Charity leading the way with coronavirus jabs for homeless
GATESHEAD has become one of the first places in the country to vaccinate people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping.
On Thursday, the Government announced that homeless people and those sleeping rough will be prioritised for the vaccine, after being recognised as clinically vulnerable.
It will see the community placed into band six, categorised as people with underlying health conditions that place them at greater risk of Covid.
Within hours of the announcement, homelessness charity, Oasis Community Housing, had delivered over 50 vaccines to Gateshead’s homeless community at a pop-up clinic.
Oasis Community Housing’s head of programmes Claire Gove said: “Today has been the most incredible experience and atmosphere. People coming in for their vaccine have been made to feel like they matter, and people care for them and their welfare.”
Claire has been working on the vaccine rollout alongside eight social workers and medical staff, who aimed to deliver 150 vaccinations by the end of day one.
Throughout the day, social workers had been carrying out hourly walks around the area to detect anyone eligible for the vaccine.
And over recent months, the charity has been working with The Gateshead Housing Company, Gateshead Recovery Partnership, Changing Lives and the GP Federation to put in place a plan for delivering the vaccine.
It has allowed Gateshead to be one of the first areas to offer the Covid vaccine to the homeless community and ensure all vulnerable and off-theradar people are able to receive the jab.
Claire added: “When I got to the drop-in today, I said to everyone ‘Happy Vaccine Day’ – we’re so proud and overjoyed to reach this moment, it’s historic.
“It’s been a really tough year, but someone who had their vaccine today said they feel like there’s light at the end of the tunnel and brighter days ahead.
“The vaccine has given them hope and I think that’s something that shines through today.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock agreed that homeless people should be placed in group six following a letter to the Government’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which has set out the timetable for the vaccination programme.
The letter highlighted that people who are homeless or sleeping rough have high rates of undiagnosed comorbidities, and many have no access to healthcare.