Non-COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among migrant populations worldwide: a scoping review of the literature, 2000-2020

Abstract

Introduction: Migration can be linked to the transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases. Hence, monitoring migrants' vaccination-related concerns can inform needed interventions to support vaccine acceptance.

Areas covered: Along with Google and Google Scholar, we searched 13 bibliographic databases between 1 January 2000 and 10 October 2020, to identify published studies of vaccine hesitancy among migrant populations. From a total of 8,915 records, we screened 745 abstracts and included 112 eligible articles. We summarized extracted data using figures, tables, and narrations. Of the 112 articles, 109 were original quantitative (48%), qualitative (45%), and mixed-methods (7%) research, originating mainly from the United States (US) (68%), the United Kingdom (UK) (12%), and Scandinavia (6%). Most articles addressed human papillomavirus (63%), measles (13%), and influenzas (9%) vaccinations, and the leading sponsor of funded research was the US National Institutes of Health (50%). Discernable migrant groups with vaccine-specific concerns included Somali diasporas, UK-based Poles and Romanians, and US-based Haitians and Koreans. Among US-based Latina/Latino immigrants, lower vaccine uptake frequency was mostly associated with awareness levels, knowledge gaps, and uninsured status.

Expert opinion: Migrants' vaccine-related apprehensions may cascade well beyond their proximate social connections and influence vaccine attitudes and behaviors in their countries-of-origin.

Keywords: Flu vaccine; MMR vaccine; human papillomavirus vaccine; measles outbreak; scoping review; transnational migrants; under-immunization; under-vaccination; vaccine hesitancy; vaccine uptake.