Deployment and uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines for Refugees and Migrants in Ecuador

Cheryl Martens^1*Taymi Milan^1,2María Belén Mena Ayala³Enrique Teran¹Pierina Benavente⁴Nguyen Toan Tran^5,6Karl Blanchet⁷

• ¹Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Desigualdades, Quito, Ecuador
• ²University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
• ³Universidad Central de Ecuador Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Quito, Ecuador
• ⁴Universitetet i Bergen, Bergen, Norway
• ⁵Universite de Geneve Faculte de Medecine, Geneva, Switzerland
• ⁶Australian Center for Public and Population Health Research, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
• ⁷Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, Universite de Geneve Faculte de Medecine, Geneva, Switzerland

This study examines access and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among refugees and migrants in Ecuador, including those with regular and irregular migration status. Conducted in Quito, Manta, and Huaquillas with 344 participants, the article reports on the survey data to assess vaccination access, barriers, and enablers. Findings show that 94% of respondents received at least one vaccine dose, despite 69% having irregular status. However, gaps remained in second and booster dose uptake, which was linked to misinformation and administrative barriers such as lack of documentation, discrimination and stigma, especially from healthcare and security personnel at vaccine sites. Key facilitators included receiving support from non-governmental organizations, mobile health brigades, and pressure from international organizations. The study concludes that although Ecuador made vaccines accessible to migrants, systemic challenges, such as data gaps, xenophobia, and insufficient outreach, hindered equitable coverage and limited the rights of migrants and refugees. Improved communication, flexibility in relation to documentation are recommended to ensure equitable access vaccines.