Sociodemographic disparities in COVID-19 burden: changing patterns over four pandemic waves in Israel

Background Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic hit weakest populations hardest, with socioeconomic (SE), racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 burden. The study aimed to analyse patterns of SE and ethnic disparities in morbidity, hospitalisation, and vaccination throughout four pandemic waves. Methods A retrospective-archive study was conducted in Israel from 11 March 2020 to 1 December 2021, with data on confirmed cases, hospitalisations, mortality and vaccinations (three doses), obtained from the Israeli Ministry of Health's open COVID-19 database, covering 98.8% of the population, by SE and ethnic characteristics of localities. Findings At the outbreak of the pandemic, there was a higher caseload in Jewish, compared with Arab localities. In the second and third waves, low SE and Arab minority populations suffered 2-3 times higher morbidity, with a similar but attenuated pattern in the fourth wave. A similar trend was observed in hospitalisation of confirmed patients. COVID-19-associated mortality did not demonstrate a clear SE gradient. A strong social gradient in vaccine uptake was demonstrated throughout the period, with 71% and 74% double vaccinated in the two highest SE clusters, and 43% and 27% in the two lowest clusters by December 2021. Uptake of the third dose was 57%-60% in the highest SE clusters and 31%-25% in the lowest clusters. SE disparities in vaccine uptake were larger among the younger age groups and gradually increased from first to third doses. Conclusions Israel was among the first to lead a rapid vaccination drive, as well as to experience a fourth wave fuelled by diminishing immunity and the delta variant. SE and ethnic disparities were evident throughout most of the pandemic months, though less so for mortality. Despite higher COVID-19 burden, vaccine uptake was lower in disadvantaged groups, with greater disparities in the younger population which widened with subsequent doses.