RIGHT SPEAK: COVID-19 Hits Migrants, Refugees Especially Hard, Review Shows; Extensive Analysis Finds Migrants at Higher Risk for COVID-19 Globally, and other C-Virus related stories

COVID-19 hits migrants, refugees especially hard, review shows:

Migrants, refugees, and internally displaced people have an 84% higher COVID-19 infection rate and a 46% higher COVID death rate than the general population, a new systematic review and meta-analysis in EClinicalMedicine reveals.

"Even in the advanced stages of the pandemic, migrants faced higher infection risks and disproportionately suffered from the consequences of COVID-19 disease, including deaths," the study authors wrote.

Complicated exacerbating factors

For the analysis, researchers from Germany, Sweden, and the Philippines combined data from 65 studies published by September 2023 that included more than 53 million people in 22 nations.

They found that, compared to non-migrants, migrants have an 84% higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (relative risk [RR], 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44 to 2.35), about the same risk for hospitalization (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.91 to 1.33), a 23% higher risk of intensive care unit admission (RR = 1.23; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.52), and a 46% higher risk of COVID-related death overall (RR = 1.46; 95% CI, 0.95 to 2.26). In contrast, once hospitalized, their risk of death is 44% lower (RR = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.76).

Although only 8% of the included studies reported data on vaccination coverage in migrant groups, two thirds of these studies found lower immunization rates among migrants.

The investigators also performed a "qualitative" review of 75 papers to determine compounding factors. It showed that migrants often live in crowded housing, work in essential and high-risk jobs, and lack support from the government. Also, social norms can increase the risk, such as expectations to attend community events. --->READ MORE HERE

Extensive analysis finds migrants at higher risk for COVID-19 globally:

Refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants were exposed to significantly higher health risks during the COVID-19 pandemic than other population groups. A new study shows a 84% higher risk of infection and a 46% higher mortality rate among migrants compared to the general population.

The findings are the result of extensive research led by Bielefeld University and realized in cooperation with the UN Migration Agency IOM and researchers from Heidelberg University Hospital and the Swedish universities of Uppsala and Umeå.

The analysis, published in eClinicalMedicine, includes data from more than 53 million people, including both migrants and natives from 22 countries.

According to the study, systemic barriers often lead to poorer health outcomes for migrants. These include crowded living conditions, precarious working conditions and limited access to health care and social security.

Migrants persistently at higher risk

"Migrants have been at an increased risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 not only in the early phases, but throughout the entire pandemic," says the principal investigator Professor Dr. Kayvan Bozorgmehr from Bielefeld University.

"Migrants infected with SARS-CoV-2 were not hospitalized more often; but they more often experienced severe course of disease, which resulted in a higher number of admissions to intensive care units. While clinical deaths were lower among migrants—probably due to their younger average age—population-based mortality tended to be higher, especially in high-income countries."

The authors conclude from the results of the study that health and social policies need to be more inclusive. "National pandemic plans must adequately consider refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons," says Bozorgmehr.

The study includes results from 370 empirical reports from 17,088 datasets worldwide, up to September 2023. It includes a meta-analysis of more than 53 million participants, considering studies on COVID-19 infection risk, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, mortality and vaccination rates among migrants. --->READ MORE HERE