A local group agrees the homeless population should be included in a priority to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Founder of the Salvus Clinic Dr. Susan Crouse says it is a very vulnerable population, “We see people who experience homelessness, they have disproportionately high rates of infection, 20 times more result in hospitalization, and ten times more result in admissions to ICU.”
The Salvus Clinic in Moncton provides healthcare to the homeless, amongst other services, and also has housing specialists.
Dr. Crouse says they have a 25 per cent less lifespan than those who are housed, “If you look at their life expectancy when they’re around 55 years old, their health profile and vulnerability, similar to a senior that is around the age of 70. We actually see a very high prevalence of respiratory conditions in people who are homeless. They have very high rates of mental healthcare, and they have also concurrent infections that they deal with on a regular basis.”
According to the Government of New Brunswick website, with information on the vaccine rollout, residents and staff of homeless shelters are listed in stage two to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
