Research on access to vaccination against Covid-19 of third-country nationals living in Greece was conducted in December 2021 by the non-governmental organization SolidarityNow.
The research findings show that 81% of the participants had been vaccinated despite the many challenges they faced. Most (62%) said they went on vaccination to protect themselves, their friends and family, 28% to move freely and 12% because they were forced to work.
SolidarityNow interviewed a representative sample of 497 beneficiaries of the organization to seek out their experiences with the vaccination process, the barriers encountered and their concerns.
“It is encouraging that a certain population of particularly vulnerable people, in an unprecedented health condition, which has further aggravated their social status, has shown and continues to show particularly high rates of adjustment. Although last in the pyramid of access to vaccination and having to overcome the existing bureaucratic problems that delay or often deprive them of equal and timely access to rights and benefits, these people stood by the collective effort to protect society as a whole. . It is just another proof that the stereotypical approach, as well as any kind of segregation of population groups, is meaningless in the open societies in which we want to live. “It is for us at SolidarityNow, another strong indication that we must continue in the direction of supporting and expanding their integration”, emphasizes the general director of SolidarityNow, Antigoni Lymperaki.
The following are the findings of the research:
1. Surveillance participants who have a residence permit have access to the vaccination system either independently or through the support of NGOs and / or friends and social media.
2. 81% of study participants were vaccinated.
3. For 16% the main reasons for non-vaccination were personal and for 14% legal (lack of legal documents).
A common challenge for both vaccinated and non-vaccinated people was the lack of knowledge about the vaccination process.
5. More than 10% had problems with social security numbers.
6. Only 9% feel insecure about the vaccine.
Demographics of participants and residence status in Greece
75% of the participants were men (18-40 years old) and 5% were minors, mostly unaccompanied. 24% of the participants were from Afghanistan, followed by Pakistan, Iran and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
50% were asylum seekers in Greece and 38% have been recognized as refugees or have a residence permit. 12% can not stay in Greece due to the first rejection of their asylum application, 3% have received a second rejection decision, and 13% are undocumented immigrants mainly from Pakistan.
The research was an initiative of the SolidarityNow Athens Solidarity Center team, whose operation is supported by a donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (ISN), in the framework of the ISN International Action Initiative for COVID-19.
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