Interplay of Digital Proximity App Use and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Uptake in Switzerland: Analysis of Two Population-Based Cohort Studies

Overview

Journal Int J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2023 Oct 6

PMID 37799349

Authors

Paola Daniore

Andre Moser

Marc Hoglinger

Nicole Probst Hensch

Medea Imboden

Thomas Vermes

Dirk Keidel

Murielle Bochud

Natalia Ortega Herrero

Stephanie Baggio

Patricia Chocano-Bedoya

Nicolas Rodondi

Stefano Tancredi

Cornelia Wagner

Stephane Cullati

Silvia Stringhini

Semira Gonseth Nussle

Caroline Veys-Takeuchi

Claire Zuppinger

Erika Harju

Gisela Michel

Irene Frank

Christian R Kahlert

Emiliano Albanese

Luca Crivelli

Sara Levati

Rebecca Amati

Marco Kaufmann

Marco Geigges

Tala Ballouz

Anja Frei

Jan Fehr

Viktor von Wyl

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Our study aims to evaluate developments in vaccine uptake and digital proximity tracing app use in a localized context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We report findings from two population-based longitudinal cohorts in Switzerland from January to December 2021. Failure time analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression models were conducted to assess vaccine uptake and digital proximity tracing app (SwissCovid) uninstalling outcomes. We observed a dichotomy of individuals who did not use the SwissCovid app and did not get vaccinated, and who used the SwissCovid app and got vaccinated during the study period. Increased vaccine uptake was observed with SwissCovid app use (aHR, 1.51; 95% CI: 1.40-1.62 [CI-DFU]; aHR, 1.79; 95% CI: 1.62-1.99 [CSM]) compared to SwissCovid app non-use. Decreased SwissCovid uninstallation risk was observed for participants who got vaccinated (aHR, 0.55; 95% CI: 0.38-0.81 [CI-DFU]; aHR, 0.45; 95% CI: 0.27-0.78 [CSM]) compared to participants who did not get vaccinated. In evolving epidemic contexts, these findings underscore the need for communication strategies as well as flexible digital proximity tracing app adjustments that accommodate different preventive measures and their anticipated interactions.

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