As COVID-19 vaccinations continue for frontline health workers in Longmont, a leading advocate for the homeless worries shelters in the state are not being properly prioritized for the vaccine. The result could unleash the pandemic on Coloradans living on the streets.
“The worry is that the homeless population is transient, and you have different populations moving in and out of shelters, and that could increase exposure for workers in the shelter and for those who are coming in for the night,” said Cathy Alderman, spokeswoman for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.
“We are just looking for clarity for when shelter workers can get the vaccine,” Alderman said.
The Denver Homeless Leadership Council — which includes 10 groups — are asking Gov. Jared Polis to place homeless service providers, including overnight emergency shelter staff and meal service providers, in the Phase 1 category for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Frontline health workers in hospitals and clinics in Colorado are in Phase 1 and were the first ones to get the vaccine last week, including at Longmont United and Longs Peak hospitals.
The leadership council also is asking Polis to put the homeless individuals in the Phase 2 category for vaccines. Phase 2 includes high risk individuals with chronic health problems and essential workers — including grocery store workers and teachers. People in Phase 2 are expected to get the vaccine in the spring, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
In previous plans, homeless shelter staff and the homeless were given higher priority for the vaccine, the leadership council stated in a letter to Polis
The current plan appears to designate homeless services providers and the homeless for Phase 3, along with the general public.
“This is extremely disappointing and concerning,” the letter states.
Staff at homeless shelters are on the frontline of the COVID-19 emergency response, delivering essential services, providing shelter, security, resources and respite for people experiencing homelessness, the letter states.
“Our providers have been essential in helping to contain the virus and prevent further strain on our state’s public health system,” the letter states.
The Denver Homeless Leadership Council details how COVID-19 outbreaks continue to take a significant toll. Out of 54 staff and guests recently tested at Denver Rescue Mission’s Harvest Farm in Fort Collins, 46 individuals were positive for COVID-19, the letter states.
“While we have managed to the best of our ability to date, outbreaks at shelters across the states and particularly in Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs have been devastating,” the letter states.
The homeless population in Longmont has experienced very low transmission rates of the virus, Joseph Zanovitch, executive director of the HOPE (Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement), said in an email.
“We have only had one client this entire time test positive,” Zanovitch said.
One reason could be the homeless don’t connect with people during the day, so their social interactions are already low and immune systems are holding up, he said. This generally contradicts assumptions about health and homeless, Zanovtich said.
“That being said, there are a number of health concerns they (the homeless) do deal with that need to be addressed,” he said.
Last week, 275 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine were distributed to associates and providers at Centura Health Longmont United Hospital. The facility has received its first allotment of the Moderna vaccine, of which distribution began on Thursday and will continue until the current supply has been depleted, Christina Johnson, CEO of Longmont United Hospital, stated in an email.
