Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RIVER-EU (Reducing Inequalities in Vaccine uptake in the European Region - Engaging Underserved communities)
Período documentado: 2022-12-01 hasta 2024-05-31
What is the problem/issue being addressed?
Vaccine uptake in most minority or ethnic communities in Europe is substantially and unacceptably lower compared to the general population. Members from these communities - in RIVER-EU: (1) the migrant community in Greece, (2) the Turkish females and (3) Moroccan females in the Netherlands, (4) the Ukrainian minority in Poland and (5) the Roma community in Slovakia - are likely to encounter health system barriers to accessing health care services. As a result, the vaccine uptake in these communities is low. To increase vaccine uptake and coverage in underserved communities, health system barriers must be removed.
Why is it important for society?
Removing health system barriers will on the one hand lead to a higher vaccine uptake in the underserved communities and will thereby improve protection against vaccine-preventable diseases at the national and European levels. On the other hand, barriers in vaccination services often indicate barriers in general health system functioning. So, with removing health system barriers in accessing vaccination services, RIVER-EU improves access to health services in general for all communities. A high vaccine uptake will decrease the burden of disease and therefore improve health and well-being for all children and adolescents in Europe. Equitable access to and use of vaccines will prevent infectious diseases in children and adolescents, thus allowing them to continue their development towards a healthy adulthood and preventing infection related cancers in later life.
What are the overall objectives?
The overall aim of the RIVER-EU project is to make access to MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination equitable, improving access to these vaccines among underserved communities in Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia by identifying and removing health system barriers. We will do that by adjusting existing and/or developing new interventions tailored to underserved communities. To that purpose the project takes a co-creative and collaborative approach, where the underserved communities as well as the health care workers providing the health services are given a voice in all phases of the project. By doing so, we ensure that the perspectives and experiences of the communities and the vaccination services are acknowledged and that the current mismatch between health services and communities is repaired.
Vaccine uptake in most minority or ethnic communities in Europe is substantially and unacceptably lower compared to the general population. Members from these communities - in RIVER-EU: (1) the migrant community in Greece, (2) the Turkish females and (3) Moroccan females in the Netherlands, (4) the Ukrainian minority in Poland and (5) the Roma community in Slovakia - are likely to encounter health system barriers to accessing health care services. As a result, the vaccine uptake in these communities is low. To increase vaccine uptake and coverage in underserved communities, health system barriers must be removed.
Why is it important for society?
Removing health system barriers will on the one hand lead to a higher vaccine uptake in the underserved communities and will thereby improve protection against vaccine-preventable diseases at the national and European levels. On the other hand, barriers in vaccination services often indicate barriers in general health system functioning. So, with removing health system barriers in accessing vaccination services, RIVER-EU improves access to health services in general for all communities. A high vaccine uptake will decrease the burden of disease and therefore improve health and well-being for all children and adolescents in Europe. Equitable access to and use of vaccines will prevent infectious diseases in children and adolescents, thus allowing them to continue their development towards a healthy adulthood and preventing infection related cancers in later life.
What are the overall objectives?
The overall aim of the RIVER-EU project is to make access to MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination equitable, improving access to these vaccines among underserved communities in Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia by identifying and removing health system barriers. We will do that by adjusting existing and/or developing new interventions tailored to underserved communities. To that purpose the project takes a co-creative and collaborative approach, where the underserved communities as well as the health care workers providing the health services are given a voice in all phases of the project. By doing so, we ensure that the perspectives and experiences of the communities and the vaccination services are acknowledged and that the current mismatch between health services and communities is repaired.
Over the past 36 months, we have gathered evidence on the challenges undeserved communities face in accessing healthcare. Our research focused on understanding the barriers experienced by young people, their parents and grandparents, and healthcare professionals, particularly those barriers that can prevent people from getting vaccinated.
Our studies were conducted in areas with both low and high vaccination rates. In communities with lower vaccination coverage, such as migrant populations in Greece, Turkish and Moroccan communities in The Netherlands, Ukranian population in Poland, and the Roma population in Slovakia, we identified key barriers. We also examined communities with high vaccination rates despite facing similar challenges, such as the Bangladeshi community in the UK, the Somali population in Finland and the Arab population in Israel. These are considered empowering examples.
In addition to identifying these barriers, we explored interventions that could improve vaccination rates for MMR and HPV in Greece, The Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia. A transferability assessment was conducted to determine which interventions could be adapted to fit the unique needs of each target community in RIVER-EU and the context. Through close collaboration with community members and other key stakeholders, we co-created tailored interventions that are designed to meet the specific needs of underserved populations.
One of the most promising interventions selected in our studies involved training health promoters. These individuals are being trained to deliver educational sessions on MMR and HPV vaccinations to community members, ensuring the underserved community members are equipped to make informed decisions about their health.
Our studies were conducted in areas with both low and high vaccination rates. In communities with lower vaccination coverage, such as migrant populations in Greece, Turkish and Moroccan communities in The Netherlands, Ukranian population in Poland, and the Roma population in Slovakia, we identified key barriers. We also examined communities with high vaccination rates despite facing similar challenges, such as the Bangladeshi community in the UK, the Somali population in Finland and the Arab population in Israel. These are considered empowering examples.
In addition to identifying these barriers, we explored interventions that could improve vaccination rates for MMR and HPV in Greece, The Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia. A transferability assessment was conducted to determine which interventions could be adapted to fit the unique needs of each target community in RIVER-EU and the context. Through close collaboration with community members and other key stakeholders, we co-created tailored interventions that are designed to meet the specific needs of underserved populations.
One of the most promising interventions selected in our studies involved training health promoters. These individuals are being trained to deliver educational sessions on MMR and HPV vaccinations to community members, ensuring the underserved community members are equipped to make informed decisions about their health.
The project yielded already very rich outcomes. We have interventions that have been designed in collaboration with key stakeholders including policy makers, health professionals and community members. The interventions that are being implemented are culturally tailored educational sessions to the underserved communities and as such we contribute to make the vaccination programme more equitable.