# Interim Guidance: Coordinating COVID Vaccination in People Experiencing Homelessness across Multiple Entities in Los Angeles County

## Event Planning: One to two weeks prior to event

- q Prioritize highest-risk locations first, including locations with many elderly and medically vulnerable patients, with a history of prior COVID outbreaks, those without access to vaccination, those in the most impacted zip codes (Health Places Index Plus).
- q If you are planning a vaccination event at a shelter, Project Room Key or Project Home Key site,
- o the site director if a vaccination clinic has already been offered at the site. o the site director if a vaccination clinic has already been offered at the site.
- o date, time, location, estimated number of doses (exclude those already vaccinated) o date, time, location, estimated number of doses (exclude those already vaccinated)
- q Conduct a tour of the event location to coordinate with key partners (including FQHCs), provide vaccine education to patients, and conduct informal ‘pre-registration’ of clients to estimate vaccine demand in the area.
- q Notify county partners in advance about date, time, location, and vaccine type & allocation for the event, optimally one week prior to event.
- q Request support from county partners for outreach & engagement, education, vaccine administration, and coordination of supportive services.

## Registration and Vaccine Administration: Day of Event

- q Request list of patients who are interested in vaccination from location partners and try to stagger patients for vaccination. Avoid requirements for “appointment scheduling.”
- q Conduct low-barrier eligibility screening, including self-reported name, DOB, homeless status (Ask: “Where did records).i you sleep last night?” or review HMIS Avoid requirements for identification.
- q If patient is unsure of vaccination status or endorses getting a prior COVID vaccine, review patient’s vaccination card or CAIR record for vaccination type & date.
- q Consider providing second doses of same mRNA vaccine if within the day 24 to 42 timeframe. If patient is within day 1 to 23 timeframe, please encourage patient to follow-up with other vaccinating entity.
- q Provide anticipatory guidance and resources for vaccine side effects to people experiencing homelessness.
- q Educate and support patients to register in CDC’s V-safe.
- q Consider providing access to the Housing for Health’s nurse-led “After Care Line” at 833-900-2558 for Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm.
- q Consider partnering with HFH COVID Response Teams, MDTs, HOST, and LAHSA HETs to provide additional services and coordination for these events:
- q Perform outreach and engagement for vaccine event to increase vaccine uptake.
- q Support linkage to key services, including housing referrals, food, cell phones, primary care linkage, and harm reduction tools.
- q Consider providing “care kits” to support patients who experience vaccine side effects. Care kits may contain acetaminophen, anti-histamines, an ice pack, etc.
- q If applicable, create an alert for second vaccination dose in HMIS (Homeless Management Information System):

#### Title: COVID Vaccine 2nd Dose Appointment

Note: Client is to follow up at [location] for their 2nd dose of the COVID vaccine on [date] at [time]. Contact [POC] via email at [email] for more information.

- q Coordinate a stand-by line with location partners for left over doses to prevent vaccine waste.

## Post-Vaccine Coordination: Within days of vaccination

- q Ensure appropriate homeless documentation in MyTurn or CAIR.

Last Updated 4.6.2021