Hello, and welcome back to the first edition of Tuesday Newsday on our new blog!
As vaccination programmes begin around the world, we are seeing a glimmer of hope amidst these troubling times. Today, we will be discussing how refugees’ vaccinations are imperative in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 and are integral in the long-term fight against the virus.
While COVID-19 has not ravaged refugee camps in the way that it has in the UK or in the US, this does not mean this would continue in the future. Refugee camps are perfect places for COVID-19 to attack. In fact, recently, the rates of infection have been steadily increasing. With refugees often living in cramped conditions and as social distancing and maintaining hygiene levels are practically impossible to enforce, no one can exclude the possibility of COVID brutally endangering the lives of many if it were to strike with force.
⭐ Q&A: ‘Including refugees in the vaccine rollout is key to ending the pandemic’
With vaccines being rolled out across many countries, the UNHCR explained that vaccinating refugees is critical in ending the pandemic. However, only 51–57% of countries who have developed COVID-19 vaccination strategies have included refugees in their plans. Citing the need for 70% of the population needing the vaccination, in the eyes of public health, no one should be seen as more important than another solely based on their nationality. By excluding refugees, who live in cramped conditions, this raises the risks of spillovers in the country, resulting in a continuation of the pandemic. The UNHCR has also recognised the challenges of obtaining vaccinations in developing countries, where 86% of refugees live. Hence, they have emphasised that they will be working closely with national partners to support and ensure that vaccines are provided to those living in developing countries as well.
Public health groups have reiterated the calls, stressing the challenges in providing equitable access to vaccines especially in rebel-held territory where a legitimate or proper-functioning government is absent. Hence, they are urging countries to donate excess stockpiles of COVID-19 vaccines to humanitarian stockpiles to prevent further transmission in high-risk areas that often do not have healthcare services. For example, France has started rallying contributions to this stockpile, urging France and Europe to donate some doses to healthcare workers in ‘fragile countries’ to reinforce the fight against COVID.
This will be done through the COVAX facility, coordinated by Gavi, a global initiative that has been actively carrying out vaccinations in the world’s poorest countries to save lives, reduce poverty and protect the world against the threat or re-emergence of epidemics. Through COVAX, governments, NGOs and institutions have platforms to work together to ensure a coordinated response to providing developing countries with equitable access to vaccines, encompassing many refugees whilst doing so. Find out more about the COVAX facility in the article.
⭐ Refugees receive COVID-19 vaccinations in Jordan
Fortunately, Jordan has been the first country to start vaccinating refugees. UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi has called upon others to follow in the footsteps of Jordan, who treated refugees with utmost dignity, including them in all public health responses thus far. Through coordination with the UNHCR, local health authorities and the government, Jordan has kept rates of infection in camps lower than the national proportion, highlighting their commendable efforts that other countries should seek to emulate.
⭐ Iraqi couple among world’s first refugees to get COVID-19 jab
Iraqi couple, Raia and Zaid, who fled Iraq in 2006 for Jordan are amongst first refugees to be vaccinated in Jordan’s programme. Understanding that there has been hesitancy in terms of getting vaccinated, both are now committed to raising awareness about the importance of the vaccination amongst refugees. Read more about their experience getting the vaccine in the article, and what it meant for them.
⭐ Germany: Asylum seekers second-in-line for coronavirus vaccine
Similarly, Germany’s inclusion of refugees as the second in line, after the elderly and healthcare workers provides reassurance that countries are seeing the importance of including refugees in their programmes. While more work needs to be done in terms of promoting an inclusive environment and establishing that public health is undermined by discrimination, it is comforting to note that refugees will be part of international vaccination programmes.
Report written by Ariel Koh. Edited by Maya Thanky. (19/01/21)
