4.5 Article

Racial discrimination, low trust in the health system and COVID-19 vaccine uptake: a longitudinal observational study of 633 UK adults from ethnic minority groups

Journal

JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE
Volume 115, Issue 11, Pages 439-447

Publisher

SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.1177/01410768221095241

Keywords

Epidemiologic studies; public health; vaccination programmes

Funding

  1. Nuffield Foundation [WEL/FR-000022583]
  2. UK Research and Innovation [ES/S002588/1]
  3. Wellcome Trust [221400/Z/20/Z, 205407/Z/16/Z]
  4. NIHR [NIHR302007]
  5. MARCH Mental Health Network - Cross-Disciplinary Mental Health Network Plus initiative
  6. National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR) [NIHR302007] Funding Source: National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR)

Ask authors/readers for more resources

This study examines the relationship between racial/ethnic discrimination and COVID-19 vaccine refusal, as well as the mediating role of trust in government and the health system. The findings show that individuals who have experienced racial/ethnic discrimination are more likely to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine, and this association is partially explained by lower trust in the health system. Addressing racial/ethnic discrimination and regaining trust from ethnic minority groups are crucial for increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among ethnic minority adults.
Objectives To examine whether racial/ethnic discrimination predicts future COVID-19 vaccine refusal, and whether this association is explained by trust in government and the health system. Design Longitudinal observational study of racial/ethnic discrimination occurring since the start of the first lockdown (measured in July 2020) and later COVID-19 vaccine status. Setting UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Participants A total of 633 adults belonging to ethnic minority groups who took part in the UCL COVID-19 Social Study. Main outcome measures COVID-19 vaccine refusal (vs. accepted/waiting/had at least one dose) between 23 December 2020 and 14 June 2021. Results Nearly 1 in 10 (6.69%) who had refused a COVID-19 vaccine had experienced racial/ethnic discrimination in a medical setting since the start of the pandemic and had experienced twice as many incidents of racial/ethnic discrimination than those who had accepted the vaccine. Structural equation modelling results indicated a nearly four fold (odds ratio = 3.91, 95% confidence interval = 1.40 to 10.92) total effect of racial/ethnic discrimination on refusing the vaccine which was mediated by low trust in the health system to handle the pandemic (odds ratio = 2.49, 95% confidence interval = 1.12 to 5.39). Analyses adjusted for a range of demographic and COVID-19 related factors. Conclusions Findings underscore the importance of addressing racial/ethnic discrimination and the role the National Health Service in regaining trust from ethnic minority groups to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among ethnic minority adults.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.5
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available