Phillips Grace, Racine Emmy, Naughton Anna Marie, Lane Julieann, Kearney Patricia M
School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Adult Homeless Integrated Team, Health Service Executive, Ireland.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 8;20(1):e0312617. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312617. eCollection 2025.
Ensuring effective access to vaccinations for people experiencing homelessness is crucial to protecting the health of a vulnerable, yet often overlooked population. Reaching this goal takes more than a one size fits all approach. This study evaluates how a dedicated health team collaborated with multiple agencies to register and deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to people experiencing homelessness.
This is a mixed methods study co-designed with the Adult Homeless Integrated Team, a multi-disciplinary team who work with local agencies to provide care to people experiencing homelessness in Cork, Ireland's second largest city. Quantitative data collected at the point of vaccine registration described socio-demographics of the population. To explain the quantitative findings, eleven agencies involved in provision of homeless services were invited to participate in interviews. A manager in each of the agencies acted as a gatekeeper to clients. Interviews explored experiences with the pandemic and the delivery (staff) or receipt (clients) of the COVID-19 vaccine. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, transcriptions were thematically analysed.
There were 728 vaccine doses administered to people experiencing homelessness during the first roll-out of vaccines; 401 first doses and 325 second doses. Of those who received a vaccine, the majority were male (76%), and more than half were Irish (55%). Ten semi-structured interviews, seven staff members and three clients, were conducted. There were three themes that provided further insights into the quantitative findings: Adapting to unprecedented times, Misinformation causing vaccine hesitancy and The importance of building relationships.
This study provides valuable insights into how a multidisciplinary approach resulted in a successful well received vaccination programme among a traditionally hard to reach group.
确保无家可归者能够有效接种疫苗对于保护这一脆弱但常被忽视的人群的健康至关重要。要实现这一目标，不能采取一刀切的方法。本研究评估了一个专门的医疗团队如何与多个机构合作，为无家可归者登记并提供新冠疫苗。
这是一项与成人无家可归者综合团队共同设计的混合方法研究，该团队是一个多学科团队，与当地机构合作，为爱尔兰第二大城市科克的无家可归者提供护理。在疫苗登记时收集的定量数据描述了该人群的社会人口统计学特征。为了解释定量研究结果，邀请了参与提供无家可归者服务的11个机构参与访谈。每个机构的一名经理担任客户的把关人。访谈探讨了应对疫情的经验以及新冠疫苗的接种（工作人员）或接种情况（客户）。访谈进行了录音和转录，对转录内容进行了主题分析。
在首次疫苗接种期间，共向无家可归者接种了728剂疫苗；401剂第一剂和325剂第二剂。在接种疫苗的人群中，大多数为男性（76%），超过一半为爱尔兰人（55%）。进行了10次半结构化访谈，其中7名工作人员和3名客户参与。有三个主题为定量研究结果提供了进一步的见解：适应前所未有的时代、错误信息导致疫苗犹豫以及建立关系的重要性。
本研究为多学科方法如何在一个传统上难以接触到的群体中成功实施并广受好评的疫苗接种计划提供了宝贵的见解。
