RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 COVID-19 vaccination campaigns and the production of mistrust among Roma and migrant populations in Italy
JF BMJ Global Health
JO BMJ Global Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e009537
DO 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009537
VO 7
IS 9
A1 Elizabeth Storer
A1 Iliana Sarafian
A1 Costanza Torre
A1 Sara Vallerani
A1 Eloisa Franchi
YR 2022
UL http://gh.bmj.com/content/7/9/e009537.abstract
AB Achieving high rates of COVID-19 vaccination has become central to a return to normalcy in a post-pandemic world. Accordingly, exceptional measures, such as the regulation of immunity through vaccine passports and restrictions that distinguished between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, became a feature of vaccination campaigns in certain G7 countries. Such policies stand in tension with recent supranational European Union policies that seek to build inclusion and trust through engaging minoritised groups in vaccine campaigns. To explore this tension, we present novel ethnographic data produced with migrant and Roma communities in Italy. Our evidence suggests that under restrictive measures, many within these groups initially described as ‘vaccine hesitant’ have accepted a vaccine. Yet, rather than indicating successful civic engagement, we find that vaccine acceptance was tied to deepening mistrust in science and the state. Considering the structural socioeconomic, historical and cultural elements informing people’s vaccination choices, we propose a shift in emphasis towards equitable principles of engagement.Data are available upon request, and after consideration of maintaining participant anonymity.