Engagement on COVID19 Vaccination & Migrants
The National Engagement on COVID19 Vaccination & Migrants: Leaving No One Behind was an occasion organised by the NITI Aayog and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) India on June 24, 2022. The IOM also started their related study. This study documents the attitudes, information, and views regarding migrant workers’ (both domestic and foreign returnees) acceptance or resistance to the Indian government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Since the start of the pandemic, the government’s (federal and state) concerted efforts have resulted in an outstanding array of countermeasures to lessen and restrict the spread of the disease. More than 196 crore (1.96 billion) vaccine administrations, of which more than 91 crore (910 million) are full immunizations, are seen in the most recent data from the government’s CoWIN platform. The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) was established in 2021 to provide thorough recommendations on vaccine administration in response to the pressing need to immunize India’s enormous population. As a result, multi-sectoral and stakeholder approaches, public-private partnerships, the use of technology, and reliable monitoring systems enabled the vaccine campaign to target the hardest-to-reach populations.
Engagement on COVID19 Vaccination
Sanjay Awasthi, the head of the IOM India office, said in his introductory remarks that “during the epidemic we have recognized the worth of migrants in society and the national economy, therefore making their health and well-being a priority for all of us.” He stressed that “migration is a social determinant of health that can impair the general health and well-being of individuals and communities” during the Report’s launch.
Shombi Sharp, the UN’s Resident Coordinator in India, focused on the accomplishments of the Indian government and how efforts went beyond national borders. The government truly embodied the phrase “leaving no one behind” by providing aid in the form of vaccines to other countries, particularly those participating in UN Peacekeeping Missions, in addition to helping its own inhabitants.
Historical evidence suggests that a number of personal and institutional obstacles hamper the quick uptake of healthcare interventions. The whole population of migratory workers—both domestic and repatriated foreign—was severely damaged by the abrupt end to human mobility. It is assumed that migratory workers were more likely to face a higher burden of COVID-19 infection due to the deprivation brought on by the abrupt loss of jobs and increased uncertainty, as well as inferior health-seeking behaviours.
COVID19 Pandemic
The study “will help in detecting gaps in vaccine distribution, and ensure that migrant workers’ difficulties are emphasised so that there is better readiness for the future,” said Dr. Muniraju S. B., Deputy Advisor, NITI Aayog.
IOM and Purpose (www.purpose.com) have developed a campaign to encourage vaccination intent, enlighten community healthcare providers and other stakeholders, and enhance the ecosystem around migrant-inclusive immunization based on the study’s findings. The Verified Initiative, a global communications network that addresses the most pressing effects of misinformation and deception on COVID-19 and promotes correct, scientifically supported information, complements this effort.
