NHS Mid and South Essex has joined forces with a Southend homeless healthcare organisation to vaccinate rough sleepers and sofa surfers against flu and COVID-19.
Local GP, Dr Haroon Siddique, started Southend Integrated Homeless Healthcare (SIHH) in 2020 with Prescribing Paramedic Victoria Chana, as a way to vaccinate the homeless against flu and COVID-19. Dr Siddique and his team attend regular clinics for the homeless at the One Love Soup Kitchen, HARP and St Vincent de Paul centres across Southend.
During the winter months Dr Siddique provides the homeless with vaccinations during his normal clinics at these centres. Dr Siddique explains: “The homeless are particularly vulnerable to flu and COVID-19. Apart from being exposed to the extreme winter temperatures, many often have underlying health issues such asthma and poor nutrition. This puts them at a higher risk of catching flu and COVID-19.
“I offer them vaccinations at my regular healthcare clinics. They are very keen to get vaccinated as they want to stop themselves from getting ill. Without these clinics it is very difficult for the homeless to access healthcare services either with a GP or at a pharmacy.”
Dr Siddique recently vaccinated 17 people at his clinic in the St Vincent de Paul centre at the Victoria Business Park. One recipient was Sava Urumou, 52, who has been in Southend for 16 years. Sava said: “I’m officially homeless, but at the moment I do have a room with St Vincent. I want to stay well when I’m outside in the cold. Now that I’ve been vaccinated, I feel protected.”
However, it is not just the homeless who need vaccinations. St. Vincent soup kitchen volunteer Marianne Walker, 73, of Eastwood, was also vaccinated by Dr Siddique. Marianne explains: “I was due to have my injections at my local surgery three weeks ago. However, I had a cold and thought it unwise to be vaccinated whilst I was sick. However, the clinic here at St Vincent’s was the perfect opportunity to get my flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
“In 2020 I was hospitalised for almost a month with COVID-19 and I was on oxygen for a week in Southend Hospital. Being vaccinated will lessen the impact and could save me from something much worse. Vaccinations are so important.”
For more information on the vaccinations available this winter, please visit NHS Mid and South Essex’s Winter Health Hub Vaccination page.