HOMELESS people and the staff who support them should move up the vaccine priority list, Southend charities say.

Both Harp and St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) believe the move is “essential” to help protect the town’s most vulnerable, while their services have “never been more needed”.

Bosses say that their team on the frontline are at increased exposure of catching the virus, which could potentially lead to staff shortages if members need to isolate.

Gary Turner, Harp’s director of service operations, said: “People facing homelessness are more likely to have underlying health conditions, making them vulnerable to the worst effects of coronavirus.

“Meanwhile, our services have never been more needed, placing the frontline staff at Harp, and in other local homelessness organisations, at increased risk of exposure to infection and, the possibility of needing to self-isolate.

“This could lead to staff shortages which threaten the very services people in need rely on. The priority vaccination of people experiencing homelessness, and the people who work with them, is therefore essential to help to protect some of Southend’s most vulnerable people.”

Daniel Cauchi, from SVP, added: “This is something we’re really pushing for - we run kindness kitchens five nights a week, drop off food parcels, help get people in temporary accommodation, so our team are on the frontline.”

Ian Gilbert, leader of the council, added: “We agree that the homeless community is a priority group when it comes to the vaccine, due to their living arrangements and possible underlying health conditions which can make them more vulnerable to Covid-19.

“We are working closely with Southend clinical commissioning group to ensure they have the option of the vaccine following the other priority group and are increasing testing of the homeless community.”