FDA Approval of Pfizer Vaccine Could Drive Homeless Vaccinations
Photo: Giles Clasen
By Robert Davis
A recent survey found the full approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine by federal regulators could be the catalyst that inspires many people experiencing homelessness in Denver to get vaccinated.
The Denver VOICE conducted an outreach survey at unsanctioned campsites and near daytime shelters. It found more than 55% of Denver’s homeless population are not planning on getting the vaccine. One of the main reasons people offered for not getting vaccinated was that it is “unsafe and unproven.”
On Monday, August 23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made Pfizer’s vaccine available for anyone over 16 years old. While Pfizer’s is the first vaccine to receive full approval, the FDA said that “all available COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe, effective, and authorized for emergency use.”
The vaccine is also available under the emergency use authorization for children aged 12 to 15.
“We want Coloradans to be as comfortable as possible in getting vaccinated against COVID-19,” Dr. Eric France, chief medical officer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), said in a statement. “For some Coloradans who have been on the fence, that may mean choosing a vaccine that has been fully approved by the FDA. Coloradans now have that choice with the Pfizer vaccine.”
The approval comes at a critical time in Colorado’s response to COVID-19 as well. Since the beginning of the year, the CDPHE says that 98% of COVID-19 infections have been caused by the delta variant.
Meanwhile, data from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) shows that the City & County is leading all other metro area counties with a seven-day moving average of 853 cases. However, hospitalizations and deaths attributable to COVID-19 remain low by comparison.
For people experiencing homelessness, the risk of exposure is greatly increased due to factors such as underlying health conditions, the inability to self-isolate, and living in congregate settings.
Cases remain relatively low for the group, according to DDPHE data. As of the week ending August 15, there were fewer than five cases and hospitalizations reported, compared to the 5,270 cumulative cases reported by housed individuals on August 19.
However, putting shots into the arms of people experiencing homelessness has proven to be a task. Tracking the progress is just as difficult.
In April, DDPHE reported that one out of four people experiencing homelessness had received at least one shot. By the end of the month, 9News reported that number was twice as high.
DDPHE told Denver VOICE in an email that the agency has vaccinated 161 people experiencing homelessness during street outreach events and another 1,502 in congregate settings. Altogether, DDPHE estimates more than 2,172 shots have been distributed to homeless people in Denver.
According to the state health department, over 3.5 million people have received a vaccine in Colorado. More than 3.2 million people are fully vaccinated as well.