Disparities in the Uptake of COVID‐19 Vaccination Between Māori and Non‐Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand

Since the first COVID‐19 case, the Aotearoa New Zealand response has been adjusted to match the evolving virus, transitioning from elimination to protection. Using whole‐of‐population data, this study aimed to examine variables associated with COVID‐19 vaccination among Māori and quantify the gap in COVID‐19 immunisation coverage between Māori and non‐Māori. A retrospective study was conducted using microdata from Stats NZ. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of being unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated as a function of the independent variables, adjusting for the effects of all other variables in the adjusted model. Primary Health Organisation (PHO) enrolees (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10–0.11) and individuals with a household income exceeding NZ$100,001 per annum (aOR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30–0.36) had lower odds of being unvaccinated (more likely to be vaccinated). Disability (aOR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.48–1.56), household crowding (aOR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.17–1.24), poor housing quality (aOR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.07–1.14), three or more generation family type (aOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.13–1.21) and the presence of a child aged under five in the household (aOR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.47–1.55) were associated with being unvaccinated. We found sizeable gaps in COVID‐19 vaccination rates between Māori and non‐Māori.