People who inject drugs face many health challenges, and don’t traditionally engage with the health care system. Baltimore has the longest-running clean needle exchange program in the nation, reaching clients largely through mobile vans.
In a WTOP-FM interview, Health Affairs June issue author Omeid Heidari of the University of Washington discussed how during the COVID-19 pandemic, these same vans also offered COVID-19 vaccinations and testing.
As Heidari explained, the program providers have earned the trust of the population they serve, which resulted in their becoming fully vaccinated at a higher rate than the general Baltimore population.
According to the author, this program serves as a valuable model for other cities and for colocating other services.