How social determinants of health affected the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

Social and economic inequities have contributed to how certain communities in Canada have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. For the 12^th seminar in our Research Results & Implications series we have gathered CITF-funded experts to present their findings on how those factors – income or material deprivation, employment, education, and racialization, among others – have led to a higher likelihood of becoming infected and/or suffering more severe outcomes (hospitalization and death) from COVID-19. Furthermore, these social determinants have had a measurable effect on access to vaccines and vaccine uptake across the country.

Casting light on these social drivers of COVID-19 disease risk and vaccine coverage clarifies the urgent need for policies and practices to redress these inequities.