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Mahmood B, Adu P, McKee G, Bharmal A, Wilton J, Janjua NZ. Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccine Mistrust and Receipt in British Columbia, Canada: Population Survey. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2024; 10:e48466. [PMID: 38363596 PMCID: PMC10896316 DOI: 10.2196/48466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racialized populations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Higher vaccine hesitancy has been reported among racial and ethnic minorities in some of these countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, higher vaccine hesitancy has been observed among the South Asian population and Black compared with the White population, and this has been attributed to lack of trust in government due to historical and ongoing racism and discrimination. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess vaccine receipt by ethnicity and its relationship with mistrust among ethnic groups in British Columbia (BC), Canada. METHODS We included adults ≥18 years of age who participated in the BC COVID-19 Population Mixing Patterns Survey (BC-Mix) from March 8, 2021, to August 8, 2022. The survey included questions about vaccine receipt and beliefs based on a behavioral framework. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between mistrust in vaccines and vaccine receipt among ethnic groups. RESULTS The analysis included 25,640 adults. Overall, 76.7% (22,010/28,696) of respondents reported having received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccines (Chinese=86.1%, South Asian=79.6%, White=75.5%, and other ethnicity=73.2%). Overall, 13.7% (3513/25,640) of respondents reported mistrust of COVID-19 vaccines (Chinese=7.1%, South Asian=8.2%, White=15.4%, and other ethnicity=15.2%). In the multivariable model (adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, educational attainment, and household size), mistrust was associated with a 93% reduced odds of vaccine receipt (adjusted odds ratio 0.07, 95% CI 0.06-0.08). In the models stratified by ethnicity, mistrust was associated with 81%, 92%, 94%, and 95% reduced odds of vaccine receipt among South Asian, Chinese, White, and other ethnicities, respectively. Indecision, whether to trust the vaccine or not, was significantly associated with a 70% and 78% reduced odds of vaccine receipt among those who identified as White and of other ethnic groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Vaccine receipt among those who identified as South Asian and Chinese in BC was higher than that among the White population. Vaccine mistrust was associated with a lower odds of vaccine receipt in all ethnicities, but it had a lower effect on vaccine receipt among the South Asian and Chinese populations. Future research needs to focus on sources of mistrust to better understand its potential influence on vaccine receipt among visible minorities in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bushra Mahmood
- Division of Endocrinology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Prince Adu
- British Columbia Center for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Social Medicine, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Dublin, OH, United States
| | - Geoffrey McKee
- British Columbia Center for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Aamir Bharmal
- British Columbia Center for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James Wilton
- British Columbia Center for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Naveed Zafar Janjua
- British Columbia Center for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Bodner K, Irvine MA, Kwong JC, Mishra S. Observed negative vaccine effectiveness could be the canary in the coal mine for biases in observational COVID-19 studies. Int J Infect Dis 2023; 131:111-114. [PMID: 36990200 PMCID: PMC10040347 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, multiple observational studies have reported negative vaccine effectiveness (VE) against infection, symptomatic infection, and even severity (hospitalization), potentially leading to an interpretation that vaccines were facilitating infection and disease. However, current observations of negative VE likely stem from the presence of various biases (e.g., exposure differences, testing differences). Although negative VE is more likely to arise when true biological efficacy is generally low and biases are large, positive VE measurements can also be subject to the same mechanisms of bias. In this perspective, we first outline the different mechanisms of bias that could lead to false-negative VE measurements and then discuss their ability to potentially influence other protection measurements. We conclude by discussing the use of suspected false-negative VE measurements as a signal to interrogate the estimates (quantitative bias analysis) and to discuss potential biases when communicating real-world immunity research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korryn Bodner
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Michael A Irvine
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada; Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Jeffrey C Kwong
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada; ICES, Toronto, Canada; Epidemiology Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Clinical Public Health Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sharmistha Mishra
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada; ICES, Toronto, Canada; Epidemiology Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Mavragani A, Sanchez T, Jeong D, Vadlamudi NK, Velásquez García HA, Mahmood B, Buller-Taylor T, Otterstatter M, Janjua NZ. The Impact of Mask Mandates on Face Mask Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Survey Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2023; 9:e42616. [PMID: 36446134 PMCID: PMC9838719 DOI: 10.2196/42616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Face mask use has been associated with declines in COVID-19 incidence rates worldwide. A handful of studies have examined the factors associated with face mask use in North America during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, much less is known about the patterns of face mask use and the impact of mask mandates during this time. This information could have important policy implications, now and in the event of future pandemics. OBJECTIVE To address existing knowledge gaps, we assessed face mask usage patterns among British Columbia COVID-19 Population Mixing Patterns (BC-Mix) survey respondents and evaluated the impact of the provincial mask mandate on these usage patterns. METHODS Between September 2020 and July 2022, adult British Columbia residents completed the web-based BC-Mix survey, answering questions on the circumstances surrounding face mask use or lack thereof, movement patterns, and COVID-19-related beliefs. Trends in face mask use over time were assessed, and associated factors were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. A stratified analysis was done to examine effect modification by the provincial mask mandate. RESULTS Of the 44,301 respondents, 81.9% reported wearing face masks during the 23-month period. In-store and public transit mask mandates supported monthly face mask usage rates of approximately 80%, which was further bolstered up to 92% with the introduction of the provincial mask mandate. Face mask users mostly visited retail locations (51.8%) and travelled alone by car (49.6%), whereas nonusers mostly traveled by car with others (35.2%) to their destinations-most commonly parks (45.7%). Nonusers of face masks were much more likely to be male than female, especially in retail locations and restaurants, bars, and cafés. In a multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for possible confounders, factors associated with face mask use included age, ethnicity, health region, mode of travel, destination, and time period. The odds of face mask use were 3.68 times greater when the provincial mask mandate was in effect than when it was not (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.68, 95% CI 3.33-4.05). The impact of the mask mandate was greatest in restaurants, bars, or cafés (mandate: aOR 7.35, 95% CI 4.23-12.78 vs no mandate: aOR 2.81, 95% CI 1.50-5.26) and in retail locations (mandate: aOR 19.94, 95% CI 14.86-26.77 vs no mandate: aOR 7.71, 95% CI 5.68-10.46). CONCLUSIONS Study findings provide added insight into the dynamics of face mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mask mandates supported increased and sustained high face mask usage rates during the first 2 years of the pandemic, having the greatest impact in indoor public locations with limited opportunity for physical distancing targeted by these mandates. These findings highlight the utility of mask mandates in supporting high face mask usage rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dahn Jeong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nirma Khatri Vadlamudi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Héctor Alexander Velásquez García
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Bushra Mahmood
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Michael Otterstatter
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Naveed Zafar Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Health Outcomes and Evaluation, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Adu PA, Iyaniwura SA, Mahmood B, Jeong D, Makuza JD, Cua G, Binka M, García HAV, Ringa N, Wong S, Yu A, Irvine MA, Otterstatter M, Janjua NZ. Association between close interpersonal contact and vaccine hesitancy: Findings from a population-based survey in Canada. Front Public Health 2022; 10:971333. [PMID: 36267997 PMCID: PMC9577316 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.971333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Vaccine hesitancy threatens efforts to bring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to an end. Given that social or interpersonal contact is an important driver for COVID-19 transmission, understanding the relationship between contact rates and vaccine hesitancy may help identify appropriate targets for strategic intervention. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between interpersonal contact and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among a sample of unvaccinated adults in the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC). Methods Unvaccinated individuals participating in the BC COVID-19 Population Mixing Patterns Survey (BC-Mix) were asked to indicate their level of agreement to the statement, "I plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine." Multivariable multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between self-reported interpersonal contact and vaccine hesitancy, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, educational attainment, occupation, household size and region of residence. All analyses incorporated survey sampling weights based on age, sex, geography, and ethnicity. Results Results were based on survey responses collected between March 8, 2021 and December 6, 2021, by a total of 4,515 adults aged 18 years and older. Overall, 56.7% of respondents reported that they were willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, 27.0% were unwilling and 16.3% were undecided. We found a dose-response association between interpersonal contact and vaccine hesitancy. Compared to individuals in the lowest quartile (least contact), those in the fourth quartile (highest contact), third quartile and second quartile groups were more likely to be vaccine hesitant, with adjusted odd ratios (aORs) of 2.85 (95% CI: 2.02, 4.00), 1.91(95% CI: 1.38, 2.64), 1.78 (95% CI: 1.13, 2.82), respectively. Conclusion Study findings show that among unvaccinated people in BC, vaccine hesitancy is greater among those who have high contact rates, and hence potentially at higher risk of acquiring and transmitting infection. This may also impact future uptake of booster doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prince A. Adu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sarafa A. Iyaniwura
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Bushra Mahmood
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Dahn Jeong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jean Damascene Makuza
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Georgine Cua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Héctor A. Velásquez García
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Notice Ringa
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mike A. Irvine
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michael Otterstatter
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Naveed Z. Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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