Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and access among people experiencing homelessness in Germany: A qualitative interview study

Frontiers in Public Health

Public Health

Marta Kobus¹  Angela Schuster¹  Julianna Grune¹  Darius Savelsberg¹  Wolfram J. Herrmann¹  Andreas K. Lindner² 

[1] Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany;Institute of International Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany;

关键词: homelessness;    prevention;    vaccine acceptance;    vaccine hesitancy;    vaccine access;    COVID-19;    primary care;    access to health care;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2023.1148029

 received in 2023-01-19, accepted in 2023-02-28,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionPeople experiencing homelessness face lower life expectancy, higher prevalence of somatic and mental diseases and a more difficult access to healthcare compared to people in secure living. During the COVID-19 pandemic transmission rates were higher among people experiencing homelessness and preventive public health measures were not properly adapted to the specific needs of people experiencing homelessness. Thus, goal of our study was understanding the determinants of acceptability and access of the COVID-19 vaccine.Materials and methodsWe conducted a qualitative interview study with twenty guideline interviews with adult people currently experiencing homelessness in Berlin, Germany (August 2021 – April 2022). Participants were approached in a purposive sampling strategy. The interviews were analyzed with qualitative content analysis according to Mayring.ResultsAcceptance and attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine is influenced by confidence in the vaccine as well as in the political and healthcare system, the individual COVID-19 risk perception and sense of collective responsibility. Overall, the acceptance of the vaccine was high among our participants. Facilities offering low threshold COVID-19 vaccines for people experiencing homelessness were perceived as helpful. Language barriers and the need for identity documents were major barriers to access the COVID 19 vaccine.DiscussionPeople experiencing homelessness are a marginalized and vulnerable group often underrepresented in the public and scientific discourse. During the COVID-19 pandemic, preventive public health measures, including the COVID-19 vaccine, failed to consider specific needs of people experiencing homelessness. Multidimensional strategy to enhance inclusive healthcare are needed to improve access and to reduce discrimination and stigmatization.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Grune, Savelsberg, Kobus, Lindner, Herrmann and Schuster.