The MENA Migrant Health Working Group has released findings from a qualitative study examining the factors that shape vaccine uptake among migrant populations. Conducted across multiple sites in Morocco, the research highlights a range of individual, social, and systemic barriers affecting access to childhood and adult vaccination services.
Although all study participants were entitled to free vaccination services and expressed trust in routine childhood vaccines, many reported challenges related to access, information, and continuity of care. The research team conducted in-depth interviews with 23 migrants (65% women) and 8 healthcare professionals in the cities of Rabat, Agadir, and Oujda. While caregivers generally expressed strong confidence in the safety and benefits of childhood vaccination, practical barriers, such as administrative hurdles, language difficulties, and limited orientation, were found to affect uptake.
For adult vaccination, uptake was significantly lower. Many participants were unaware of available adult vaccines beyond COVID-19 and tetanus, and several expressed hesitancy or mistrust, particularly toward newer vaccines. These attitudes were frequently shaped by misinformation and the lack of clear, culturally appropriate communication.
Health professionals participating in the study noted that adult and catch-up vaccinations were not routinely offered to migrants, largely due to the lack of systematic checks of vaccination history in primary care. Both migrants and providers stressed the need to strengthen interpersonal communication, provide multilingual health information, and enhance the role of community-based organisations in raising awareness and facilitating access.
“This study confirms what many in the field have long suspected: that access alone is not enough. To increase vaccine uptake among migrants, we need to build trust, improve communication, and reduce the everyday barriers that prevent people from getting vaccinated,” said Ana Requena, Head of ISGlobal’s Migrant Health Research Group and Coordinator of the MENA Migrant Health Project funded by “la Caixa Foundation.”
The findings point to the need for tailored approaches to vaccination delivery that address the specific needs of migrant populations, particularly hard-to-reach sub-groups. This includes improving access to adult and catch-up vaccines, enhancing coordination with community partners, and equipping healthcare providers with the training and tools necessary to engage effectively with diverse populations.
“While the study was conducted in Morocco, the challenges it documents are common across the region and have broader implications for migrant health through the Maghreb and MENA region”, added Stella Evangelidou, ISGlobal researcher and scientific coordinator for the project MENA Migrant Health. “These findings should inform efforts to close the gap between entitlement and actual uptake of vaccination services among migrant populations—an essential step toward achieving global immunisation goals”, concludes.
Reference: Oumnia Bouaddi, Mohamed Khalis, Moudrike Abdellatifi, Farah Seedat, Anna Deal, Wafa Chemao-Elfihri, Bouchra Assarag, Hassan Chrifi, Nelly Chavassieux, Ibrahim M. Sorie Turay, Cédric Kané Gohi, Tarik Oufkir, Ana Requena-Méndez, Sally Hargreaves, Stella Evangelidou, Behavioural and social drivers of vaccination among child and adult migrants in Morocco: A qualitative interview study, Vaccine, Volume 56, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127166.
