Implications of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among young adults experiencing homelessness: a brief report

ABSTRACT

This study explores implications of young adults experiencing homelessness’ (YAEH) COVID-19 vaccine uptake (e.g. vaccine attitudes and vaccination uptake facilitators and intention). A convenience sample of 78 YAEH were recruited in Los Angeles County and completed a self-administered online survey measuring their COVID-19 experiences. In general, YAEH held positive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines; slightly over half agreed that COVID-19 vaccines would be safe, and approximately 57% intended to get vaccinated. Facilitators, such as free COVID-19 vaccine, personal protective equipment, and text-based COVID-19 preventive supports emerged as important to YAEH’s COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Targeted public health messaging campaigns to promote positive vaccine attitudes and uptake intention among YAEH may be warranted. Furthermore, COVID-19 dissemination targeting YAEH should take vaccine uptake facilitators into consideration. Specifically, constructing comprehensive COVID-19 preventive services, including testing, protective gear resources, and vaccination, at places to which YAEH have easy access may facilitate their COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

KEYWORDS:

• Homelessness
• COVID-19
• Young adults experiencing homelessness
• COVID-19 vaccine attitudes
• COVID-19 vaccine uptake intention

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The California Breast Cancer Research Program: [agreement number R00RG2613].

Notes on contributors

Hsun-Ta Hsu

Dr. Hsun-Ta Hsu has over a decade of experience working with youth experiencing homelessness and community based homeless service providers both in Los Angeles County, CA and in St. Louis, MO. His research is inherently community-based and interdisciplinary focusing on health promotion among individuals experiencing homelessness.

Robin Petering

Dr. Robin Petering is a community-based researcher at Lens Co, a research and advocacy consulting enterprise. Dr. Petering currently oversees several evaluation contracts with agencies across the country that serve young people experiencing homelessness. Dr. Petering’s approach to research and evaluation is to prioritize inclusiveness and equity for all individuals and agencies involved in any given project. Dr. Petering is regarded as one of the leading experts in the field of research on young adults experiencing homelessness informed by her personal experience as a front-line worker and volunteer in agencies that serve this population.

Laura Onasch-Vera

Laura Onasch-Vera graduated with her MSW from the University of Southern California. She worked as a project coordinator for an innovative project that utilized AI for an HIV prevention intervention program for youth experiencing homelessness. She currently is the project administrator for the Coordinated Entry System Triage Tool Research and Refinement Project. Over the last 4 years, she has supported multiple research projects to evaluate programs working with youth experiencing homelessness.