Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Factors Associated With Complete COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Migrant Origin Persons in Finland

Int J Public Health. 2023 May 3:68:1605547. doi: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1605547. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Objective: We examined incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 vaccine uptake and factors associated with complete COVID-19 vaccine uptake among persons of migrant origin in Finland. Methods: Data on laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccine doses between March 2020 and November 2021 were linked to FinMonik register sample (n = 13,223) and MigCOVID (n = 3,668) survey data using unique personal identifier. Logistic regression was the main method of analyses. Results: Among FinMonik sample, complete COVID-19 vaccine uptake was lower among persons of Russia/former Soviet Union, Estonia, and rest of Africa and higher among persons of Southeast Asia, rest of Asia, and the Middle East/North Africa than among persons originating from Europe/North America/Oceania. Male sex, younger age, migration age (<18 years) and shorter length of residence were associated with lower vaccine uptake among FinMonik sample, whereas younger age, being economically inactive, poorer language skills, experiences of discrimination and psychological distress were associated with lower vaccine uptake among MigCOVID sub-sample. Conclusion: Our Findings point to a further need of tailored and targeted communication and community outreach strategies to increase vaccine uptake among persons of migrant origin.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 infection; migrant; sociodemographic factors; vaccine uptake.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Transients and Migrants*

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines

Grants and funding

The MigCOVID Survey was funded from the Finnish parliament’s additional budget allocated for COVID-19 research. NS and SA received funding from the Coping of disabled persons and persons of migrant origin in exceptional and crisis situations—Building the future based on experiences during COVID-19 (Building the Future) project supported by the European Social Fund (grant number S22389).