Socioeconomic status and disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Eastern Oslo, Norway

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether socioeconomic status still remain a barrier to COVID-19 vaccination in eastern Oslo, Norway. Study design: A cross-section study. Methods: We conducted a web-based survey among the residents of six eastern parishes in Oslo, Norway. Text (SMS) messages were sent to 59978 potential participants. 5447 surveys were completed for a response rate of 9.1%. After removing participants who had not been offered the COVID-19 vaccine, we ended up with a valid sample of 4000. Results: We find a significant association between education and the likelihood of taking the COVID-19 vaccine in bivariate logistic regression. Further, we find a significant higher likelihood of taking the vaccine in the above-low-income group compared to the low-income group. However, when we add control variables to the regression, the significant results concerning both income and education are eliminated. In further analysis, we found that age worked as a moderator between socioeconomic status and vaccine uptake: In the youngest age group (18–29), we found a significant higher likelihood of taking the vaccine in the above-low-income group compared to the low-income group, and in the higher education group compared to the primary education group. Conclusion: Socioeconomic status remains a barrier to COVID-19 vaccination in the eastern parishes of Oslo, Norway. Indicating that Norwegians of lower socioeconomic status still disproportionately face barriers such as transportation, language, flexible work hours, and paid sick time. However, our analysis shows that this association is only found in the age group 18–29.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Vaccine uptake
• Socioeconomic disparities
• Age moderation
• Fundamental cause theory