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COVID-19 vaccine uptake inequality among older adults: A multidimensional demographic analysis
Seyed M Karimi1, Md Yasin Ali Parh2, Shaminul H Shakib3
1Department of Health Management and Systems Sciences, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; Center for Health Equity, Louisville Metro Department of Health & Wellness, Louisville, KY.
Background:
Age, race, ethnicity, and sex are important determinants of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. Older adults (65 years and older) are at the highest risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Analyzing their vaccine uptake by subclassifying demographics is rare and can assist vaccination policies. This study investigates COVID-19 dose 1 and 2 vaccine uptakes among them by race, ethnicity, and sex.
Methods:
Immunization registry data were used to calculate temporal changes in older adults' COVID-19 vaccine uptake by race, ethnicity, race-sex, and ethnicity-sex in Kentucky's most populous county, Jefferson County, during the first 6 quarters of the COVID-19 vaccination program.
Results:
By May 2022, the county's Asian residents had the highest dose 1 and 2 vaccination rates (97.0% and 80.4%), then White residents (90.0% and 80.2%). Black residents had one of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates (87.3% and 77.3%). The rate among Hispanic residents (82.0% and 66.4%) was considerably lower than non-Hispanic residents (90.2% and 80.1%). The rates were consistently lower in males.
Conclusions:
Racial, ethnic, and sex-based COVID-19 vaccine inequalities were largely maintained during the study period. Vaccine rollout practices and promotional programs should aim to boost the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccination among racial minority and male older adults.
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