COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in Belgium : Sociodemographic and Socioeconomic Disparities

In January 2021, the vaccination campaign against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started in Belgium. The vaccination campaign was conducted in several phases, with the first phase targeting priority groups starting in January 2021. The second phase began in June 2021 with the invitation of everyone aged 18 years and older before extending access to 12 years and older from summer 2021. Children aged 5-11 were also invited for vaccination from December 2021 onwards. The presence of a social gradient in COVID-19 infections and subsequent outcomes has been clearly demonstrated. Individuals from lower socioeconomic groups, for example with lower income, lower education level or unemployed are more likely to be infected by the SARS-CoV-2 and to develop severe complications after the infection such as hospitalization, ICU admission or death. Certain sociodemographic characteristics such as male gender, older age, living in crowded households, or belonging to ethnic/racial minorities are also associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and severe outcomes. In addition to disparities in infection, hospitalization and mortality, some studies have also documented a lower COVID-19 vaccination coverage among people from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups during COVID-19 pandemic. Despite widespread vaccine promotion efforts and the fact that Belgium has the 7th highest full vaccine coverage in the European Union (89% of people over 18 years old had completed their primary course of vaccination on 08 April 2022), concerns regarding vaccine equity remain. Vaccine uptake depends on a range of factors, including the socio-cultural environment, pre-existing health needs and individual choice. Identifying differences in vaccination between population groups is crucial to assess the effectiveness of the vaccination strategy in Belgium and its relationship to the further spread of COVID-19. The objective is to identify whether vaccination coverage has been equitable acro