Homeless people receive Covid-19 vaccine at DHC

CITY health has been working with the municipality to provide vaccines at the three Safe Sleeping Sites that the Safer Cities department have continued to run since the end of the hard lockdown. They have also agreed to include the Denis Hurley Centre (DHC) on their timetable.

DHC director, Raymond Perrier, said on the first day about 50 homeless people were vaccinated at their site, 20% of those came for meals.

“Homeless people reflect the same problem of vaccine hesitancy that has beset the programme. Nationwide polls regularly show that 50% of South Africans are uncertain about the vaccine. Despite the huge numbers of deaths from Covid, and the 5 billion vaccines administered worldwide, homeless people have fallen prey to the same misinformation and unscientific attitudes as some South Africans,” said Perrier.

 “We have been trying to educate the homeless and other patients but it is clear that much more work needs to be done. But we now have the advantage that the homeless who have been vaccinated can provide good information and reassurance to their peers,” added Perrier.

He said the challenge of not knowing their ID numbers have prevented many homeless people from being vaccinated.

“Despite months and months of discussion with the Department of Home Affairs, almost no progress has been made on securing replacement IDs. We have been reassured by the national head of the vaccine programme that there will be a solution for undocumented people and that this will help homeless people and also some foreign nationals,” he said.

Those who were vaccinated were surprised at how quick and painless the whole exercise was and how well they were treated by City Health staff.

He said they were able to reassure people that being a drug-user, or being on HIV or TB medication, did not prevent people from being vaccinated.

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“By using the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine, the need to return for a second dose was avoided. Every person vaccinated received a smart new mask, generously donated by local clothing company, Best Value Dollar,” he said.  

“City Health are considering using our site more regularly so that they can provide fast and accessible vaccines to the thousands of people shopping in our area,” he said.