Advocates worry homeless communities will be left out of Tennessee s vaccine rollout
Some states have prioritized homeless communities in their vaccine rollout, something that was suggested by the CDC, but Tennessee hasn t.
and last updated 2021-02-24 07:30:16-05
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) â As Tennessee s COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, advocates worry one at-risk group will be left behind. We know that people experiencing homelessness are at greater risk of being exposed because if they re living in a shelter they don t have the ability to social distance, Bobby Watts said.
Watts is the CEO of the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council, which is based in Middle Tennessee. He worries that despite those risk factors, homeless communities may miss out of vaccination efforts even as the pandemic has pushed more people onto the streets.
Why Were NC Homeless Shelters Deprioritized For Vaccines?
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February 11, 2021 GMT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Two of the 12 members of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force are from Tennessee. The panel announced on Wednesday includes Dr. James Hildreth, President and CEO of the historically Black Meharry Medical College in Nashville. Also included is Bobby Watts, of Goodlettsville, who is CEO of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.
Hildreth is an immunologist whose work has focused on several human viruses including HIV. Recently, he has led Meharry’s efforts to ensure that disadvantaged communities have access to COVID testing and vaccines.
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In a news release, Hildreth said he was honored to be chosen and is committed to working with national leadership to address the health disparities that impact our most vulnerable populations.
Currently, federal statute prohibits any form of federal health coverage for incarcerated individuals except under very limited circumstances. In most states, Medicaid coverage is immediately terminated when someone is sent to a correctional setting. This creates a serious coverage gap when individuals are released, as they often have no access to health care or addiction treatment during a stressful and dangerous time. This bill is a bipartisan response to this issue, following alarming evidence published in the New England Journal of Medicine that individuals reentering society are
129 times likelier than the general population to die of a drug overdose during the first two weeks after release.