Low immunization rates for people who use drugs can lead to serious consequences for COVID-19

From the UBC School of Medicine and the BC Material Use Center (BCCSU) as many Canadian jurisdictions have begun to ease public health measures aimed at limiting serious cases and deaths caused by COVID-19. New studies suggest that many people are at risk of serious illness.

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The Government of Canada has funded $ 770,000 through the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force to support research investigating vaccine reliability uptake in drug users in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Downtown South districts. Did. Preliminary findings from this study found that just under two-thirds of the group received at least two vaccines against COVID-19.

Researchers recruited 275 people to use the drug and saw them for a research visit once every two months. By the end of January 2022, 64% had been vaccinated twice and reported to be fully vaccinated, and 9% had also been boosted. 16 percent were unvaccinated. By comparison, as of February 2022, British Columbia’s general population had a vaccination rate of 81.1%, 45.1% had boosted vaccinations, and 14% remained unvaccinated.

“While the vaccination rates we have observed are close to those found in the general population of British Columbia, public health efforts are a distrust of health care faced by many in the drug-using community. It also reminds us that we must continue to address the barriers, especially at this time of the dual crisis of COVID-19 and toxic drug addiction, “said BCCSU and UBC Co-principal Investigator and Research Scientist at the School of Medicine. Dr. Brittany Barker said.

“These findings may indicate that many people may be ready to put COVID-19 behind us, but not all members of our community have the same level of protection. It reminds me that there isn’t. “
Dr. Hudson Reddon

Like many communities across Canada, Vancouver’s population is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and serious illnesses due to its high drug use, homelessness, poverty, and immunodeficiency. In addition, many drug users face multiple overlapping barriers to access to health care, including stigma, discrimination and criminalization.

“These findings may indicate that many people may be ready to put COVID-19 behind us, but not all members of our community have the same level of protection. It reminds me that there isn’t, “says co-principal researcher and postdoctoral fellow Dr. Hudson Reddon. Postdoctoral fellow at BCCSU and UBC School of Medicine. “Continue public health outreach activities for risky groups, including those who use substances, who are homeless and who are generally poorly connected to health care because they are experiencing poverty. need to do it.”

Dr. Brittany Barker and Dr. Hudson Reddon

“COVID-19 is scary for many, but if you’re struggling every day to fight the war on drugs and stay alive, the harmful things of the past and COVID-19 are limbs due to endocarditis and infection. The experience of being stigmatized for the risk of loss is not registered as a priority threat like the general public, “said collaborator Erica Thomson. And Peerlead participated in the study.

“We have funded this study and produced evidence to guide public health authorities in strategies to increase vaccine reliability and intake, including vulnerable urban populations,” said CITF Co-Chair Catherine. Dr. Hankins said. “It is important that all members of society are properly protected. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is not over yet.”

In response to these realities, the British Columbia Government’s COVID-19 Immunity Program prioritizes people experiencing housing insecurity, including the Downtown Eastside, and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has many outreach activities in the neighborhood. Was deployed. As of March 29, 91% of community health areas, including the Downtown Eastside, over the age of 18 were fully vaccinated.

Researchers hope that these findings will encourage public health professionals across the country to invest in vaccine outreach programs that are effective in reaching vulnerable people as well.