As we all know, homeless populations across the globe do not have the same levels of access to health care as housed individuals. This has only become more apparent in a recent article published in the British Thoracic Society Journals investigating the high incidence of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and latent tuberculosis infection in homeless populations. The researchers found that a substantial population were not immune and hadn’t been vaccinated against hepatitis B virus. Those of the population that consented to the study that were intravenous drug users were more likely to be vaccinated due to them being a target population for vaccination outreach in the UK. The hepatitis B vaccine is available and effective at protecting against hepatitis B infection - so why is it that the homeless population in the UK has not been targeted for vaccination outreach? This study described the population as “usually hard-to-reach” and thus used convenience sampling. They weren’t able to have intoxicated individuals participate due to consent issues, which only makes a stronger case for helping homeless individuals stave off these blood-borne viral infections. The provided data in the study could potentially be used to estimate cost-effectiveness of at least giving the hepatits B vaccine to homeless people in the UK. This published article has only reinforced the need for support for homeless populations in the UK.
-Meley
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