As of April 12, 1,122 people experiencing homelessness have already been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Sacramento County. This includes 449 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and 673 people in shelters. Through our partnerships, we’re aiming to increase awareness about this important public health tool and increase vaccine rates.
April 13 update: Earlier today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for an immediate stop to all distribution of the single-dose Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine. This was the primary vaccine being administered to people experiencing homelessness and will no longer be provided at any community clinics. The joint CDC and FDA statement can be found here. The official statement from the Sacramento County Department of Public Health can be found here.
In several cases, a rare and severe blood clot has been reported in individuals who received the J&J vaccine. Treatment of this type of blood clot is different than that of a typical blood clot, and providers should be aware of any individuals who received this vaccine in the last two weeks and present with severe headaches or difficulty breathing. Please advise any recently vaccinated individuals with these symptoms to seek medical attention right away.
Our work:
SSF is working in close coordination with the Sacramento County Public Health Department and community partners to encourage people experiencing homelessness to get COVID-19 vaccines as they become available.
To increase vaccination rates, SSF is taking part in the COVID-19 Community Health Project (CCHP), a state-wide initiative facilitated by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation in collaboration with the California Department of Social Services. The project supports our most vulnerable communities by providing information about how to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and build vaccine confidence.
We are working with partner volunteer organizations that will recruit people experiencing homelessness to act as trusted leaders within encampments and shelters to continue to carry the COVID-19 prevention and mitigation message, particularly around building vaccine confidence.
We are using educational materials developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State of California to promote this effort through this targeted outreach and through social media campaigns.
SSF will offer monthly training for our partner organizations, other interested volunteer organizations, and homeless service providers to address barriers to vaccination and factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy.
To find out more information about this effort or to inquire about participating, email our Volunteer and Training Coordinator Kathreen Daria at kdaria@sacstepsforward.org.
Our partners:
- Sacramento County Department of Public Health
- South Sacramento Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART)
- SAC Soup/Sacramento Homeless Union
- Showers on Wheels for Unhoused Patrons (Show Up)
- Humanitarian Action Network
- Community-Led Advocacy Program (CLAP)
Resources and toolkits for providers:
Promoting vaccine awareness starts with education. Below are resources to help engage people experiencing homelessness with accurate, up-to-date information about vaccines and other COVID-19 health and safety measures.
SSF has compiled a toolkit of useful federal and state resources. Click here to download the entire resource guide.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) toolkit
Vaccination clinics and resources:
Community vaccination clinics exclusively for people experiencing homelessness:
- 7:30-9:30am – Loaves & Fishes, 1351 N C St, Sacramento, CA 95811
- 10:30am-12:30pm -Vagabond, 909 3rd Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
- 1:30-3:30pm – Meadowview, 2700 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA 95832
- 8:00-10:00am – T & Y Market, 2835 Norwood Ave, Sacramento, CA 95815
- 8:00-10:00am – MedMark, 7240 E Southgate Dr. Suite G Sacramento, CA 95823
- 10:30am-12:30pm – Capitol City Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 6701 Lemon Hill Ave, Sacramento, CA 95824
- 1:30-3:30pm – Church Of Nazarene, 1820 28th St, Sacramento CA 95814
- 9:00am-3:30pm – River City Recovery Center, 12490 Alta Mesa Rd, Harold, CA 95638
These clinics, hosted by Elica Health Centers and Loaves & Fishes, will administer the Moderna vaccine and offer follow-ups for second doses.
Community vaccination clinics for the general public:
- Find out more about countywide vaccine clinics at Sacramento County’s website.
Transportation
- Sacramento Regional Transit is offering free rides to scheduled vaccine appointments in Sacramento County. Find out more here.
Do you have a vaccination clinic or a resource to list? Email our Volunteer and Training Coordinator Kathreen Daria at kdaria@sacstepsforward.org.
