Vaccines for all? A rapid scoping review of COVID-19 vaccine access for Venezuelan migrants in Latin America

Abstract

The entangled health and economic crises driven by COVID-19 have exacerbated the challenges faced by Venezuelan migrants. Given the growing number of Venezuelan migrants and vulnerability to COVID-19, this rapid scoping review examined how Venezuelan migrants are considered in COVID-19 vaccination strategies in Latin America. A three-phase rapid scoping review of documents published through June 18, 2021, reviewed official Ministry of Health policies in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Guided by the Latin American Social Medicine approach (MLLA). The results revealed a heterogeneous and changing policy landscape in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that is strongly juxtaposed to the calls to action evidenced in the literature. Factors limiting access to COVID-19 vaccine include: tensions around terminology; ambiguous national and regional vaccination policies; and widespread stigmatization of immigrants.