The ‘Conference on Migration and Community Health in the scope of Immunization Services’ was held in Mardin on 6–7 September 2023. At the two-day conference, which was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, academics and experts addressed key topics including the status of immunization services in Türkiye and worldwide, immunization services provided under the SIHHAT Project along with provincial examples, vaccine communication, and community immunization in state of emergency.
At the opening of the conference, Mardin Provincial Health Director, Specialist Dr. Saffet Yavuz, emphasized the significance of holding the event during Public Health Week and expressed his hope that it would be fruitful for all participants. Representing the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, Program Manager Elif Elçi highlighted the EU’s support for accessible and quality healthcare services for migrants in Türkiye through the SIHHAT Project. She underlined the critical role of immunization in safeguarding public health, stressing that vaccination benefits both migrant populations and host communities. Elçi reaffirmed the EU’s continued commitment, noting that “the European Union will sustain its support in the field of migrant health in Türkiye, leaving no one behind.”
Prof. Dr. Sedat Kaygusuz, Director General of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of immunization—one of the priority areas within the SIHHAT Project—for public health. He stated, ‘In our country, immunization services are provided to everyone living here in line with the national vaccination schedule.’ Prof. Dr. Kaygusuz noted that this conference, convened under the theme of immunization, would address topics including the status of immunization services in the world and in Türkiye, vaccine communication, community immunization in state of emergency, and the status of immunization services in Migrant Health Centres.”
THE STATUS OF IMMUNIZATION SERVICES IN THE WORLD AND IN TÜRKİYE
• Vaccination Programs in the World
• Current Situation of Childhood Vaccines
• Adult Vaccination Program, Vaccine Safety and Side Effects
• Immunization and Vaccination Services in Primary Health Care
• Immunization Services Offered to Migrants under SIHHAT Project
• Vaccine Tracking System and Cold Chain Tracking
• Approach to Unvaccinated and Under vaccinated Children
• Immunization and Vaccination in Pregnant Women
• Problems and solutions with vaccine communication and world examples
• Vaccine indecision, reasons for vaccine rejection and opposition to vaccines, solutions
• Vaccine speculation and its control
• Population Mobility and Vaccine Tracking Systems
Panel 1
• Community Immunization In State Of Emergency
Panel 2
• State of immunization services at Migrant Health Centres, Supporting immunization services within the scope of the SIHHAT project (from vaccine logistics to surveillance of vaccines)
• Good Practices of Immunization in Provinces