Temporal trends in COVID-19 vaccine uptake among social housing residents compared to the general population in Ontario, Canada: a population-based panel study

Abstract

Background This study examined temporal trends in COVID-19 vaccine uptake among social housing residents compared to the general population in Ontario, Canada, during the first year of vaccine availability. Methods We analyzed 2021 COVID-19 vaccination data from Ontario administrative databases. The social housing population was identified using postal codes of designated social housing buildings. Vaccination rates were compared quarterly across age and sex categories between social housing residents and the general population. Results In 2021, there were 14,842,488 eligible individuals identified in Ontario administrative health data, with 328,276 individuals residing in social housing. By the end of 2021, 75.45 % of adult social housing residents were fully vaccinated (2 or more COVID-19 vaccine doses) compared to 87.46 % of the general adult population. This gap persisted over time and across sexes. Over the same period, 30.61 % of the children and youth in social housing achieved full vaccination rates compared to 30.21 % of the general population, with greater vaccine uptake among females. Conclusion Despite COVID-19 vaccination policies aimed at prioritizing vulnerable groups in Ontario, Canada, adult social housing residents had lower vaccination rates compared to the general population. Children and youth in social housing achieved slightly higher vaccination coverage. These findings underscore the need for more targeted efforts to improve vaccine accessibility and uptake among social housing residents.