Manitoba homeless shelters say they're in the dark about province's vaccination plan

Winnipegger Adam Emesis ready and anxious to roll up his sleeve to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Until recently, Emes, 45, had been living on the streets, spending the past five years sleeping in camps and bus shelters.

Some of those who are homeless in the city feel like theyare "invincible," he says, because they are livingoutdoors. He used to think that way.

Not anymore, with a pandemic that haslingered stubbornly for a year now.

"I decided I should most likely get the shot. This thing is spreading like wildfire and it is only going to get worse with these new variants. It seems every time you blink there is another variant," said Emes.

DuringFebruary's brutal cold snap, Emes soughtshelter in a St. Boniface pop-up shelter at Holy Crosschurch. That's where he reconnected with Marion Willis at Morberg House, a transitional shelter where he'd spent time before.

Now he is living there, seeking helpand supportfor his addiction.

But Emesandthe rest of the men in recovery at Morberg don't know when or where they will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The province has said with delivery of second doses atpersonal care homes completed, congregate settings likecorrectional facilities, homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities will be the next priority.

Morberg House founder Marion Willis says she is waiting to hear specific details from the province.

"We are being proactive while we wait to hear," she said.

"Myoutreach team is connecting with as many people as possible to let them know about the vaccine. We have done the paperwork to make sure if they require a health card to get it, they will have one."

So far, her team has registered 72 people with Manitoba Health, usingMorbergHouse as their address.

Working on strategy:province

But according to a provincial spokesperson, a health card isn't needed to get the shot.

"There will be a process in place to address that situation," the province said in a statement Thursday, but nodetails on thatprocesswere provided.

"We are working on a strategy for homeless people and have conducted some extensive consults with agencies serving this population. At this point in time, we haven't launched that initiative," the statement said.

Willis wonders how, without requiring a health card, the province will be able to keep track ofwho has had a first or second vaccine doseand where they are living.

At 1JustCity's West End drop-in community centreon McGee Street, community facilitator Josh Ward is also anxious to hearspecifics for how homeless Manitobans will be vaccinated.

"I haven't heard a thing about any plan. I would love to," Ward said. Maintaining physical distancing has reduced capacity at the overnightshelter andthree daytime shelters 1JustCity operates, he said.

"So we certainly want to see our folks get vaccinated as soon as possible so more can come to us for support."

The non-profit is carrying out aninformation campaign about the vaccine,handing out brochures to community members and making sure they have theinformation to make an informed decision.

2-dose vaccine a problem for homeless people

Both Willis and Ward sayvaccines that require two doses for maximum efficiency are problematic, as are plans to now extend theperiod between doses by up to four months.

"I think for a lot of the folk we work with, the second appointment would be an issue. Trying to co-ordinate that would be a nightmare," said Ward. "Many don't know where they will be next week, never mind four months from now."

Willis agrees.

"Common sense tells me that the best vaccine for such a transient demographic would be a one-shot vaccine," she said.

On Friday, Health Canada announced the approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which unlike previously approved vaccines requires only a single dose.

The province said in its Thursday statement ithadno time frame yetfor providing vaccines at shelters. Anyhomeless person who is eligible to receive the vaccine nowcan go to one of the vaccination supersites, the province said.

Both Willis and Ward wantvaccinesadministered attheir own facilities, where they have a relationship of trust with their clientele. Morberg has a nurse and an occupational therapist on site whowould be able to administer the shot, Willis said.

"I don't think our folks would go to a supersite," said Ward. "A person living on the street, they are concerned [with] where are they going to put their stuff when they go inside. They carry their belongings with them."

Emes agrees. He hopes vaccines will be available at Morberg.

"[People living] on the riverbank are a little bit suspect and probably would not go to a supersite," he said."It's notsomething they would do."

Province says vaccinating homeless and vulnerable next priority

4 years ago

Duration 2:11

Homeless shelters in Winnipeg say they are in the dark over when and where the city's most vulnerable will be vaccinated. The province says with second shots administered in personal care homes, shelters are its next priority. But shelters say they haven't been getting any details on when and how the rollout will take place.