International Journal of Public Health (Sep 2023)

Interplay of Digital Proximity App Use and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Uptake in Switzerland: Analysis of Two Population-Based Cohort Studies

  • Paola Daniore,
  • Paola Daniore,
  • André Moser,
  • Marc Höglinger,
  • Nicole Probst Hensch,
  • Nicole Probst Hensch,
  • Medea Imboden,
  • Medea Imboden,
  • Thomas Vermes,
  • Thomas Vermes,
  • Dirk Keidel,
  • Dirk Keidel,
  • Murielle Bochud,
  • Natalia Ortega Herrero,
  • Natalia Ortega Herrero,
  • Stéphanie Baggio,
  • Stéphanie Baggio,
  • Patricia Chocano-Bedoya,
  • Patricia Chocano-Bedoya,
  • Nicolas Rodondi,
  • Nicolas Rodondi,
  • Stefano Tancredi,
  • Cornelia Wagner,
  • Stéphane Cullati,
  • Stéphane Cullati,
  • Silvia Stringhini,
  • Silvia Stringhini,
  • Semira Gonseth Nusslé,
  • Caroline Veys-Takeuchi,
  • Claire Zuppinger,
  • Erika Harju,
  • Erika Harju,
  • Erika Harju,
  • Gisela Michel,
  • Irène Frank,
  • Christian R. Kahlert,
  • Christian R. Kahlert,
  • Emiliano Albanese,
  • Luca Crivelli,
  • Luca Crivelli,
  • Sara Levati,
  • Rebecca Amati,
  • Marco Kaufmann,
  • Marco Geigges,
  • Tala Ballouz,
  • Anja Frei,
  • Jan Fehr,
  • Jan Fehr,
  • Viktor von Wyl,
  • Viktor von Wyl,
  • Viktor von Wyl

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605812
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 68

Abstract

Read online

Objectives: Our study aims to evaluate developments in vaccine uptake and digital proximity tracing app use in a localized context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.Methods: We report findings from two population-based longitudinal cohorts in Switzerland from January to December 2021. Failure time analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression models were conducted to assess vaccine uptake and digital proximity tracing app (SwissCovid) uninstalling outcomes.Results: We observed a dichotomy of individuals who did not use the SwissCovid app and did not get vaccinated, and who used the SwissCovid app and got vaccinated during the study period. Increased vaccine uptake was observed with SwissCovid app use (aHR, 1.51; 95% CI: 1.40–1.62 [CI-DFU]; aHR, 1.79; 95% CI: 1.62–1.99 [CSM]) compared to SwissCovid app non-use. Decreased SwissCovid uninstallation risk was observed for participants who got vaccinated (aHR, 0.55; 95% CI: 0.38–0.81 [CI-DFU]; aHR, 0.45; 95% CI: 0.27–0.78 [CSM]) compared to participants who did not get vaccinated.Conclusion: In evolving epidemic contexts, these findings underscore the need for communication strategies as well as flexible digital proximity tracing app adjustments that accommodate different preventive measures and their anticipated interactions.

Keywords