COVID-19 vaccine coverage among immigrants and refugees in Alberta: a population-based cross-sectional study

Reifferscheid

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background and ObjectivesIn Alberta, Canada, the COVID-19 vaccination program for children aged 5-11 years opened on November 26, 2021. Our objectives were to determine the cumulative vaccine coverage, stratified by age, during the first seven months of vaccine availability, and investigate factors associated with vaccine uptake.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study used population-based administrative health data to assess COVID-19 vaccination coverage among children aged 5-11 years in Alberta, Canada. We determined cumulative vaccine coverage since the time of vaccine availability and used a modified Poisson regression to evaluate factors associated with vaccine uptake.ResultsOf 377,753 eligible children, 43.8 % (n=165,429) received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine during the study period (11.2% received only one dose, while 32.5 % received 2 doses). Almost 90% of initial doses were received within the first two months of vaccine availability. Of those eligible for a second dose, only 75.1% (n=122,973) received it during the study time period. We found a step-wise relationship between increasing child age and higher vaccine coverage. Other factors associated with higher vaccine coverage included living in a neighborhood with higher income, in a more densely populated area, and in certain geographic health zones. Registration in a private school was associated with lower vaccine coverage.ConclusionsMessaging around COVID-19 vaccine safety and need should be tailored to child age, rather than uniform across the 5-11 year age range. Opportunities for targeted vaccination interventions should be considered.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Coverage and correlates of COVID-19 vaccination among children aged 5-11 years in Alberta, Canada

Reifferscheid

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…Additionally, Northeast Calgary (40%) and Northeast Edmonton has a high proportion of immigrant population; it is known that a significant proportion of immigrants are working as front-line workers, who may find social distancing difficult [19,20]. We have previously shown that immigrants in Alberta have higher vaccination coverage than the non-immigrant population, which may also reflect this high-risk employment [21].…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 93%

The influence of place on COVID-19 vaccine coverage in Alberta: A multilevel analysis

2022

PLoS ONE

While there is evidence of urban/rural disparities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage, there is limited data on the influence of other place-based variables. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed population-based linked administrative health data (publicly-funded health insurance database and province-wide immunization repository) to examine vaccination coverage for 3,945,103 residents aged 12 years and above in Alberta, Canada. We used multilevel logistic regression to examine the association of vaccination coverage with various place-based variables. Furthermore, we combined information on vaccine coverage and neighborhood level COVID-19 risk to categorize forward sortation areas (FSAs) into six categories. After 4 months of widely available COVID-19 vaccine, coverage varied widely between rural and urban areas (58% to 73%) and between geographic health authority zones (55.8% to 72.8%). Residents living in neighborhoods with lower COVID-19 disease incidence had the lowest vaccination coverage (63.2%), while coverage in higher incidence neighborhoods ranged from 68.3% to 71.9%. The multilevel logistic regression model indicated that residence in metro (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.37; 95% CI: 1.31–1.42) and urban areas (aOR 1.11; 95% CI: 1.08–1.14) was associated with higher vaccine coverage than residence in rural areas. Similarly, residence in Edmonton, Calgary, and South health zones was associated with higher vaccine coverage compared to residence in Central zone. Higher income neighborhoods reported higher vaccine coverage than the lowest-income neighborhoods, and the highest COVID-19 risk neighborhoods reported higher vaccine coverage than the lowest risk neighborhoods (aOR 1.52; 95% CI: 1.12–2.05). In the first four months of wider vaccine availability in Alberta, COVID-19 vaccine coverage varied according to various place-based characteristics. Vaccine distribution strategies need to consider place-based variables for program prioritization and delivery.

“…(12) Additionally, Northeast Calgary (40%) and Northeast Edmonton have a high proportion of immigrant population; it is known that a significant proportion of immigrants are working as front-line workers, who may find social distancing difficult(14,15) We have previously shown that immigrants in Alberta have higher vaccination coverage than the non-immigrant population, which may also reflect this high risk employment. (16)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of place on COVID-19 vaccine coverage in Alberta: A multilevel analysis

2022

Preprint

Self Cite

Background: While there is evidence of urban/rural disparities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage, there is limited data on the influence of other place-based variables. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed population-based linked administrative health data to examine vaccination coverage for 3,945,103 residents in Alberta, Canada. We used multilevel logistic regression to examine the association of vaccination coverage with various place-based variables. Results: After 4 months of widely available COVID-19 vaccine, coverage varied widely between rural and urban areas (58% to 73%) and between geographic health authority zones (55.8% to 72.8%). Residents living in neighborhoods with lower COVID-19 disease incidence had the lowest vaccination coverage (63.2%), while coverage in higher incidence neighborhoods ranged from 68.3% to 71.9%. The multilevel logistic regression model indicated that residence in metro (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.37; 95% CI: 1.31-1.42) and urban areas (aOR 1.11; 95% CI: 1.08-1.14) was associated with higher vaccine coverage than residence in rural areas. Similarly, residence in Edmonton, Calgary, and South health zones was associated with higher vaccine coverage compared to residence in Central zone. Higher income neighborhoods reported higher vaccine coverage than the lowest-income neighborhoods, and the highest COVID-19 risk neighborhoods reported higher vaccine coverage than the lowest risk neighborhoods (aOR 1.52; 95% CI: 1.12-2.05). Conclusion: In the first four months of wider vaccine availability in Alberta, COVID-19 vaccine coverage varied according to various place-based characteristics. Vaccine distribution strategies need to consider place-based variables for program prioritization and delivery.