Migration Health

COVID-19 Vaccination and Migrants: Leaving No One Behind

In the absence of a comprehensive picture regarding the barriers in ensuring COVID-19 vaccination for migrants, IOM in partnership with UNFPA and WHO carried out a rapid assessment deploying a combination of primary research (face-to-face interview and telephonic survey) and secondary information (COWIN data, Facebook COVID-19 symptom survey aggregate level data) across a sample of states with a significant migrant population to assess the factors behind vaccine accessibility, hesitancy and acceptance amongst migrants, particularly the gender gap in vaccine administration. The study targeted nine migrant-receiving cities with a population of more than one million, namely Delhi, Ludhiana, Surat, Kochi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Kanpur and Pune and one city that is the emerging garment manufacturing hub, Tirupur. A rapid sample survey of 2492 migrants were conducted in these states. The survey was conducted through telephonic as well as face-to-face interviews with 2189 internal migrants and 303 Indian returnee migrants. The survey so conducted ensured gender balanced representation within the interviewees. Based on the results an analytical report was prepared highlighting key recommendations and was disseminated with key stakeholders in the government, UN agencies, and employers in the organized and unorganized sectors.

Migrants Inclusion in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (MICVaP)

In response to the exacerbated vulnerability and risk migrants faced amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in line with the COVID-19 vaccination and migration research project, the MICVaP project – funded by the Strategic Response and Recovery Plan (SRRP) – was implemented in partnership with UNFPA. It was aimed at addressing the challenges related to inadequate inclusion of migrants in the countrywide vaccination against COVID-19. The central objective of the project was to galvanize migrant inclusion and sensitive COVID-19 vaccination outreach through collaboration with government personnel and civil society in better identification and coverage of migrants. With various stakeholder partnerships including Central and State Government entities and Civil Society Organizations, IOM worked towards addressing possible misinformation or misperception related to the COVID-19 vaccine and curb discrimination and stigma towards the migrant population seeking vaccination services. These objectives were achieved through community engagement activities like public awareness campaigns and sensitization of health actors, and other government officials. Activities included dissemination of information, education and communication messages through creative yet effective mechanisms amongst migrant worker communities and their network in languages understood by the communities. With this initiative, IOM also seeks to continue supporting the ongoing efforts at the existing Migration Resource Centres (MRCs) in various States within India.    

In line with the findings of the study on COVID-19 vaccination and migrants, IOM supported the government initiatives to improve and effectively implement COVID-19 vaccination programme coverage while catering to the needs of migrant workers heading overseas for employment.