High Primary COVID-19 Vaccine Series Completion by People Who Inject Drugs When Colocating Services at a Syringe Services Van

Abstract

The aim of the study is to describe the impact of colocating COVID-19 vaccinations with local syringe service programs on vaccine completion among people who inject drugs. Methods: Data were derived from 6 community-based clinics. People who inject drugs who received at least one COVID-19 vaccine from a colocated clinic partnering with a local syringe service program were included in the study. Vaccine completion was abstracted from electronic medical records; additional vaccinations were abstracted using health information exchanges embedded within the electronic medical records. Results: Overall, 142 individuals with a mean age of 51 years, predominantly male (72%) and Black, non-Hispanic (79%) received COVID-19 vaccines. More than half elected to receive a 2-dose mRNA vaccine (51.4%). Eighty-five percent completed a primary series, and 71% of those who received a mRNA vaccine completed the 2-dose series. Booster uptake was 34% in those completing a primary series. Conclusions: Colocated clinics are an effective means of reaching vulnerable populations. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and need for annual booster vaccines arises, it is important to bolster public support and funding to continue low-barrier preventive clinics colocated with harm reduction services for this population.

Distributing Safer Smoking Pipes Increases Engagement with Harm Reduction Services in the United States: Findings from the National Survey of Syringe Services Programs

“…Examples include expanding mail-based harm reduction supplies, low-barrier buprenorphine, and vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and delivering HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and buprenorphine (Wenger et al, 2021;Aronowitz et al, 2021;Behrends et al, 2022;Hood et al, 2020;Heidari et al, 2024;Bartholomew et al, 2022). We also found SSPs in the Pacific Census division had the highest proportion of pipe distribution.…”

An evaluation of the impact of social and structural determinants of health on forgone care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Baltimore, Maryland

“…Leveraging of mobile clinics during COVID-19 have been captured in the literature to-date. For example, co-location of COVID-19 vaccines within existing harm reduction mobile services has been demonstrated to be an effective way to deliver vaccines to underserved populations [ 63 ]. More widespread use of these types of clinics now and in the future could help reduce forgone care, particularly among those who already experience barriers to healthcare access.…”