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(CNN) – The UN migration agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has called on governments not to forget about migrants when they start planning coronavirus vaccination programs.
Dr. Jaime Calderón, IOM’s senior regional health advisor, told a meeting of the Southeast Europe Health Network that migrants should be included in vaccination and public health plans.
“Vaccines are among our most critical and cost-effective tools for preventing outbreaks and keeping communities safe and healthy,” he said, according to an IOM press release on Friday.
“For all to prosper, countries must step up efforts to ensure that no one is left behind and that all migrants, regardless of their legal status, have access to the benefits of life-saving vaccines.”
The Southeast Europe Health Network connects countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and North Macedonia, each of which is a country of origin and, increasingly, a country of transit for migrants, says the IOM. .
“Some 30,000 migrants passed irregularly through the region this year, roughly the same as in previous years, despite pandemic restrictions,” the press release said.
Harsh winter weather conditions and seasonal flu are likely to put regional health services under great pressure, the health forum heard.
“This is bad news for the tens of thousands of migrants in the region,” Calderón said. “Too often, migrants encounter obstacles to accessing health services, due to language and cultural barriers, the fees they cannot afford, and the lack of inclusive health policies.”
This story was first published on CNN.com, “The UN migration agency urges countries to include migrants in vaccine distribution plans.”
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