Back to top anchor

Exploring immunisation inequities among refugee children in New Zealand

Year:
2018
Duration:
60 months
Approved budget:
$125,424.00
Researchers:
Dr Nadia Charania
,
Professor Denise Taylor
Host:
Auckland University of Technology
Health issue:
Infectious disease
Proposal type:
Emerging Researcher First Grant
Lay summary
New Zealand accepts refugees under various quota, humanitarian and family reunification schemes. Refugees, especially children, are at a higher risk of suffering from vaccine-preventable diseases due to under-immunisation. It is vital that refugee children are offered publicly funded vaccines in their new host country to protect their health and wellbeing; this requires that immunisation services engage with refugee families in a culturally- and linguistically-appropriate manner. This study proposes to collect quantitative and qualitative data regarding factors that influence the access and uptake of immunisations and strategies that would help improve age-appropriate vaccinations among refugee children post-resettlement. The outcomes of this study will help us better understand the root causes of under-immunisation and how we can improve immunisation rates to protect vulnerable refugee children and the wider society.