Understanding a Public Health Measure in People with Diabetes: Assessing COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake

Although Canadians have a publicly funded health system, crises like the COVID-19 pandemic can widen health inequities. With knowledge of these health inequities, solutions may be put in place to improve the health of Canadians. Reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection is important so public health measures are key, especially COVID-19 vaccination. Some groups of people, such as people with diabetes, are at risk of health inequities, and this may have occurred with COVID-19 vaccination. Over 3.9 million Canadians have diabetes. People with diabetes are ~ 3 times more likely to be hospitalized, need an intensive care unit, or die from COVID-19 compared to people without diabetes. Unfortunately, little is known about how many people with diabetes have received the COVID-19 vaccine compared to those without diabetes, and if any characteristics of people with diabetes (e.g., their age, sex, or what medications they use) are related to receiving the vaccine. This study has two aims: (1) To learn about the rates of COVID-19 vaccination among people with and without diabetes: and (2) To learn if there are any characteristics of people with diabetes that are associated with receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. We will link several large databases within Alberta to assess the rates of COVID-19 vaccination among people with and without diabetes. Then, we will describe the characteristics of people with diabetes, including children, who have received COVID-19 vaccination. This study is important because it will provide important information on COVID-19 vaccination rates in people with diabetes, and characteristics of people that have lower or higher vaccination rates. We are working closely with key organizations (This is Our Shot, 19 to Zero, the Vaccine Hesitancy Guide, and Diabetes Canada) so that the information we learn is shared with people with diabetes, the public, health care professionals, and government representatives to keep people with diabetes healthy and safe.