People experiencing homelessness may face a multitude of barriers to getting vaccinated. Challenges can range from inability to stay in one place for a long time to medical stigma against homelessness.

The Alliance’s Actionable Research on COVID-19 and Homelessness webinar discusses research and potential solutions to vaccination access. It includes information about a 2021 study conducted by the Benioff Homeless and Housing Initiative (BHHI). Researchers found that mobile vaccinations sites could significantly increase vaccination rates among people experiencing homelessness.

While the findings are limited to a specific community, it signifies that people experiencing homelessness are interested and will utilize vaccination and testing services. However, efforts are needed to make these services more accessible.

The BHHI study recommended the following strategies to improve accessibility:

  • Partnering with members of communities such as community health outreach workers to build trust
  • Training outreach workers to be well-informed and provide consistent messaging
  • Providing transparent and plentiful data around vaccine effectiveness, symptoms, and safety to build credibility

Existing research suggests that the racial and ethnic disparities evident within homelessness are mirrored in health care access and risk of exposure and infection of COVID-19. Thus, vaccination rollouts for people experiencing homelessness must consider proactive strategies to ensure that certain racial or ethnic groups are not falling behind on vaccinations.

Looking at Kaiser’s analysis of national vaccination rates from January 2021 to January 2022, Whites and Hispanics (60% each) generally had higher vaccination rates than Blacks (54%) in 42 states. Asians had the highest overall vaccination rates at 81%.

While Hispanics and Asians had excellent vaccination outcomes compared to the rest of the population, the research does not include racial and ethnic subpopulations. Good overall numbers may be masking the existence of subpopulations with less access or take-up of vaccinations.

Since there is no accurate data tracking for the vaccination rates among people experiencing homelessness, it is not possible to make a comparison to the national rates and assume the same successful vaccination outcomes.

Read the full article about vaccination rates among the homeless by Julie Pagaduan at National Alliance to End Homelessness.