A nationwide analysis of population group differences in the COVID-19 epidemic in Israel, February 2020-February 2021.
Lancet Reg Health Eur
; 7: 100130, 2021 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34109321
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Social inequalities affect the COVID-19 burden and vaccine uptake. The aim of this study was to explore inequalities in the incidence and mortality rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine uptake in various sociodemographic and population group strata in Israel.METHODS:
We analysed nationwide publicly available, aggregated data on PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 deaths between March 2020 and February 2021, as well as the first three months of COVID-19 immunisation according to sociodemographics, including population group and residential socioeconomic status (SES). We computed incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19. Comparisons between towns with predominantly Arab, ultra-Orthodox Jewish (the minorities), general Jewish populations, and according to SES, were conducted using generalised linear models with negative binomial distribution.FINDINGS:
Overall, 774,030 individuals had SARS-CoV-2 infection (cumulative incidence 84â¢5 per 1,000 persons) and 5687 COVID-19 patients had died (mortality rate 62â¢8 per 100,000 persons). The highest mortality rate was found amongst the elderly. Most (>75%) individuals aged 60 years or above have been vaccinated with BNT162b2 vaccine. The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was higher in towns with predominantly Arab and ultra-Orthodox Jewish populations than in the general Jewish population, and in low SES communities. COVID-19 mortality rate was highest amongst Arabs. Conversely, vaccine uptake was lower amongst Arab and ultra-Orthodox Jewish populations and low SES communities.INTERPRETATION:
Ethnic and religious minorities and low SES communities experience substantial COVID-19 burden, and have lower vaccine uptake, even in a society with universal accessibility to healthcare. Quantifying these inequalities is fundamental towards reducing these gaps, which imposes a designated apportion of resources to adequately control the pandemic.FUNDING:
No external funding was available for this study.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Language:
En
Journal:
Lancet Reg Health Eur
Year:
2021
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Israel