Socioeconomic Differences in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Vaccination in Germany: A Seroepidemiological Study After One Year of COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign.

Objective: To evaluate the socioeconomic patterns of SARS-CoV-2 antigen contacts through infection, vaccination or both ("hybrid immunity") after 1 year of vaccination campaign. Methods: Data were derived from the German seroepidemiological Corona Monitoring Nationwide study (RKI-SOEP-2; n = 10,448; November 2021-February 2022). Combining serological and self-report data, we estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) of SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 vaccination, basic immunization (at least two SARS-CoV-2 antigen contacts through vaccination and/or infection), and three antigen contacts by education and income. Results: Low-education groups had 1.35-times (95% CI 1.01-1.82) the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to high-education groups. COVID-19 vaccination (at least one dose) and basic immunization decreased with lower education and income. Low-education and low-income groups were less likely to have had at least three antigen contacts (PR low vs. high education: 0.74, 95% CI 0.65-0.84; PR low vs. high income: 0.66, 95% CI 0.57-0.77). Conclusion: The results suggest a lower level of protection against severe COVID-19 for individuals from low and medium socioeconomic groups. Pandemic response and vaccination campaigns should address the specific needs and barriers of these groups.

[People with a history of migration in the COVID-19 pandemic : Associations between life satisfaction and indirect socioeconomic effects of the pandemic]. / Menschen mit Migrationsgeschichte in der COVID-19-Pandemie : Zusammenhänge zwischen der Lebenszufriedenheit und indirekten sozioökonomischen Pandemiefolgen.

INTRODUCTION: It is not only the risks of SARS-CoV­2 infection and severe to fatal courses of the disease that are socially unequally distributed, but also job and income losses as a result of the containment measures. People with a history of migration are at increased risk of being affected by such indirect socio-economic effects of the pandemic as well. The aim of this article is to investigate the associations between indirect socio-economic effects of the pandemic and life satisfaction among people with selected citizenships. METHODS: We analysed data from the multilingual and multimodal interview survey German Health Update Fokus (Gesundheit in Deutschland aktuell: Fokus; GEDA Fokus), which was conducted from November 2021 to May 2022 among people all over Germany with Croatian, Italian, Polish, Syrian or Turkish citizenship. Using multivariable Poisson regression, we analysed associations between sex, age, education, income, German language proficiency and job as well as income losses and life satisfaction. RESULTS: Of the 4114 participants, 64.4% reported a high life satisfaction. While a higher income showed positive associations with life satisfaction, negative associations were found for lower self-assessed German language proficiency and for job and income losses that are anticipated or have already occurred. DISCUSSION: This article shows that life satisfaction, which is relevant for multiple health outcomes, is lower among those that are affected by job and income losses. Structural causes of socio-economic disadvantages need to be reduced to address health inequalities and to be better prepared for future crises.

Mental health and well-being in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among different population subgroups: evidence from representative longitudinal data in Germany.

OBJECTIVES: To examine potential deteriorations in mental health and well-being in the first COVID-19 pandemic year compared with the previous decade focusing on the following vulnerable subgroups in Germany: women with minor children in the household, those living without a partner, younger and older adults, those in a precarious labour market situation, immigrants and refugees, and those with pre-existing physical or mental health risks. DESIGN: Analyses of secondary longitudinal survey data using cluster-robust pooled ordinary least squares models. PARTICIPANTS: More than 20 000 individuals (aged 16+ years) in Germany. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Mental Component Summary Scale (MCS) of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey measuring mental health-related quality of life, single item on life satisfaction (LS). RESULTS: We find a decline in the average MCS in the 2020 survey that is not particularly striking in the overall time course, still resulting in a mean score below those of all preceding waves since 2010. We find no change in LS from 2019 to 2020 against the background of a general upward trend. Regarding vulnerability factors, only the results on age and parenthood are partially in line with our expectations. In 2020, LS declined among the youngest adults; MCS declined among mothers (and women and men without children) but not fathers. Unlike respective comparison groups, refugees, those unemployed before the pandemic and those with pre-existing mental health risks experienced no MCS declines in 2020, whereas persons living without a partner, the eldest, and those with pre-existing health risks exhibited continued increases in LS. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence for substantial breakdowns in mental health or subjective well-being in the first pandemic year in the German population or its subgroups, particularly when considering developments of the previous decade. Since the majority of hypothesised vulnerable groups to pandemic stressors showed more stable MCS and LS, our results warrant further study.

Resilient or Vulnerable? Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis on the Mental Health of Refugees in Germany.

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic had consequences for the whole society, like during most crises, some population groups tended to be disproportionally affected. We rely on the most recent data from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees to explore the resilience or vulnerability of refugees in the face of the pandemic. As the 2020 wave of the survey was in the field when the second nationwide lockdown started in December, we are able to apply a regression discontinuity design to analyze how refugees in Germany are coping with these measures. Our results reveal a negative effect of the lockdown on refugees' life satisfaction. Male refugees and those with a weaker support system face stronger negative outcomes than their counterparts. Since mental health is an important prerequisite for all forms of integration, understanding the related psychological needs in times of crisis can be highly important for policymakers and other stakeholders.