A recent large-scale study indicates that COVID-19 vaccination rates are high for both individuals with and without mental health conditions. Conducted by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and published in Nature Communications, the study highlights a concern: people with untreated mental health issues exhibit lower vaccination rates.
The research team reviewed data from seven studies across five countries—Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, and Scotland—under the COVIDMENT consortium, which included over 325,000 participants alongside registry data from Sweden featuring more than 8 million individuals.
According to the combined analysis from the COVIDMENT group, 85% of the participants had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (as of September 30, 2021). There was no significant difference in vaccination rates between those diagnosed with mental health issues and those who were not, nor between individuals with or without symptoms of anxiety or depression.
“The strong vaccination rates among the majority of individuals with mental illness indicate that the vaccination initiative has been effective,” stated Mary Barker, the study’s lead author and postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.
Nonetheless, the findings from the Swedish registry indicated that individuals diagnosed with a mental illness who were not receiving prescribed medication were 9% less likely to get their first dose of the vaccine. Additionally, those with substance use disorders had a 16% lower likelihood of being vaccinated.
“Further investigation is essential to understand the factors influencing these trends to enhance existing and future vaccination efforts, ensuring everyone receives adequate protection against infectious diseases,” remarked Mary Barker. “Given that individuals with mental health conditions are at a greater risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, ensuring high vaccination rates in this population is particularly crucial.”
The study was funded by NordForsk, the EU’s Horizon 2020 program, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, the Swedish Research Council, and various other national research councils. Some authors have disclosed potential conflicts of interest, including financial support from and stakes in pharmaceutical firms. For more details, please refer to the scientific article.
