SARS-CoV-2 vaccination uptake in six ethnic groups living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands: A registry-based study within the HELIUS cohort

Objective: Ethnic minority groups have experienced a disproportionate burden of COVID-19, and should therefore be especially encouraged to receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. This study compared first-dose uptake of the primary SARS-CoV-2 vaccination series across six ethnic groups in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in 2021. Methods: We analyzed data from participants of the population-based HELIUS cohort. We linked their data to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination registry data of the Public Health Service of Amsterdam. We included registry data from January 6, 2021 (the start of the Dutch vaccination campaign) until September 6, 2021 (a date by which all adults in the Netherlands could have received one or two vaccine doses). SARS-CoV-2 vaccination uptake was defined as having received at least one vaccine dose of the primary vaccination series. We examined the association between ethnicity and vaccination uptake using multivariable logistic regression, while accounting for the age and sex distribution of ethnic groups in Amsterdam. Results: We included 19,006 participants (median age 53 years [interquartile range 41–62], 57% female). SARS-CoV-2 vaccination uptake was highest in the South-Asian Surinamese group (60.3%, 95%CI = 58.2–62.3%), followed by the Dutch (59.6%, 95%CI = 58.0–61.1%), Ghanaian (54.1%, 95%CI = 51.7–56.5%), Turkish (47.7%, 95%CI = 45.9–49.6%), African Surinamese (43.0%, 95%CI = 41.2–44.7%), and Moroccan (35.8%, 95%CI = 34.1–37.5%) groups. After adjusting for age, sex, perceived social support, and presence of relevant comorbidities, participants of African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Turkish and Moroccan origin were significantly less likely to be vaccinated than those of Dutch origin. Conclusions: Prevention strategies should continue tailoring to specific ethnic groups to encourage vaccination uptake and reduce barriers to vaccination.