Housing advocates Up North say people experiencing homelessness should get the COVID-19 vaccine. The first shipments of it went out to healthcare workers in the state on Monday.
Ashley Hallady-Shmandt is the Director for the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness.
She says the unsheltered are at a huge risk of catching and spreading the virus, especially during the winter.
“People who are experiencing homelessness are doing community exposure at a different rate than the rest of us.”
According to the state, staff in homeless shelters are grouped with teachers and infrastructure workers for vaccine distribution.
But, the state’s plan makes no specific mention of people experiencing homelessness.
The vaccine likely won’t be ready for wide use for several more months at least.