Vulnerable Populations and COVID-19: Sharing Knowledge to Improve Prevention and Response Efforts
What are the most effective ways to combat COVID-19 among vulnerable populations? Santé publique France presents the key findings and outlook from a knowledge-sharing initiative involving researchers, field workers, and policymakers.
Coronavirus
The current pandemic poses a significant risk to vulnerable populations, particularly the homeless. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and crisis management measures are magnified for these vulnerable groups: increased exposure to the virus due to their living conditions, loss of income, food insecurity, deteriorating mental health, addictive behaviors, and so on.
To support frontline workers, researchers, and policymakers, Santé publique France has undertaken a knowledge mobilization initiative.
A method inspired by Quebec
Santé publique France drew inspiration from the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), which defines this method as “a dynamic process that encompasses various strategies for disseminating and adopting knowledge with a view to its use by practitioners, decision-makers, or the general public.” It simultaneously conducted:
an assessment of strategies implemented abroad to combat COVID-19 in residential care facilities, seroprevalence studies and their associated factors, and a survey of studies conducted in France,
a compilation of experiential knowledge based on interviews with professionals supporting these populations,
a webinar to share the results, enabling collective consultation on the actions to be taken.
What are the key points of this initiative?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, meeting basic needs for water, food, hygiene, healthcare, and mental health, as well as access to digital resources and education, has been—and continues to be—all too often problematic
The strengthening of ties between the social and health sectors, particularly through mobile teams, must be maintained and consolidated
Accommodation and isolation protocols raise ethical and legal questions
Security concerns can hinder social work, underscoring the need to maintain an “outreach” approach in crisis situations
Sante publique France must commit to supporting professionals and developing appropriate interventions, built on a participatory approach
COVID-19 testing is essential for people often living in group housing
The vaccination strategy must take into account the specific contexts of these populations and use appropriate tools (information, confidentiality assurances, monitoring of side effects, etc.)
What lessons can we take away for the future?
Santé publique France plans to repeat this exercise to adapt to the evolving health, social, and economic crisis. This work has highlighted the effectiveness of new collaborations and initiatives that go beyond traditional institutional frameworks. But it has also highlighted their fragility over time, as well as the high expectations of stakeholders in the context of the current pandemic and future crises. It will now be important to describe how these experiences could serve as a foundation for sustainable institutional and/or professional innovations to address the depth and diversity of needs exacerbated by this unprecedented crisis.
Learn more
rapport/synthèse
23 December 2025
Combating COVID-19 Among Vulnerable Populations in France: Sharing Knowledge on Testing Strategies
Partner Projects
PrePreC Study (Precariousness and COVID Prevalence), Doctors Without Borders, Pasteur Institute, and Epicentre: a survey highlighting over-contamination in gathering places for people in precarious situations in Seine-Saint-Denis and Paris.
COVIDHomeless Project, Médecins du Monde, AP-HM, and Coordination for Access to and Continuity of Care for the Homeless (Assab): study on morbidity and mortality among homeless people in Marseille.
ECHO Study, Social Epidemiology Research Team (ERES, Inserm): assessment of perceptions of the COVID-19 epidemic and lockdown among people in precarious situations living in shelters in France.
At food aid distribution points, the “new groups affected by lockdown,” Paris Social Emergency Services Observatory. The economic consequences of the crisis for the most disadvantaged and new groups receiving food aid.
COVID-19 and Vulnerable Populations in Occitanie, Santé publique France Creai ORS Occitanie, Perpignan Hospital.
Acceptance of public health messages and seroprevalence study among the Romani community.
European Federation of National Organizations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA): Webinar to share experiences across Europe on COVID-19 vaccination campaigns for homeless people.
M8 Alliance, a World Health Summit group bringing together health and research experts. Recent work on the health of migrants and refugees during the pandemic. Webinar: Ensuring the Covid-19 Vaccine Reaches Undocumented Migrants.
See also
COVID-19: Leading health education activities with people in vulnerable situations.
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