Exploring the challenges and opportunities to address childhood immunisation hesitancy in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Exploring the challenges and opportunities to address childhood immunisation hesitancy in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities

Bridget Fletcher Community public health nurse,

Why you should read this article:
  • To recognise the need to address vaccine hesitancy among Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to provide effective childhood immunisation programmes

  • To be aware of the importance of improving the education of healthcare professionals to provide equality of treatment through a better understanding of the perspectives of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities

  • To appreciate that working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities through advocacy programmes and key workers may increase uptake of immunisations

Issues related to vaccine hesitancy, the delay in receipt or refusal of immunisation despite the availability of vaccination services, are complex and varied in origin and can lead to preventable childhood diseases and deaths. This article reports the findings of a literature review that explored childhood immunisation hesitancy in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and how this may be addressed to promote vaccine uptake. Two main themes were identified – challenges and opportunities. Challenges included barriers to accessing health services and experiences of discrimination. Opportunities to promote vaccination included involving representative members of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities as trusted advocates and educators, providing flexible vaccination services and improving education for healthcare professionals to provide equity of treatment through a better understanding of the perspectives of marginalised communities.

Primary Health Care. doi: 10.7748/phc.2022.e1779

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

bridgetmcd@yahoo.com

Conflict of interest

None declared

Fletcher B (2022) Exploring the challenges and opportunities to address childhood immunisation hesitancy in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Primary Health Care. doi: 10.7748/phc.2022.e1779

Published online: 12 October 2022

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