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Chanchlani R, Shah BR, Bangdiwala SI, de Souza RJ, Luo J, Bolotin S, Bowdish DME, Desai D, Everett K, Lear SA, Loeb M, Punthakee Z, Sherifali D, Wahi G, Anand SS. COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among South Asians in Canada. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0003490. [PMID: 39088444 PMCID: PMC11293718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
We evaluated the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among South Asians living in Ontario, Canada compared to non-South Asians and compared the odds of symptomatic COVID-19 infection and related hospitalizations and deaths among non-vaccinated South Asians and non-South Asians. This was a test negative design study conducted in Ontario, Canada between December 14, 2020 and November 15, 2021. All eligible individuals >18 years with symptoms of COVID-19 were subdivided by ethnicity (South Asian vs other) and vaccination status (vaccinated versus not). The primary outcome was vaccine effectiveness as defined by COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, and secondary outcome was the odds of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and death comparing non-vaccinated South Asians to non-vaccinated non-South Asians. 883,155 individuals were included. Among South Asians, two doses of COVID-19 vaccine prevented 93.8% (95% CI 93.2, 94.4) of COVID-19 infections and 97.5% (95% CI 95.2, 98.6) of hospitalizations and deaths. Among non-South Asians, vaccines prevented 86.6% (CI 86.3, 86.9) of COVID-19 infections and 93.1% (CI 92.2, 93.8) of hospitalizations and deaths. Non-vaccinated South Asians had higher odds of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to non-vaccinated non-South Asians (OR 2.35, 95% CI 2.3, 2.4), regardless of their immigration status. COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing infections, hospitalizations and deaths among South Asians living in Canada. The observation that non-vaccinated South Asians have higher odds of symptomatic COVID-19 infection warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Chanchlani
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Baiju R. Shah
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shrikant I. Bangdiwala
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Russell J. de Souza
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jin Luo
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shelly Bolotin
- Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dawn M. E. Bowdish
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dipika Desai
- Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Scott A. Lear
- Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mark Loeb
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zubin Punthakee
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Diana Sherifali
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gita Wahi
- Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sonia S. Anand
- Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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O’Brien SF, Deeks SL, Hatchette T, Pambrun C, Drews SJ. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Nova Scotia blood donors. JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE CANADA = JOURNAL OFFICIEL DE L'ASSOCIATION POUR LA MICROBIOLOGIE MEDICALE ET L'INFECTIOLOGIE CANADA 2024; 9:32-45. [PMID: 38567363 PMCID: PMC10984316 DOI: 10.3138/jammi-2023-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Background SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence monitors cumulative infection rates irrespective of case testing protocols. We aimed to describe Nova Scotia blood donor seroprevalence in relation to public health policy and reported data over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2020 to August 2022). Methods Monthly random Nova Scotia blood donation samples (24,258 in total) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection antibodies (anti-nucleocapsid) from May 2020 to August 2022, and vaccination antibodies (anti-spike) from January 2021 to August 2022. Multivariable logistic regression for infection antibodies and vaccination antibodies separately with month, age, sex, and racialization identified independent predictors. The provincial nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)-positive case rate over the pandemic was calculated from publicly available data. Results Anti-N seroprevalence was 3.8% in January 2022, increasing to 50.8% in August 2022. The general population COVID-19 case rate was 3.5% in January 2022, increasing to 12.5% in August 2022. The percentage of NAAT-positive samples in public health laboratories increased from 1% in November 2021 to a peak of 30.7% in April 2022 with decreasing numbers of tests performed. Higher proportions of younger donors as well as Black, Indigenous, and racialized blood donors were more likely to have infection antibodies (p < 0.01). Vaccination antibodies increased to 100% over 2021, initially in older donors (60+ years), and followed by progressively younger age groups. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 infection rates were relatively low in Nova Scotia until the more contagious Omicron variant dominated, after which about half of Nova Scotia donors had been infected despite most adults being vaccinated (although severity was much lower in vaccinated individuals). Most COVID-19 cases were detected by NAAT until Omicron arrived. When NAAT testing priorities focused on high-risk individuals, infection rates were better reflected by seroprevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F O’Brien
- Epidemiology & Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shelley L Deeks
- Department of Health and Wellness, Government of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Todd Hatchette
- Division of Microbiology, Nova Scotia Health, Central Zone, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Chantale Pambrun
- Medical Affairs & Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven J Drews
- Microbiology, Canadian Blood Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Allen UD, Barton M, Upton J, Bailey A, Campigotto A, Abdulnoor M, Julien JP, Gubbay J, Kissoon N, Litosh A, La Neve MR, Wong P, Allen A, Bailey R, Byrne W, Jagoowani R, Phillips C, Merreles-Pulcini M, Polack A, Prescod C, Siddiqi A, Summers A, Thompson K, Thompson S, James C. Disproportionate Rates of COVID-19 Among Black Canadian Communities: Lessons from a Cross-Sectional Study in the First Year of the Pandemic. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024:10.1007/s40615-023-01903-z. [PMID: 38253978 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01903-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racialized communities, including Black Canadians, have disproportionately higher COVID-19 cases. We examined the extent to which SARS-CoV-2 infection has affected the Black Canadian community and the factors associated with the infection. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey in an area of Ontario (northwest Toronto/Peel Region) with a high proportion of Black residents along with 2 areas that have lower proportions of Black residents (Oakville and London, Ontario). SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were determined using the EUROIMMUN assay. The study was conducted between August 15, 2020, and December 15, 2020. RESULTS Among 387 evaluable subjects, the majority, 273 (70.5%), were enrolled from northwest Toronto and adjoining suburban areas of Peel, Ontario. The seropositivity values for Oakville and London were comparable (3.3% (2/60; 95% CI 0.4-11.5) and 3.9% (2/51; 95% CI 0.5-13.5), respectively). Relative to these areas, the seropositivity was higher for the northwest Toronto/Peel area at 12.1% (33/273), relative risk (RR) 3.35 (1.22-9.25). Persons 19 years of age or less had the highest seropositivity (10/50; 20.0%, 95% CI 10.3-33.7%), RR 2.27 (1.23-3.59). There was a trend for an interaction effect between race and location of residence as this relates to the relative risk of seropositivity. INTERPRETATION During the early phases of the pandemic, the seropositivity within a COVID-19 high-prevalence zone was threefold greater than lower prevalence areas of Ontario. Black individuals were among those with the highest seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upton D Allen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
| | - Michelle Barton
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada
| | - Julia Upton
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Annette Bailey
- Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aaron Campigotto
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mariana Abdulnoor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | | | | | - Niranjan Kissoon
- Department of Paediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Alice Litosh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Maria-Rosa La Neve
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Peter Wong
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew Allen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Renee Bailey
- Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Walter Byrne
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Ranjeeta Jagoowani
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Chantal Phillips
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Manuela Merreles-Pulcini
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Alicia Polack
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Cheryl Prescod
- Black Creek Community Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arjumand Siddiqi
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Kimberly Thompson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
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Silverberg SL, Shulha HP, McMillan B, He G, Lee A, Márquez AC, Bartlett SR, Gill V, Abu-Raya B, Bettinger JA, Cabrera A, Coombs D, Gantt S, Goldfarb DM, Sauvé L, Krajden M, Morshed M, Sekirov I, Jassem AN, Sadarangani M. Factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in unvaccinated children and young adults. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:91. [PMID: 38225625 PMCID: PMC10790408 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08950-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Pediatric COVID-19 cases are often mild or asymptomatic, which has complicated estimations of disease burden using existing testing practices. We aimed to determine the age-specific population seropositivity and risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among children and young adults during the pandemic in British Columbia (BC). METHODS We conducted two cross-sectional serosurveys: phase 1 enrolled children and adults < 25 years between November 2020-May 2021 and phase 2 enrolled children < 10 years between June 2021-May 2022 in BC. Participants completed electronic surveys and self-collected finger-prick dried blood spot (DBS) samples. Samples were tested for immunoglobulin G antibodies against ancestral spike protein (S). Descriptive statistics from survey data were reported and two multivariable analyses were conducted to evaluate factors associated with seropositivity. RESULTS A total of 2864 participants were enrolled, of which 95/2167 (4.4%) participants were S-seropositive in phase 1 across all ages, and 61/697 (8.8%) unvaccinated children aged under ten years were S-seropositive in phase 2. Overall, South Asian participants had a higher seropositivity than other ethnicities (13.5% vs. 5.2%). Of 156 seropositive participants in both phases, 120 had no prior positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Young infants and young adults had the highest reported seropositivity rates (7.0% and 7.2% respectively vs. 3.0-5.6% across other age groups). CONCLUSIONS SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among unvaccinated children and young adults was low in May 2022, and South Asians were disproportionately infected. This work demonstrates the need for improved diagnostics and reporting strategies that account for age-specific differences in pandemic dynamics and acceptability of testing mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Silverberg
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hennady P Shulha
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Brynn McMillan
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Experimental Medicine Program, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Guanyuhui He
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amy Lee
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ana Citlali Márquez
- Public Health Laboratory, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sofia R Bartlett
- Public Health Laboratory, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Vivek Gill
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Bahaa Abu-Raya
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Julie A Bettinger
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Adriana Cabrera
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Daniel Coombs
- Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Soren Gantt
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - David M Goldfarb
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Laura Sauvé
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- Public Health Laboratory, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Muhammad Morshed
- Public Health Laboratory, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Inna Sekirov
- Public Health Laboratory, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Agatha N Jassem
- Public Health Laboratory, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Manish Sadarangani
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Ave Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Anand SS, Pai M. Glocal is global: reimagining the training of global health students in high-income countries. Lancet Glob Health 2023; 11:e1686-e1687. [PMID: 37734401 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(23)00382-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia S Anand
- McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S4K1, Canada; Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
| | - Madhukar Pai
- School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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O’Brien SF, Caffrey N, Yi QL, Bolotin S, Janjua NZ, Binka M, Thanh CQ, Stein DR, Lang A, Colquhoun A, Pambrun C, Reedman CN, Drews SJ. Cross-Canada Variability in Blood Donor SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence by Social Determinants of Health. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0335622. [PMID: 36625634 PMCID: PMC9927354 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03356-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
We compared the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid antibodies in blood donors across Canadian regions in 2021. The seroprevalence was the highest in Alberta and the Prairies, and it was so low in Atlantic Canada that few correlates were observed. Being male and of young age were predictive of seropositivity. Racialization was associated with higher seroprevalence in British Columbia and Ontario but not in Alberta and the Prairies. Living in a materially deprived neighborhood predicted higher seroprevalence, but it was more linear across quintiles in Alberta and the Prairies, whereas in British Columbia and Ontario, the most affluent 60% were similarly low and the most deprived 40% similarly elevated. Living in a more socially deprived neighborhood (more single individuals and one parent families) was associated with lower seroprevalence in British Columbia and Ontario but not in Alberta and the Prairies. These data show striking variability in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence across regions by social determinants of health. IMPORTANCE Canadian blood donors are a healthy adult population that shows clear disparities associated with racialization and material deprivation. This underscores the pervasiveness of the socioeconomic gradient on SARS-CoV-2 infections in Canada. We identify regional differences in the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and social determinants of health. Cross-Canada studies, such as ours, are rare because health information is under provincial jurisdiction and is not available in sufficient detail in national data sets, whereas other national seroprevalence studies have insufficient sample sizes for regional comparisons. Ours is the largest seroprevalence study in Canada. An important strength of our study is the interpretation input from a public health team that represented multiple Canadian provinces. Our blood donor seroprevalence study has informed Canadian public health policy at national and provincial levels since the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F. O’Brien
- Epidemiology and Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Niamh Caffrey
- Epidemiology and Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Qi-Long Yi
- Epidemiology and Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shelly Bolotin
- Center for Vaccine Preventable Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Naveed Z. Janjua
- BC Centre for Disease Control, British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- BC Centre for Disease Control, British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Caroline Quach Thanh
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Infection Prevention & Control, Clinical Department of Laboratory Medicine, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Derek R. Stein
- Cadham Provincial Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Amanda Lang
- Roy Romanow Provincial laboratory, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Amy Colquhoun
- Population Health Assessment, Alberta Health, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Chantale Pambrun
- Medical Affairs & Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cassandra N. Reedman
- Epidemiology and Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven J. Drews
- Medical Microbiology Department, Canadian Blood Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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7
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Kandasamy S, Ariyarajah A, Limbachia J, An D, Lopez L, Manoharan B, Pacht E, Silver A, Uddandam A, Vansjalia KM, Williams NC, Anand SS. South Asian Youth as Vaccine Agents of Change (SAY-VAC): evaluation of a public health programme to mobilise and empower South Asian youth to foster COVID-19 vaccine-related evidence-based dialogue in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Canada. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e061619. [PMID: 36153036 PMCID: PMC9511009 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There have been substantial amounts of misinformation surrounding the importance, safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. The impacts of this misinformation may be augmented as they circulate among ethnic communities, who may concurrently face other barriers related to vaccine uptake and access. To combat some of the key sources of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation among the South Asian communities of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), an interdisciplinary team of researchers and marketing experts established the South Asian Youth as Vaccine Agents of Change (SAY-VAC) programme to support and empower South Asian youth to disseminate COVID-19 vaccine information. DESIGN Cross-sectional and one-group pretest-post-test design. SETTING GTHA. PARTICIPANTS South Asian youth (18-29 years). INTERVENTION The team partnered with grass-roots South Asian organisations to collaborate on shared objectives, curate key concerns, create video products regarding the COVID-19 vaccine that would resonate with the community, disseminate the products using established social media channels and evaluate the effectiveness of this effort. OUTCOMES We assessed the change in self-reported knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine and participant confidence to facilitate a conversation around the COVID-19 vaccine using pre-post surveys, after the implementation of the SAY-VAC programme. RESULTS In total, 30 South Asian youth (median age=23.2 years) from the GTHA participated in the programme. After completing the SAY-VAC programme, participants reported an increase in their self-reported knowledge regarding the COVID-19 vaccine from 73.3% to 100.0% (p=0.005), and their self-reported confidence to have a conversation about the vaccine with their unvaccinated community members increased from 63.6% to 100.0% (p=0.002). Overall, 51.9% of the participants reported being able to positively affect an unvaccinated/community member's decision to get vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS The SAY-VAC programme highlights the importance of community partnerships in developing and disseminating culturally responsive health communication strategies. A constant assessment of the evidence and utilisation of non-traditional avenues to engage the public are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujane Kandasamy
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Archchun Ariyarajah
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jayneel Limbachia
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Derrick An
- DESALU Creative, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luke Lopez
- DESALU Creative, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Baanu Manoharan
- Master of Public Health (MPH) Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Evan Pacht
- DESALU Creative, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Abhilash Uddandam
- Life Sciences Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Sonia S Anand
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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