Inside The Race To Vaccinate People Experiencing Homelessness

SANTA MONICA, CA — The People Concern, one of Los Angeles County's largest health services agencies, is on a mission to get unhoused neighbors vaccinated as fast as possible and stop the spread of the virus.

Throughout the pandemic, people experiencing homelessness have faced challenges accessing the COVID-19 vaccine, so health advocates are now creating mobile sites and clinics to get people their dose, said Elisabeth McConnell, The People Concern's program manager for its Homeless Multidisciplinary Street Team.

"The Department of health services is coordinating with outreach programs and homeless service providers to determine areas where events like this should take place," McConnell told Patch.

These are convenient locations where people can get vaccinated, and they're happening across Los Angeles, McConnell said. St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica last week hosted and supported one of the mobile clinics for unhoused neighbors. In March, the organization held a clinic at Annenberg Access Center – The People Concern, 503 Olympic Blvd.

"The vaccines have also already been offered to folks staying in our interim housing sites," McConnell said.

That was prioritized due to how the shelter is set up and the difficulties of distancing at those locations.

"I think we’re figuring out what the rhythm will look like and how many folks we can expect at the event," McConnell said. "We’re learning all of this as we go, so it’s really great that we’re able to offer these events and, as an outreach provider, let our clients know ahead of time."

The organization wants to decrease barriers for unhoused neighbors by encouraging people to make appointments and get as many people vaccinated as they can.

"For the same reason that there’s such an urgency to vaccinate everyone right now, there’s a great urgency to vaccinate people who are experiencing homelessness," McConnell said.

As variants spread and time passes, the race is speeding up. People experiencing homelessness are often living with untreated illnesses or health problems.

"It could truly be a life-saving intervention," McConnell said. "They’re much less likely if at all to have resources to schedule an appointment or make it on their own."

The organization is stepping in to give general health care and provide important medical care. Providers can also get information on the event and distribute it to their clients.

"A lot of it is spreading the word among outreach teams," McConnell said. "They can make an appointment with caseworker or walk up."

The focus right now is also on education.

"A lot of what’s going on is the same kind of conversation and education that it is for the community at large," McConnell said. "Vaccinations are an important piece to stopping the spread of COVID."

People are told to keep wearing masks after they get their vaccine and continue to distance.

"Having the vaccine doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want," McConnell said. "To protect yourself and others, it’s really important to wash your hands."

It's now a race against time.

"The increase in urgency is a really interesting piece as well, especially for our folks experiencing homelessness who have these untreated medical conditions or medical conditions who are high risk," McConnell said.

"We really want to try and protect our clients from getting COVID and getting sick," McConnell said. "It’s a hopeful time. Now we have the resources to have folks participate in the vaccination efforts."

For more news and information about the vaccine rollout in California, visit Patch's information hub. Also, be sure to check out How To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine In California.

SEE MORE:

• Vaccine Clinic Gives People Experiencing Homelessness First Doses
• 'People Literally Dying On Our Streets' As Homeless Crisis Grows
• Homeless Shelters Proposed Across The Westside