CDC: Effect of socioeconomic disparities on COVID-19 vaccination coverage

Editor's Note

This study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that COVID-19 vaccination coverage was lower in high vulnerability counties in the US than in low vulnerability counties (13.9% vs 15.8%), which was largely driven by socioeconomic disparities.

The same pattern was found for social vulnerability index (SVI) themes of socioeconomic status, household composition and disability, racial/ethnic minority status and language, and housing type and transportation, with the largest vaccination disparity in socioeconomic status (difference of 2.5%).

Among socioeconomic status indicators, the largest disparity was the percentage of adults without a high school diploma (difference of 2.8% between high and low vulnerability counties).

Vaccination disparities were found in 31 states, and in 11 of these states, the disparity was found in all four SVI themes.

Because COVID-19 disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minority groups and those who are economically and socially disadvantaged, achieving not just vaccine equality but equity is an important goal, the authors say.