8.Q. Workshop: Covid-19 and pandemic measures: reducing or reproducing social and health inequities among migrants?
Authors:   Organised by: Department of Population Medicine and Health Services Research, Bielefeld School of Public Health (Germany),   Chair persons: Kayvan Bozorgmehr (Germany), Cristina Maria Profili (Germany)
Published: October 2023

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated preexisting social and health inequalities across communities, states and regions; and it has entailed major disruptions in human mobilities. There is evidence that the Covid-19 pandemic has thus had particularly severe and unique impacts on migrants, their families, and communities. However, as yet, little is known about the magnitude of Covid-19 related health inequalities among different migrant categories, and, moreover, about the structures and mechanisms - including pandemic measures - that have generated these inequalities. This workshop will provide an up-to-date overview of the available evidence on Covid-19 related health inequalities and on the effects of pandemic measures among different migrant categories worldwide. It will then “zoom in” on particular categories of marginalized migrants to critically examine the role of pandemic measures in mitigating or reproducing social and health inequalities. To this end, we will deliver three short presentations: The first presentation comprises a meta-analysis and synthesis of the empirical evidence on inequalities in Covid-19 related health risks and impacts of lockdown measures among migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons globally. The second presentation will render the results of a systematic review of the unintended consequences of pandemic measures on refugees accommodated in camp-like settings worldwide. The third presentation will address the occupational health and safety of migrant workers employed in food supply chain industries in Germany, the Netherlands, and the USA. Both the presented studies and the workshop itself benefit from bringing together academic researchers, representatives of governmental agencies (such as the German public health agency, Robert Koch Institute), and representatives of local and international non-governmental organizations (such as the International Organization of Migration). This team diversity allows us to draw on different perspectives, resources, kinds of knowledge, and skill sets, including scientific rigor and a practice-oriented approach aiming at informing public health policymaking. Our workshop will provide a consolidated, evidence-informed picture of social and health inequalities related to the Covid-19 pandemic and pandemic measures faced by migrant populations. On this basis, we will discuss with workshop participants what lessons can be learned for future emergency preparedness. For instance, what were shortcomings in the inclusion and accommodation of different migrant populations in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic? What were good practices? What are barriers and facilitators to migrants’ inclusion and equitable social and health protection during crises? What are evidence gaps and future directions for research, advocacy and policymaking?

Key messages

• The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated and intersected with preexisting structural disadvantages among migrants, putting them at higher risk for multiple adverse outcomes.

• We present consolidated evidence to inform future pandemic preparedness toward migrant-sensitive public health policies and the context-specific consideration of migrants’ health and social needs.