In China CDC weekly
What is already known about this topic? : Few studies have reported that people who use drugs (PWUDs) have much lower coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination rates than the general population, especially with no relative information reported in China specifically.
What is added by this report? : This study seminally uncovers that the vaccination rate among PWUDs was about 79.34% in one district of Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China. Assuming that unvaccinated PWUDs with disease records were really not eligible for vaccination, the vaccination rate goes up to 87.25% among the studied PWUDs. The study implies that PWUDs were not left behind in the vaccination drive against COVID-19 in China.
What are the implications for public health practice? : In pandemics like COVID-19, government leadership and the overall planning and distribution of public health products are critical in achieving national health equity. However, in order to do this as well as avoid discrimination or exclusion among specific portions of the general population, it's necessary to understand the vaccination rates and behaviors of at-risk groups such as PWUD's.
Du Erri, Jiang Pengyu, Zhang Chaowei, Zhang Shan, Yan Xiangyu, Li Yongjie, Jia Zhongwei
2022-Sep-16
COVID-19, people who use drugs, vaccination
