Special Populations

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic began, in early 2020, marginalized and vulnerable populations have been especially, adversely, impacted. NASW’s Connect to End COVID-19 initiative was launched to provide equitable training and outreach that promote informed vaccine decision-making on the part of social workers and their clients, particularly among those who are vulnerable, marginalized, and/or vaccine hesitant.

Connect to End COVID-19: Role of NASW and Its Chapters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines vaccine confidence as the belief that vaccines work, are safe, and are part of a trustworthy medical system. NASW and its Chapters are working to increase vaccine confidence and vaccine uptake through training, communications, and outreach strategies that include, but are not limited to:

• offering complimentary NASW National webinars and CEUs;
• offering complimentary NASW Chapter-based trainings and CEUs on Motivational interviewing (MI) and Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Therapy (SBIRT) that promote informed vaccine decision-making on the part of social workers and their clients;
• organizing and collaborating with local community vaccine ambassadors; and,
• partnering with local agency/organization for social workers to attend national webinars and chapter workshop training program.

Special Populations: Barriers and Solutions

1. Persons Experiencing Homelessness
   Barrier: access to vaccine in traditional setting (clinic, pharmacy).
   Potential Solution: vaccine education and drive at shelters, day programs, food service locations or encampments.
2. Persons with Disabilities
   Barrier: online appointment scheduling and care site navigation.
   Potential Solution: collaboration with Area Agencies on Aging, Meals on Wheels, etc.
3. Incarcerated, Detained, and Justice-Involved Individuals
   Barrier: congregative living settings.
   Potential Solution: prioritization by state to provide COVID-19 vaccine to prisons and jails.
4. Immigrants
   Barrier: language/literacy challenges, limited transportation, fear of immigration-related consequences.
   Potential Solution: language specific outreach, walk-in testing sites.
5. Minority Populations
   Barrier: racism, distrust of medical system.
   Potential Solution: trusted champion; partnering with YMCA, barbershops, salons, local nonprofit; and, mixed media messaging.

NASW Resources:

• Helping People in Special Populations During the Coronavirus Pandemic

CDC Resources:

• Vaccinate with Confidence: Strategy to Reinforce Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines
• How to Tailor COVID-19 Vaccine Information to Your Specific Audience
• National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM) Vaccine Central
• Toolkit for People with Disabilities