AUTHOR=Morrone Aldo , Buonomini Anna Rita , Sannella Alessandra , Pimpinelli Fulvia , Rotulo Arianna 

TITLE=Unequal Access to Testing and Vaccination Services for the Homeless and Undocumented Population During COVID-19 Pandemic

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=67

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604851

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604851

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> To furnish a model to ensure access and use of healthcare services to the undocumented and homeless population.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Between March 2020 and October 2021, public and third sector actors in Rome implemented an accessible COVID-19 screening service and vaccination program targeting the homeless and undocumented population.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> 95.6% of the patients tested negative to both rapid and molecular tests. 0.9% tested positive to both. 0.7% were false negatives, while 2.8% were false positives. None of the participants refused the diagnostic treatment. From July to October 2021, 1384 people received a complete cycle of the COVID-19 vaccine through the program. 632 (45.6%) also agreed to perform the antibodies testing before inoculation. 318 (50.31%) of these were positive at the time of vaccination.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> We present a cost-effective model for reducing structural barriers to access diagnostic and preventive services for the homeless and undocumented population that can be applied to different public health settings.</p>