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Cited by 41Vaccine Coverage and HesitancyCOVID-19 and Mental HealthSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research

A Systematic Review on Vaccine Hesitancy in Black Communities in Canada: Critical Issues and Research Failures

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Cénat, Jude Mary, Noorishad, Pari-Gole, Bakombo, Schwab Mulopo, Onesi, Olivia, Mesbahi, Aya, Darius, Wina Paul, Caulley, Lisa, Yaya, Sanni +6 more·2022·Vaccines
DOI 10.3390/vaccines10111937PMC PMC9695687
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Abstract

Black communities have been disproportionately impacted by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Canada, in terms of both number of infections and mortality rates. Yet, according to early studies, vaccine hesitancy appears to be higher in Black communities. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the prevalence and factors associated with vaccine hesitancy in Black communities in Canada. Peer-reviewed studies published from 11 March 2020 to 26 July 2022, were searched through eleven databases: APA PsycInfo (Ovid), Cairn.info, Canadian Business & Current Affairs (ProQuest), CPI.Q (Gale OneFile), Cochrane CENTRAL (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Érudit, Global Health (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (Ovid), and Web of Science (Clarivate). Eligible studies were published in French or English and had empirical data on the prevalence or factors associated with vaccine hesitancy in samples or subsamples of Black people. Only five studies contained empirical data on vaccine hesitancy in Black individuals and were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. Black individuals represented 1.18% (n = 247) of all included study samples (n = 20,919). Two of the five studies found that Black individuals were more hesitant to be vaccinated against COVID-19 compared to White individuals, whereas the other three found no significant differences. The studies failed to provide any evidence of factors associated with vaccine hesitancy in Black communities. Despite national concerns about vaccine hesitancy in Black communities, a color-blind approach is still predominant in Canadian health research. Of about 40 studies containing empirical data on vaccine hesitancy in Canada, only five contained data on Black communities. None analyzed factors associated with vaccine hesitancy in Black communities. Policies and strategies to strengthen health research in Black communities and eliminate the color-blind approach are discussed.

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  • Higher density housing with multi-generational households and front-facing essential work confer an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and transmission.

    “all of which conferred an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and transmission(59,60).”

    From Social inequalities in COVID-19 death by area-level income in 11.2 million people in Ontario, Canada: patterns over time and the mediating role of vaccination. (2026) · cites this paper as [59]

    The Introduction reports disproportionate COVID-19 infections in Black communities in Canada, but does not link exposure or transmission risk to housing density, multigenerational households, or front-facing essential work. Searches for those housing and work factors found no passage addressing the claimed link; the paper focuses on vaccine hesitancy. (LLM, conf=0.77)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Individuals living in lower-income neighbourhoods are more likely to work in front-facing essential services.

    “to work in front-facing essential services”

    From Social inequalities in COVID-19 death by area-level income in 11.2 million people in Ontario, Canada: patterns over time and the mediating role of vaccination. (2026) · cites this paper as [59]

    The Discussion addresses socioeconomic status and COVID-19 outcomes, but not whether residents of lower-income neighbourhoods are more likely to work in front-facing essential services. Searches for “front-facing essential services,” “lower-income neighbourhoods,” and essential or frontline work found no passage in our copy addressing that employment comparison. (LLM, conf=0.74)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Individuals living in lower-income neighbourhoods are more likely to reside in high density housing with multi-generational households.

    “Individuals living in lower-income neighbourhoods are more likely to reside in high density housing with multi-generational households”

    From Social inequalities in COVID-19 death by area-level income in 11.2 million people in Ontario, Canada: patterns over time and the mediating role of vaccination. (2026) · cites this paper as [59]

    The Discussion discusses socioeconomic status and mentions household size as a predictor of vaccine hesitancy, but does not link lower-income neighbourhoods to housing density or multigenerational households. Searches for high-density housing, multigenerational households, and related housing terms found no passage addressing that link. (LLM, conf=0.72)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 36

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Cénat, J. M., Noorishad, P.-G., Bakombo, S. M., Onesi, O., Mesbahi, A., Darius, W. P., Caulley, L., Yaya, S., Chomienne, M.-H., Etowa, J., Venkatesh, V., Dalexis, R. D., Pongou, R., & Labelle, P. R.
Affiliations
  • University of Ottawa (CA)
  • School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
  • Concordia University (CA)
Corresponding author
Cénat, Jude Mary
ORCID
Venue
Vaccines
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2022-11-15
Volume
10
Issue
11
Pages
1937
ISSN
2076-393X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/vaccines10111937
PMC
PMC9695687
OpenAlex
W4309118678
Cited by
41
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 1
FWCI
1.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Vaccines (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (469050, 4500440446)
  • Public Health Agency of Canada (469050, 4500440446)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
Keywords
vaccine hesitancy, Black communities, COVID-19 vaccination, racial disparities in health

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