At the end 2015 International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched a vaccination programme within its existing programme of the Humanitarian transfer of refugees under the protection of UNHCR through the territory of Slovakia. This programme is targeted at refugees who are accommodated in the Emergency Transit Centre (ETC) in Humenne preparing for their resettlement to the United States of America. These refugees are entitled to a series of vaccinations against hepatitis, measles, diphteria, pertussis, tetanus and other diseases.

The goal of the vaccination programme is to improve the refugees‘ health and reduce the number of vaccinations they would need to receive after their arrival to the US. In addition to the Centre in Humenne, IOM provides refugees with vaccinations in camps in Eritrea, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Romania, Rwanda, Thailand and Uganda.

In the programme of humanitarian transfer of refugees IOM is responsible for the transportation of refugees to the Slovak Republic which provides them with a temporary shelter on its territory. The refugees are accommodated for a period of maximum 6 months in ETC in Humenne, where IOM provides services related to their resettlement such as security interviews, medical examinations, series of vaccinations and courses of cultural orientation that prepare them for life in their new country. After the completion of all preparation steps IOM arranges the transportation of refugees from Slovakia to some of the countries that offfer them a permanent home.

More information.

The activities of IOM in this project are financed by the US Government through its USRAP Program – United States Refugee Admissions Program or by similar programmes of other resettlement countries. IOM vaccination activities are financed by the US Department of State and Department of Health and Human Services.