Health system barriers to vaccine uptake continue to disproportionately affect specific ethnic, religious, and cultural minorities across Europe. These barriers are a key factor contributing to lower vaccination rates within these groups.
The RIVER-EU project focuses on identifying and removing such barriers, with a particular emphasis on MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccinations. The project targets underserved communities including migrant populations in Greece, Turkish and Moroccan females in the Netherlands, the Ukrainian minority in Poland, and the Roma community in Slovakia.
The project begins by analyzing health system barriers and enablers to vaccination in these selected communities. Based on these findings, existing interventions will be adapted or new interventions developed, implemented, and evaluated. The outcomes of this work will inform evidence-based guidelines and support the creation of an educational platform for healthcare professionals. This platform aims to enhance equitable access to vaccination across Europe.
EUPHA’s role as a partner
As a supporting partner, EUPHA contributes to RIVER-EU’s communication and dissemination efforts by sharing project updates, results, and events through its networks, social media, and newsletter channels. EUPHA also helps broaden outreach by promoting project activities and ensuring engagement with relevant public health stakeholders, including through the European Public Health Conference.
Financial source
Funded by the European Union under grant agreement no. 964353
