ROMA SUPPORT GROUP
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Immunisation

Contents
  • Introduction to the Roma health guide
  • Barriers to healthcare for the Roma community
    - System barriers
    - Language barriers and communication 
    - Cultural barriers
  • Common health problems and vulnerable groups: 
           - Long term/chronic illness or disability
           - Lifestyle related illnesses and hypertension
           - Cancer
           - Mental health
           - Immunisation
           - Maternity services
           - Children and young people
           - Rough sleepers and homeless community members
  • Case studies
  • Resources

Immunisation

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, immunisation uptake [1]  was lower for Roma than for non-Roma populations in the UK, with some reports of lower [2] childhood vaccination rates in the community. Lower vaccination rates may be partly due to children born abroad not receiving standard [3] childhood immunisations in their country of origin, and a lack of records on their medical history when they arrive in the UK. Health visitors are not commonly used in a number of East European countries, so parents may be unaware of how to access health visiting services. The traditional Roma “purity period” of up to three months after childbirth for the mother (see the section on maternity care in this guide) also can lead to missing routine vaccination appointments.
 
Hesitancy about the Covid-19 vaccine has been high in the Roma community, especially in the earlier stages of the pandemic. In one Manchester study [4] from April 2021 of attitudes among Central and Eastern European immigrants including Roma, 40% of respondents said they would not have the COVID-19 vaccine.
 
 From RSG focus groups and a survey [5] of community members in February 2021, unvaccinated people often said they were concerned about risks from side effects of the vaccine, and trusted information from friends and family more than information on the news. Many Roma were getting public health information on COVID-19 from news or social media in community languages from their country of origin, which could differ from official UK messaging.  A history of experiencing discrimination or coercion by medical professionals has also created distrust: a fairly recent example is forced sterilisation of Roma women, where this practice continued  in the Czech Republic and Slovakia into the 2000s.

Recommendations:
​
  • Work with multi-agency networks of health professionals, local authorities and trusted partners including existing community groups to deliver in-person public health outreach and digital communications in community languages.
  • Provide information in a culturally comfortable setting, reaching people where they are via trusted community members or workers skilled in community languages (see the Redbridge Health Visitors Project).
  • Build a relationship with mothers before offering immunisation for children, eg. via Q&A sessions in the community or giving information via maternity and antenatal care staff.
  • Continue to provide other immunisations (eg. the MMR vaccine) and screenings while working to persuade the community that getting the Covid-19 vaccine is safe.

[1] p. 18, European Public Health Alliance: Closing the Life Expectancy Gap of Roma in Europe (2018) 

[2] European Commission.(2015). Roma Health Report. Brussels: European Union.

[3] p. 18, European Public Health Alliance: Closing the Life Expectancy Gap of Roma in Europe (2018) 

[4] Europia: Central and Eastern European Attitudes to COVID-19 (2021) 

[5] Roma Support Group: Lessons learned: Supporting the Roma community through Covid-19 (2021)

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The Roma Support Group is a registered Charity (No. 1103782)​ 
​
and a Company Limited by Guarantee 
​registered in England and Wales, (No. 0464598).
​Registered office address: 17 Old Ford Road, London, E2 9PJ 
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  • Home
    • About Us
    • Trustees
    • Staff
    • Our Funders
    • News & Events
    • Vacancies >
      • Jobs
      • Volunteering
      • Volunteering as a trustee
    • History
  • Projects
    • Advice & Advocacy >
      • Service User Agreement
      • Roma Community Advocacy Project (2014-19)
      • Elder Roma Engagement Project (2011-14)
      • Young Roma Advocacy Project (2010-13)
    • Art & Culture >
      • Roma Bridging Sounds Orchestra
      • Instrumental music classes in East London >
        • Stage performances by participants in our instrumental classes
        • Dance classes
        • Exhibitions
        • Romani Rad
        • Promoting Roma musicians and artists
        • Visual arts workshops
        • Forum Theatre Project
    • Aspiration Project >
      • Roma Aspiration Project >
        • Education Support Projects
        • Young Roma enjoy orienteering in Lee Valley Regional Park
        • Roma children visit Parliament
        • Building bridges and breaking barriers
        • Kids’ Cookery School
    • Mental Health Project >
      • Health Projects
    • Ketane - Together: Roma Shaping Futures
    • Policy and Campaigning
    • Roma and Brexit >
      • Stay Settled in Newham Project
    • Roma News Project
    • Romano Kher: Roma Housing Advocacy Project
    • 'Roma Stories': Roma Oral History Project
    • Roma Support and Engagement Programme >
      • Roma Support Group Expertise
    • RSG 25th Anniversary
    • Sport Inclusion
  • Campaigns
    • Mishto Campaign >
      • Support the Mishto Campaign
      • Mishto Pledge for Charities
      • Mishto Pledge for Local Authorities
      • Mishto Pledge for Schools
  • Resources
    • Newsletters
    • Our Publications
    • Annual Reports
    • Our Research
    • Resources for the Roma Community
    • Health Research and Guidance
    • Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month >
      • Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month 2020
      • Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month 2021 >
        • GRTHM 2021 Art Competition
      • Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month 2022 - RSG Art Competition
      • GRTHM 2023 Art Competition
      • GRTHM 2024 Art Competition
    • Robert Dawson Collection
    • Alternative Service Providers
    • Other Resources
  • Support for Professionals
    • Intervention Service for Professionals Working with Roma Families and Individuals in Crisis
    • Training for Professionals and the Community
    • Specialist Support for Research and Consultation
  • Support us
    • How to donate
    • Membership
    • Legacies
  • Contact
    • Make a referral