Uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among people who inject drugs.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) may be at elevated risk of adverse outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, data on COVID-19 vaccine uptake among PWID are scarce. This study aimed to determine COVID-19 vaccine uptake among PWID, identify factors associated with sub-optimal uptake, and compare uptake to the general population.

Methods: The Australian Needle Syringe Program Survey is an annual sentinel surveillance project, comprising a self-completed questionnaire and provision of a dried blood sample for HIV and HCV testing.

Threat or opportunity? Secondary exchange in a setting with widespread availability of needles.

Where authorized access to needles and syringes from exchanges and pharmacies is limited, secondary exchange (SE) can provide an important source of sterile injecting equipment. Interventions can be developed to use SE to facilitate needle and syringe exchange programs to reach a wider population of drug injectors. Yet in a context such as Western Australia, where needles and syringes are available to drug injectors from many authorized sources, the added benefit of SE is unknown.