The Association of Vaccination Status and Race/Ethnicity on Post-COVID Conditions in Riverside, California

Abstract

COVID-19 is a significant illness and has affected society in many ways. Research has been conducted on COVID-19 on factors associated with and how to prevent and mitigate outbreaks. However, post-COVID conditions have prompted a new challenge concerning the virus. Scientific knowledge is limited in understanding what may influence the occurrence and the frequency of post-COVID conditions. The primary purpose of this study was to examine potential associations between case characteristics and the development of post-COVID conditions using local public health post-COVID surveillance system data. The study explored the relationship between race/ethnicity, vaccination status, and post-COVID conditions. A sample of 12,656 males and females from Riverside County, California, was used. Using a cross-sectional design, participants answered questions through a phone interview about demographics, symptoms, history of medical care, COVID-19 vaccination, history of hospitalization care, level of function, and comorbidities. The independent variable was race/ethnicity and vaccination status, and the dependent variable was post-COVID conditions. A Chi-square test of independence was used to answer the research questions. The results of the study indicated there is no significant relationship between race/ethnicity and post-COVID conditions. Also, there is a significant relationship between vaccination status and post-COVID conditions.