COVID-19 vaccination and infection among people with self-reported chronic health conditions and disabilities vs. people without medical risk factors in a survey sample from Oslo

Abstract

People with disabilities and chronic health conditions are at higher risk of poor outcomes to COVID-19, yet may have lower rates of vaccination due to differences in prioritization strategies, accessibility issues, vaccine hesitancy, and other factors. Survey data from Oslo are used to investigate differences in self-reported vaccine offer, uptake, and hesitancy, as well as COVID-19 infection, for individuals with self-reported medical risk factors classified as chronic health conditions or disabilities according to likely societal perceptions. Compared to participants who reported no pre-existing medical conditions, people with chronic health conditions were more likely to have a confirmed diagnosis, be offered and take the vaccine, and have lower hesitancy, while people with disabilities generally had either no differences in or less optimal outcomes. Results suggest possible biases in vaccine recommendations and raise questions about accessibility and communication strategies, with important implications for pandemic preparedness and public health communication and practice.

Keywords: COVID-19; Chronic health conditions; Disabilities; Norway; Vaccine prioritisation.