In a new study from Karolinska Institutet, researchers found higher uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among both patients with and without mental illness. However, the results also showed that vaccination rates were lower among people who were not receiving treatment for mental illness. 1
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Mary Barker, a postdoctoral researcher at Karolinska Institutet’s Institute of Environmental Medicine, said: “High vaccination rates among most people with mental illness indicate that the COVID-19 vaccination campaign is a success. ” in a news release.
The current study authors say data from previous studies showed a link between mental illness and vaccination. Similar findings showed that COVID-19 vaccination is incompatible with people with mental illness. However, previous studies have not shown any association between severity of illness or medication status and vaccination against COVID-19. 2
In the current study, researchers enrolled 325,298 people who participated in the COVIDMENT study and met eligibility criteria. Approximately 65.1% were women, and the average age was 48 years. Overall vaccination coverage was high, with 85.1% of 314,827 people vaccinated. Approximately 82.4% of people with mental illness and 86.8% of people without mental illness received the vaccine. Researchers found no significant differences when adjusting for covariates related to mental illness and first dose uptake by September 30, 2021. 2
Additionally, no association was found between updating the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and symptoms of anxiety or depression. However, the researchers found a modest association between anxiety and depressive symptoms and lower vaccination rates in men, but not in women. 2
By February 18, 2022, 88.9% of 315,584 people had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including those with mental illness (86.7%) and those without (90.3%). ) There was a slight difference between The study authors said there was a small association between a diagnosis of mental illness and first dose by February 18, 2022 for female patients. Furthermore, the vaccination rate for the 264,404 people who had received their second dose by February 18, 2022 was 95.5%, including 94.7% with a mental illness and 95.9% without a mental illness2.
According to Swedish registry data, people who were not receiving treatment for a mental illness were about 9% less likely to receive their first dose of the vaccine, and people with substance use disorders were about 16% less likely to receive the vaccine. . Furthermore, people with depression and bipolar disorder were significantly associated with vaccine uptake, but no significant association was found with smoking disorders or anxiety. 1,2
Seven studies were included in the analysis across five countries, including Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Estonia and Scotland. According to the study authors, data from the COVIDMENT study was also used, as was data from the Swedish Registry Study analysis. 2
“Further research is needed to explore the reasons behind these associations to improve current and future vaccination strategies and ultimately ensure equitable protection against infectious diseases,” Barker said. said in a news release. “People with mental illnesses are at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19, so high vaccination rates are particularly important for this group.”1
Reference 1. People with untreated mental illness are less likely to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. News release. Yurek Alert. September 26th 2:24am. Accessed October 7, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/10589492. Barker MM, Kõiv K, Magnúsdóttir I Other psychiatric disorders and COVID-19 vaccination: A multinational study of observational and registry-based data. Nut commune. 2024;15(1):8124. doi:10.1038/s41467-024-52342-1
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