Prioritizing equitable COVID-19 vaccine access for internally displaced populations: Disparities and opportunities

By Johns Hopkins University & the Health and Internal Displacement Network

IDPs are particularly vulnerable to adverse health outcomes compared to other migrant populations and arguably the most vulnerable to communicable diseases and/or vaccine-preventable diseases. COVID-19 is no exception. The pandemic has taken a toll on IDP populations globally, particularly in contexts where IDPs live in crowded conditions with little to no access to adequate health services.

While the international community emphasizes equitable access to vaccines and COVID-19 care for vulnerable populations, including migrants, refugees and IDPs, there are concerns that IDPs remain forgotten in contexts which are hard-to-reach, where there is active conflict or health systems have been decimated, and where there is little data or understanding of the pandemic’s impact.