Characteristics associated with SARS-CoV-2 testing, infection and vaccine uptake among essential non-healthcare workers in Montréal, 2021

Chelsea Caya; Dick Menzies; Jesse Papenburg; Cedric Yansouni; Jonathon Campbell

doi:10.14745/ccdr.v50i06a05

Characteristics associated with SARS-CoV-2 testing, infection and vaccine uptake among essential non-healthcare workers in Montréal, 2021

Can Commun Dis Rep. 2024 Jun 28;50(6):223-232. doi: 10.14745/ccdr.v50i06a05.

Authors

Chelsea Caya^{1

2}, Dick Menzies^{3

4

5}, Jesse Papenburg^{1

2

6

7}, Cedric Yansouni^{1

2

7

8}, Jonathon Campbell^{3

4

9}

Affiliations

¹ Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC.
² McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity, Montréal, QC.
³ Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC.
⁴ McGill International TB Centre, Montréal, QC.
⁵ Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC.
⁶ Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital, Montréal, QC.
⁷ Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC.
⁸ J.D. MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases, McGill University, Montréal, QC.
⁹ Departments of Medicine & Global and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC.

Abstract

Background: Essential non-healthcare workers experienced higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to non-essential workers.

Objective: Identify characteristics associated with SARS-CoV-2 testing, infection and vaccine uptake among essential non-healthcare workers in Montréal, Québec.

Methods: Secondary, cross-sectional analysis of data collected from participants prospectively recruited in two observational studies (first study, Onsite Testing Study, January-March 2021; second study, Self-Testing Study, July-October 2021) of essential non-healthcare workers in 2021. Logistic regression with generalized linear mixed models was used to explore characteristics associated with our outcomes (previous SARS-CoV-2 testing, exposure and vaccination).

Results: Overall, 2,755 participants were included (first study, Onsite Testing Study, n=2,128; and second study, Self-Testing Study, n=627). A higher proportion of participants identified as male (n=1,601; 58%), non-White (n=1,527; 55%) and worked in the manufacturing/supplier sector (n=1,706; 62%). Relative to the first study, Onsite Testing Study, participants in the second study, Self-Testing Study, had higher odds (78% vs. 46%; aOR 4.1, 95% CI: 3.2-5.2) of previous SARS-CoV-2 testing and of testing positive prior to study enrolment (6.2% vs. 4.3%; aOR 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.6). Individuals reporting recent SARS-CoV-2 exposure had higher odds of previous SARS-CoV-2 testing (aOR 4.0, 95% CI: 3.0-5.4), while older age (aOR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.98-0.99 per one-year increase) and being male (aOR 0.6, 95% CI: 0.5-0.7) were associated with lower odds of previous testing. Results were similar in stratified analyses. Participants from businesses with more than 50 employees had higher odds of having received a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (91% vs. 80%; aOR 2.6, 95% CI: 1.4-4.8).

Conclusion: Consideration of individual and business characteristics associated with testing and vaccination programs for SARS-CoV-2 could improve equity, uptake and impact.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; infectious disease; public health; vaccination.