Migrant Worker Health DG SANCO May 20th 2009

Project Development by Prolepsis  The Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health (PROLEPSIS) is a non-profit organization, active in the field of medical research, health promotion, environmental and occupational health since  Our human resources consist of a multi-disciplinary team of physicians, public health specialists, statisticians, economists and sociologists.  We have led and participated in numerable EU projects. We just completed as coordinators the EU program GROW (Guidelines for Prevention Obesity at the workplace) and we will be starting a new EU program called FAQT (Family and Adolescents Quit Tobacco campaign).  You can find more information on our activities at the website of the organization : (

Prolepsis experience in the area of migrant worker health  The MIGHEALTHNET project aims to stimulate the exchange of knowledge on migrant and minority health through the development of interactive data bases in each of the participating countries. These 'wikis' will contain the following sorts of data:  Background information concerning migrant and minority populations  The state of health of migrants and minorities  The health care system and the entitlement of migrants and minorities to health care  Accessibility of health care  Quality of care: ‘good practices’ developed to improve the matching of service provisions to the needs of migrants and minorities  Achieving change: centers of expertise, general reports and policy documents, journals, training programmes, groups etc. By facilitating the transfer of knowledge and expertise and stimulating network formation within and between European countries, the project hopes to further the development of good practices concerned with the health of migrants and minorities.

Immigrant Immunization Initiative PromoVax Prolepsis Institute

Immunization issues for immigrants/refugees  Language issues  Incomplete records  Incomplete immunization  Differing schedules in other countries  Vaccine quality control  Reliability of history/documentation

Immunization Challenges for Immigrants  Prevention of infectious diseases in refugee and immigrant children, adolescents and adults presents special challenges  Inequalities in access to healthcare  Data regarding immunization rates may be difficult to obtain  Vaccine practices and schedules differ by country  Use of different immunization schedules  Use of unfamiliar vaccine products  Use of different calendars, transposition of month and day, MMR when only MR given  Immunity often acquired through natural disease  Assessment of legitimacy and relationship of documentation of vaccine and protection

DG Sanco 2009 call Priority  Exchange practices on promotion of vaccination in member states, in particular regarding hard to reach populations

Target Group  Immigrant and refugees in the EU

Aim  The purpose of this objective is to  review existing immigrant immunization policies among member states,  identify the immunization needs of adult and children migrants and to  make migrant-specific resources available to clinicians

Objectives  Record immigrant immunization practices in different European Countries and identify gaps in immigrant health  Review current policies and legislation  Assess access to immunization  Collect reports from migrant health programs, NGOs  Analyze a convenience sample of adult migrants  Assist physicians in improving immunization rates, among immigrants and refugees  Provide tools to enhance health professional knowledge and expertise in the area of immunizations such as  Practical, scenario driven guidelines for HCP re: immigrant/refugee immunization  Handbook Guide to Recommended Vaccines for Recent Immigrants (based on their country of origin)  Immunization record form  Make migrant-specific resources available to clinicians, such as  Develop popular-educational materials and resources which are culturally and linguistically appropriate; and in an easy to understand format, to be used by the clinicians in educating and encouraging migrants to get vaccinated and to vaccinate their children

Start and duration  DG Sanco proposal deadline May 20 th 2009  Duration 36 months