Background The World Health Organization recommends national risk communications tools targeting migrant communities to contain the spread of COVID-19 Within Europe, migrants are often left behind in healthcare due to structural barriers driven by hostile environment measures This study aimed to assess inclusion of migrants in COVID-19 prevention measures by evaluating if governmental risk communications are available in common migrant languages across Europe Methods A rapid review was performed in June 2020 to understand the availability of government produced risk communications across Council of Europe member states, namely: COVID-19 health communications, migrant-specific guidelines and COVID-19 helplines Results 96% (45/47) of countries sampled had online government COVID-19 advice 30% (15/47) issued information in their official language(s), whilst 64% (30/47) of countries delivered information in additional languages 48% (23/47) translated information into at least one migrant language However, information on testing or healthcare entitlements in common migrant languages was only found in 6% (3/47) Half (53%;25/47) of the countries with COVID-19 helpline offered information in at least one alternative language No government produced risk communications on disease prevention targeting people in refugee camps or informal settlements Conclusions There are clear gaps in the availability of translated COVID-19 risk communications across Europe, excluding migrants from the COVID-19 response Governments must reflect on the inclusion of migrants within their COVID-19 response and seek to engage vulnerable communities Governments should urgently partner with non-governmental organizations who already play a key role in addressing unmet health needs
Engaging the vulnerable: a rapid review of public health communication aimed at migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe