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Research explores demographic variations in completing COVID-19 vaccine series

Variation in the time to complete the primary COVID-19 vaccine series by race, ethnicity, and geography among older US adults

November 7, 2024

The researcher team, including IMPACT Principal Investigator Vincent Mor, PhD conducted an observational study using the COVVAXAGE database examining whether racial disparities in COVID-19 vaccine access are modified by other factors including geographical location and area-level deprivation.

Investigators analyzed data for 11,924,990 Medicare beneficiaries who received the COVID-19 vaccine primary series (two doses) between 01/01/2021 and 12/31/2021 and found that racial disparities in delayed vaccinations varied in magnitude by degree of urbanicity.

Highlights from the article:

  • Most Medicare beneficiaries received their second COVID-19 vaccine dose on time.
  • Delayed doses were more common among Black, Hispanic, and Native American beneficiaries.
  • Beneficiaries living in rural areas were more likely to have a delayed second dose.
  • Racial differences in vaccine dose timing varied slightly by geography and time.

Read more here.