Evaluation of Preferred Language and Timing of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Disease Outcomes

• DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.7877
• Publication Date: 2023-04-12T15:05:03Z
• Authors: Nasreen S. Quadri; Greg Knowlton; Gabriela Vazquez ...; Kirsten R. Ehresmann; Amy B. LaFrance; Terese A. DeFor; M. Kumi Smith; Erin M. Mann; Jonathan D. Alpern; William M. Stauffer
• Keywords: Limited English Proficiency

Importance Beyond traditional race and ethnicity demographic characteristics, additional discrete data variables are needed for informed health interventions in the US. Objective To examine whether COVID-19 vaccine uptake patterns associated disease outcomes differ among language preference groups. Design, Setting, Participants A cohort study of 851 410 individuals aged 18 years or older a large multispecialty system Minnesota western Wisconsin was conducted between December 15, 2020, March 31, 2022. Exposure Self-identified limited English proficiency (LEP) as measured by interpreter need were used to create subgroups using US census categories attention capture languages known represent refugee Main Outcomes Measures The primary outcome vaccination rates time first vaccine. Secondary COVID-19–associated hospitalization death. Results Most participants (women, 493 910 [58.0%]; median age, 29 [IQR, 35-64] years) US-born speakers; 7.5% born other countries, 4.0% had than (LPOE), 3.0% indicated LEP need. Marked temporal clusters observed uptake, hospitalizations, deaths with series eligibility, booster availability, variants. Delayed first-dose LPOE (hazard ratio [HR], 0.83; 95% CI, 0.82-0.84) (HR, 0.81; 0.80-0.82) compared those proficiency. Patients approximately twice likely be hospitalized (rate [RR], 1.85; 1.63-2.08) die (RR, 2.13; 1.65-2.69). experienced even higher 1.98; 1.73-2.25) death 2.32; 1.79-2.95). varied individual Conclusions Relevance In this study, delayed increased specific findings suggest that collection provides actionable intervention information. Standardized system-level collection, including at national level, may improve efficient identification social groups disproportionate disparities provide key information on improving equity