Occupation, Worker Vulnerability, and COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake: Analysis of the Virus Watch prospective cohort study. Issue 52 (12th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Beale, Sarah; Burns, Rachel; Braithwaite, Isobel; Byrne, Thomas; Lam Erica Fong, Wing; Fragaszy, Ellen; Geismar, Cyril; Hoskins, Susan; Kovar, Jana; Navaratnam, Annalan M.D.; Nguyen, Vincent; Patel, Parth; Yavlinsky, Alexei; Van Tongeren, Martie; Aldridge, Robert W; Hayward, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 40:Issue 52(2022)
• Page Start: 7646
• Page End: 7652
• Publication Date: 2022-12-12
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 -- Vaccination uptake -- Occupation; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.10.080
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Occupational disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake can impact the effectiveness of vaccination programmes and introduce particular risk for vulnerable workers and those with high workplace exposure. This study aimed to investigate COVID-19 vaccine uptake by occupation, including for vulnerable groups and by occupational exposure status. Methods: We used data from employed or self-employed adults who provided occupational information as part of the Virus Watch prospective cohort study ( n = 19, 595) and linked this to study-obtained information about vulnerability-relevant characteristics (age, medical conditions, obesity status) and work-related COVID-19 exposure based on the Job Exposure Matrix. Participant vaccination status for the first, second, and third dose of any COVID-19 vaccine was obtained based on linkage to national records and study records. We calculated proportions and Sison-Glaz multinomial 95% confidence intervals for vaccine uptake by occupation overall, by vulnerability-relevant characteristics, and by job exposure. Findings: Vaccination uptake across occupations ranged from 89-96% for the first dose, 87–94% for the second dose, and 75–86% for the third dose, with transport, trade, service and sales workers persistently demonstrating the lowest uptake. Vulnerable workers tended to demonstrate fewer between-occupational differences in uptake than non-vulnerable workers, although clinically vulnerable transport workers (76%-89% across doses) had lower uptake than several other occupational groups (maximum across doses 86%–96%). Workers with low SARS-CoV-2 exposure risk had higher vaccine uptake (86%-96% across doses) than those with elevated or high risk (81–94% across doses). Interpretation: Differential vaccination uptake by occupation, particularly amongst vulnerable and highly-exposed workers, is likely to worsen occupational and related socioeconomic inequalities in infection outcomes. Further investigation into occupational and non-occupational factors influencing differential uptake is required to inform relevant interventions for future COVID-19 booster rollouts and similar vaccination programmes.