insights for designing effective interventions.