Improving Access to COVID-19 Vaccinations for Vulnerable Migrants in Humanitarian Settings

Duration: 9 months (July 2021 – March 2022)

Donor: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

In the frame of its Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reiterates the need for migrant-inclusive approaches in the overall COVID-19 response and recovery and calls on countries to address the particular needs and vulnerabilities of migrants, regardless of their legal status, in the spirit of Universal Health Coverage. The overall goal of this project is to encourage informed decisions related to the COVID-19 vaccination among migrant population.

Access to COVID-19 vaccination must be ensured to all migrants, despite of their legal and/or  administrative status. Furthermore, it is important to raise awareness among the migrant population on the importance of the COVID-19 vaccination in a culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate way.

In Slovenia, in close collaboration with the National Institute of Public Health and the civil society, IOM will promote equitable access to vaccines through the provision of information sessions for migrants led by an expert epidemiologist, a social media campaign, and by monitoring access to COVID-19 vaccines for migrants to advocate for their inclusion in the national vaccination plan and implementation.

IOM will conduct social mobilization activities, including community engagement, outreach, production of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and campaigns to raise awareness on COVID-19 vaccines and promote informed decisions, in coordination with health partners and government officials.

Donors and Partners