Inequities in COVID-19 vaccine and booster coverage across Massachusetts ZIP codes after the emergence of Omicron: A population-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Inequities in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and booster coverage may contribute to future disparities in morbidity and mortality within and between Massachusetts (MA) communities. Methods and findings We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of primary series vaccination and booster coverage 18 months into the general population vaccine rollout. We obtained public-use data on residents vaccinated and boosted by ZIP code (and by age group: 5 to 19, 20 to 39, 40 to 64, 65+) from MA Department of Public Health, as of October 10, 2022. We constructed population denominators for postal ZIP codes by aggregating census tract population estimates from the 2015–2019 American Community Survey. We excluded nonresidential ZIP codes and the smallest ZIP codes containing 1% of the state’s population. We mapped variation in ZIP code-level primary series vaccine and booster coverage and used regression models to evaluate the association of these measures with ZIP code-level socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Because age is strongly associated with COVID-19 severity and vaccine access/uptake, we assessed whether observed socioeconomic and racial/ethnic inequities persisted after adjusting for age composition and plotted age-specific vaccine and booster coverage by deciles of ZIP code characteristics. We analyzed data on 418 ZIP codes. We observed wide geographic variation in primary series vaccination and booster rates, with marked inequities by ZIP code-level education, median household income, essential worker share, and racial/ethnic composition. In age-stratified analyses, primary series vaccine coverage was very high among the elderly. However, we found large inequities in vaccination rates among younger adults and children, and very large inequities in booster rates for all age groups. In multivariable regression models, each 10 percentage point increase in “percent college educated” was associated with a 5.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.9 to 6.3, p < 0.001) percentage point increase in primary series vaccine coverage and a 5.4 (95% CI 4.5 to 6.4, p < 0.001) percentage point increase in booster coverage. Although ZIP codes with higher “percent Black/Latino/Indigenous” and higher “percent essential workers” had lower vaccine coverage (−0.8, 95% CI −1.3 to −0.3, p < 0.01; −5.5, 95% CI −7.3 to −3.8, p < 0.001), these associations became strongly positive after adjusting for age and education (1.9, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.8, p < 0.001; 4.8, 95% CI 2.6 to 7.1, p < 0.001), consistent with high demand for vaccines among Black/Latino/Indigenous and essential worker populations within age and education groups. Strong positive associations between “median household income” and vaccination were attenuated after adjusting for age. Limitations of the study include imprecision of the estimated population denominators, lack of individual-level sociodemographic data, and potential for residential ZIP code misreporting in vaccination data. Conclusions Eighteen months into MA’s general population vaccine rollout, there remained large inequities in COVID-19 primary series vaccine and booster coverage across MA ZIP codes, particularly among younger age groups. Disparities in vaccination coverage by racial/ethnic composition were statistically explained by differences in age and education levels, which may mediate the effects of structural racism on vaccine uptake. Efforts to increase booster coverage are needed to limit future socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.

COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Skåne county, Sweden, in relation to individual-level and area-level sociodemographic factors: a register-based cross-sectional analysis

“…17 Further, a study performed in the US state of Massachusetts showed that first dose and subsequent booster dose was greater in areas with higher income and education and was lower in areas with a greater percentage of Black, Latino and indigenous adults. 22 Additionally, among a specific population of healthcare workers in Wales, booster dose vaccine uptake was consistently lower among black healthcare workers, as well as those from deprived areas. 23 These studies are in line with our results, with lower probability of booster vaccine among individuals with the lowest level of education, lowest disposable household income and those born outside of Sweden as well as in the areas with a low socioeconomic standing.…”

The Brazilian vaccine divide: How some municipalities were left behind in the Covid-19 vaccine coverage

“…Numerous countries have expressed concerns regarding disparities in vaccine coverage, highlighting significant social, economic, and racial/ethnic inequalities [11,12]. The situation in Brazil is particularly concerning.…”

The mobile vaccine equity enhancement program–a model program for enhancing equity in vaccine availability based at a large health care system

“…Indeed, some individuals at greatest risk, such as the older adult and homebound, were completely unable to access vaccines (7)(8)(9). Beyond technological challenges, equity in vaccine distribution suffered as well, partially related to mass vaccination sites favoring those with access to transportation, those who lived near the vaccination centers, and those without socioeconomic barriers to seeking care at these facilities (10)(11)(12)(13)(14). While Massachusetts was successful in vaccinating a large percentage of its population, a need clearly existed to extend vaccine capability to those with difficulty accessing mass vaccination sites and to ensure equitable distribution of this life-saving measure.…”