Researchers launch study into COVID-19 vaccine uptake and efficacy in vulnerable urban populations

published on July 14, 2021 in UBC News

British Columbia is in the midst of two public health emergencies. While the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues across the province and country, fatal drug poisonings have been on the rise.

Researchers with UBC and the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU)—in partnership with the BC Centre for Disease Control and Vancouver Coastal Health—want to know how these dual health emergencies are being experienced. They have launched a new study to investigate the uptake, effectiveness, and safety of COVID-19 vaccines among members of vulnerable urban populations, including people who use unregulated drugs.

We asked study co-leads Dr. Brittany Barker, postdoctoral fellow with UBC’s department of medicine and research scientist at BCCSU, and Dr. Hudson Reddon, postdoctoral research fellow with UBC’s department of medicine, how COVID-19 and vaccinations are being experienced by vulnerable populations…

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