# Ethno-epidemiology of HCV, HIV and Overdose associated with Drug Markets and Drug Tourism

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2021 · $561,819

## Abstract

This competitive revision aims to increase access and uptake of COVID-19 testing and vaccination
among people who inject drugs (PWID), a population highly vulnerable to COVID-19. The proposed
RADxUP project, LinkUP, will be nested within the San Diego component of our parent grant, La
Frontera, which was funded by NIDA in 04/20. To date, 31% of La Frontera PWID have tested SARS-
CoV-2 antibody+, of whom 65% had not previously been tested for COVID-19. Only 3% had been
vaccinated by 05/2021 and 45% were vaccine hesitant. Our specific aims are: AIM 1. To prospectively
evaluate the prevalence, predictors and barriers to COVID-19 testing among PWID. AIM 2. To
prospectively assess incidence, predictors and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination among PWID. AIM 3.
To adapt and pilot an intervention offered at a mobile syringe services program (SSP) to improve
uptake of COVID-19 testing and vaccination among PWID. AIM 4. To compare COVID testing and
vaccination rates before and after the state introduces a) COVID-19 rapid testing and b) COVID-19
vaccination at the SSP, which represents a natural experiment. AIM 5. To prospectively assess the
impact of COVID-19 testing and vaccination on PWIDs’ behaviors. To meet Aim 1 and 2, we will
conduct interviews with 400 PWID in La Frontera, results which will be available in Fall 2021. Based on
these findings and input from our Community and Scientific Advisory Board (CSAB), we will select and
adapt a brief intervention to improve COVID-19 testing and vaccination uptake among PWID at the
mobile van of our community partner, OnPoint. The LinkUP intervention will then be piloted among a
subgroup of 150 La Frontera PWID who have not received COVID-19 vaccine or testing and will be
implemented by OnPoint peer counsellors, who will also offer on-site rapid COVID-19 antigen testing
and confirmatory PCR and referrals to the closest COVID-19 vaccination center (until vaccine is offered
at OnPoint by the state). We will evaluate COVID-19 vaccine uptake independently through ongoing La
Frontera study visits that will include self-reported interview data, linkage of electronic health records
with the San Diego County COVID-19 database, and by analyzing SARSCoV-2 antibody patterns to
differentiate between natural infection and vaccine-induced immunity. Results will be used to estimate
effect sizes for a future efficacy trial and shared with the RADxUP consortium, policymakers and
program planners. Since there are 185 SSPs across the country, our study will inform efforts to enable
SSPs to become important ‘touchpoints’ to reach marginalized PWID, strengthening the nation’s
pandemic preparedness infrastructure to reduce COVID-19 health disparities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10409999
- **Project number:** 3R01DA049644-02S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** STEFFANIE A. STRATHDEE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $561,819
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10409999

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10409999, Ethno-epidemiology of HCV, HIV and Overdose associated with Drug Markets and Drug Tourism (3R01DA049644-02S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10409999. Licensed CC0.

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