The RIVER-EU project in Poland, dedicated to reducing inequalities in vaccine uptake in the Ukrainian community in Poland, brings together passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds. The initiative has taken on added significance in Poland since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which led to an influx of Ukrainian refugees seeking safety.
Ukrainians in Poland, both economic migrants residing in Poland before the war and newly arrived refugees, are generally characterised by low immunisation rates and negative attitudes towards vaccination. They often reside in crowded, multi-occupancy flats with close cross-generational contacts. This situation creates fertile ground for outbreaks of diseases like measles. The lack of official data on HPV vaccine uptake in Ukrainian children adds another layer of complexity to the situation. As a result, there’s a pressing need to address their vaccination and other healthcare needs.
In response to the war, the RIVER-EU team in Poland adapted its focus. Originally targeting Ukrainian economic migrants in Poland, the project now encompasses addressing vaccine uptake for MMR and HPV for both economic migrants and refugees. This adjustment underscores the flexibility and responsiveness of the project to meet the changing needs of the population. For a deeper understanding, explore our earlier article on the project’s evolution.
Three final-year medical students, Oskar Pasek, Ewa Sobieraj, and Jakub Goławski, from the Students Research Group (SKN) from the Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Gora (UZG) in Poland have actively contributed to the project’s implementation. More specifically, they supported a qualitative study describing barriers and enablers to MMR and/or HPV vaccination for Ukrainian refugees and economic migrants in Poland. Their role involved recruiting research participants, attending focus group meetings, managing databases, and transcribing meeting recordings.
“From our perspective, academics and students bring enthusiasm to our research team which is very much welcomed,” says Prof. Maria Ganzak, the students’ supervisor and Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Zielona Gora. “By being involved in research, such as the RIVER-EU project, our medical students are able to integrate theory and practice. They can observe how the concepts they have already learned are applied to the community’s health. This project is a good example of how investing in tailored research, particularly regarding underserved communities, e.g. migrants, is critical for improving scientific outputs on health issues our region currently faces.”
Prof. Paweł Kalinowski, another Polish RIVER-EU partner and Head of the Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Medical University of Lublin agrees that these students are bridging practice and theory through RIVER-EU:
“The participation of students in the project is very beneficial to them as they can participate in extra-curricular activities and enhance their knowledge in both the field of medicine and scientific research.”
And here’s what Oskar, Ewa, and Jakub had to say.
Oskar Pasek – Taking steps to bridge inequalities
Oskar expressed great enthusiasm for the project, noting how it broadened his understanding of vaccination issues among Ukrainian migrants in Poland. He emphasised the importance of addressing health system barriers for the benefit of the future health of these migrants. In his view, educational campaigns and accessible information in the Ukrainian language are vital steps toward bridging inequalities.
Ewa Sobieraj – Making a positive impact
Ewa spoke of her joy in contributing to such a significant international project, emphasising the importance of reducing barriers to vaccination. She believes that lowering the cost of vaccines, implementing information campaigns, and conducting educational programmes are key to addressing inequalities. Her message to the Ukrainian community in Poland is clear: vaccines are safe and effective, protecting individuals and their families from infections.
Jakub Goławski – Supporting team success
Jakub shared his satisfaction in working with like-minded individuals and underlined the importance of teamwork. He believes that encouraging communication among team members is key to success. To address inequalities for the Ukrainian community in Poland, Jakub suggests providing information about vaccine safety and efficacy, especially to those with low vaccination rates. He stresses that Ukrainian migrants should be informed about vaccination options by general practitioners, with vaccines being affordable or free of charge.
Such research experiences broaden medical students’ perspectives and empower them as tomorrow’s doctors. Prof. Ganczak hopes that: “for many students, research experience becomes one of their most memorable experiences as undergraduates.”
“The experience gained during the project will be fruitful for them in the future if they want to apply for external funding for their research. They will already have an idea on how to plan a multicenter scientific study. Moreover, I think that the networking related to the project will provide them with contacts resulting in building cooperation at international level.” Said Prof. Kalinowski.
The RIVER-EU project stands as a testament to the EU’s commitment to funding innovative research, including that which can improve health outcomes and promote equity. By addressing the pressing issue of vaccine uptake among Ukrainian migrants and refugees in Poland, this initiative bridges the gap between research, policy, and practice. As we look ahead, we anticipate further publications that will build upon the insights gained from this project.