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Suboptimal Serologic Immunity Against Poliomyelitis Among New Migrant Children in Greece Calls for Organized Action

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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Migration-flows pose the risk of poliovirus reintroduction from endemic countries to Greece. This study aims to evaluate serologic-immunity/vaccination against poliomyelitis in newly-arriving migrant children.

Methods

Demographic-immunisation data and blood-serum were obtained from migrants 1-14years-old, referred to a hospital-clinic in Athens-Greece within three months from arrival. Immunity to polioviruses-1-3 was determined by serum-neutralizing-antibodies(WHO guidelines). Titers ≥ 1:8 were considered positive.

Results

From 9/2010 to 9/2013, 274 children(150 refugees/124 immigrants), mean age 7.1years-old, were enrolled. Only 57(20.8%) of them presented with vaccination-records. Children originated mainly from Asia(n = 198), Eastern Europe(n = 28), Middle East(n = 24) and Africa(n = 24) with 160(58.4%) from polio-endemic-countries(Afghanistan-112(40.8%), Pakistan-24(8.8%) and India-24(8.8%)). Seropositivity against polio-1-2&3 was 84.3%, 86.1% and 74.5%, respectively. Immigrants, had higher seroprotective rates against polioviruses-1-2&3 than refugees(polio-1:p = 0.002;polio-2:p = 0.004,polio-3:p < 0.001). Seronegativity to 1PVs-2PVs and all three polio serotypes was found in 37(13.5%),12 (4.4%), and 30 children(10.9%) respectively. Increasing number of vaccine-doses, and younger-age, were positively-associated with seropositivity.

Discussion

A remarkable fraction of newly-arrived migrant-children were seronegative to one or more polioviruses.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to all social workers, interpreters and volunteers of the Greek Council for Refugees and other non-governmental organizations such as PRAXIS, the Universal Program for Refugees from the Holy Synod of the Greek Church and the mission “ANTHROPOS” for their cooperation, as well as to all parents for their participation.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the Special Account for Research Funds of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Grant number 2279) and Pfizer Hellas.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Research Laboratory, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Papadiamantopoulou 123, P.O. 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece

    Christina Ioannidou, Stavroula K. Dikalioti, Evangelos Bozas & Ioanna D. Pavlopoulou

  2. Department of Public Health Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Papadiamantopoulou 123, 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece

    Petros Galanis

  3. The National Polio- Enteroviruses Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vasilissis Sophias Ave, 11521, Athens, Greece

    Androniki Voulgari-Kokota & Andreas Mentis

  4. Faculty of Nursing, Pediatric Clinic, “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, National and Kapodistrian National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Thivon & Levadeias str, 11527, Athens, Greece

    Stavroula K. Dikalioti, Smaragda Papachristidou, Konstantinos Tsoumakas & Ioanna D. Pavlopoulou

Authors
  1. Christina Ioannidou
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  2. Petros Galanis
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Contributions

Christina Ioannidou was involved in collection of data and biological specimens, interpretation of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, and approval of the final version. Petros Galanis was involved in analysis of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, and approval of the final version. Androniki Voulgari-Kokota was involved in laboratory analysis of the collected specimens, interpretation of data and approval of the final version. Stavroula K Dikalioti was involved in drafting of the manuscript, interpretation of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, and approval of the final version. Smaragda Papachristidou was involved in interpretation of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, and approval of the final version. Evangelos Bozas was involved in interpretation of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, and approval of the final version. Andreas Mentis was involved in laboratory analysis of the collected specimens, interpretation of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, and approval of the final version. Konstantinos Tsoumakas was involved in analysis of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, and approval of the final version. And Ioanna D. Pavlopoulou was involved in conception and design of the study, acquisition and interpretation of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, and approval of the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stavroula K. Dikalioti.

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Ioannidou, C., Galanis, P., Voulgari-Kokota, A. et al. Suboptimal Serologic Immunity Against Poliomyelitis Among New Migrant Children in Greece Calls for Organized Action. J Immigrant Minority Health 25, 96–103 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-022-01363-3

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