New guidance from Pan American Health Organization on protecting vulnerable populations during COVID-19 

By Aaron Humes: Experts at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have advised, in a new publication titled “Guidelines for the application of non-pharmacological public health measures in populations in vulnerable situations in the context of COVID-19,” to directly engage the most vulnerable including informal workers, migrants and other populations. 

The new guidelines speak to effectively intervening in the pandemic, including closing businesses and schools, home isolation and confinement, restrictions on transportation, and so on such that everyone can adhere to them without being inconvenienced. Governments are asked to identify those most impacted and their barriers to adherence, and suggestions are made on how to adapt for widest compliance. 

Some interventions, PAHO notes, have produced unintended negative secondary effects on these groups, including denying informal workers their pay and not providing proper access to tools for something as simple as handwashing. 

“The pandemic has shown that vulnerability goes beyond just individual and biological characteristics,” said Gerry Eijkemans, Chief of the Health Promotion and Social Determinants Unit at PAHO. “Rather, it´s determined by the social, economic, and political context. Informal workers, migrants, and people living in overcrowded conditions have proven to be especially vulnerable during the pandemic.” 

“Inclusive social policies that are developed with the participation of the impacted communities will make it easier to mitigate the undesirable effects of some public health measures meant to combat COVID-19,” added Eijkemans. “It is absolutely critical to make sure that leaders are always considering equity issues and the social determinants of health when considering how to deal with the pandemic.” 

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