Racial and ethnic minority status in country of birth modifies racial and ethnic disparities in influenza vaccination among New York City adults

Abstract

BackgroundUnderstanding the relationship between race/ethnicity, birthplace, and health outcomes is important for reducing health disparities. This study assessed the relationship between racial/ethnic identity and minority racial/ethnic status in country of birth on influenza vaccination among New York City (NYC) adults. MethodsUsing 2015–2019 data from NYC’s Community Health Surveys, we assessed the association between racial/ethnic identity and racial/ethnic minority status in birth country with past year influenza vaccination, calculating prevalence differences per 100 and assessing interaction on the additive scale using linear binomial regression, and prevalence ratios and interaction on the multiplicative scale using log-binomial regression. ResultsEffect modification between race/ethnicity and minority racial/ethnic status in birth country was significant on the additive scale for Hispanic (p = 0.018) and Black (p = 0.025) adults and the multiplicative scale for Hispanic adults (p = 0.040). After stratifying by racial/ethnic minority or majority status in birth country, vaccination was significantly lower among Black adults compared with White adults among those in the minority (adjusted prevalence difference [aPD]=−12.98, 95%CI: −22.88-(−2.92)) and significantly higher among Hispanic adults compared with White adults among those in the majority (aPD=9.28, 95%CI: 7.35–11.21). ConclusionsRacial/ethnic minority status in birth country is an important factor when examining racial/ethnic differences in vaccination status.