Vaccine Toolkit

Homeless Advocates Can Play an Important Role in Helping People Experiencing Homelessness Get the COVID-19 Vaccine

People experiencing homelessness, like others, may have limited access to information about the COVID-19 vaccine and/or may have concerns about its safety or effectiveness.  Homeless advocates are uniquely positioned to help people experiencing homelessness explore underlying beliefs and fears about the vaccine, promote vaccine confidence, and promote vaccination. 

Vaccination hesitancy - the delay or refusal of available vaccine services - is common and experienced by many people, regardless of their housing status.  People experiencing homelessness may be at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 but misinformation, histories of discrimination, and prior negative experiences with medical services can cause mistrust in the vaccine. 

Our toolkit provides resources and tools to prepare homeless advocates to provide accurate vaccine education and engage in trauma-informed discussions about the vaccines with people experiencing homelessness. 

Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Update

Administration of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has resumed after review by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Download our update on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine administration and information for people who may have concerns after having received the vaccine.

Toolkit Topics

Introduction: Overview of the toolkit and purpose, commonly used terms, and contributors. 

Chapter 1 - Vaccine Ambassadorship: Introduction to vaccine ambassadorship and the important role that homeless advocates can play in building vaccine confidence and uptake among people experiencing homelessness.

Key Concepts: Vaccine Ambassadorship, Helping People Experiencing Homelessness Build Vaccine Confidence, and Role of Homeless Advocates and Medical Professionals.

Chapter 2 - COVID-19 Basics: Basic information about SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 illness, and risk management.

Key Concepts: COVID-19 Symptoms, Influenza and COVID-19, Transmission and Prevention, Precautions for People Experiencing Homelessness.

Chapter 3 - COVID-19 Vaccines: General information about currently available COVID-19 vaccines.

Key Concepts: How COVID-19 Vaccines Work, Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness, Vaccine Comparison, Getting Vaccinated, What to Expect After Vaccination.

Chapter 4 - Vaccine Hesitancy: An introduction to vaccine hesitancy, common concerns expressed by people experiencing homelessness, and the relationship between racial trauma and vaccine hesitancy.

Key Concepts: Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy, Misinformation, Perception of Risk, Vaccine Safety, Mistrust, Medical Concerns, Vaccine Side Effects, Racial Trauma, Religious/Spiritual Concerns.

Chapter 5 - Promoting Vaccine Confidence: Tailored strategies to address common vaccine concerns among people experiencing homelessness, and sample responses to those concerns using messages that are proven to work. 

Key Concepts: Core Values, Tips for Talking About Vaccines, Responding to Common Vaccine Concerns, Respecting "No" and Harm Reduction.