Disparities in the Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Irish Travellers in the Republic of Ireland.

INTRODUCTION

Irish Travellers, a distinct minority ethnic group, make up 0.64% of the population in the Republic of Ireland (n = 32,949) according to the national census. Major health disparities exist between Travellers and the general population including shorter life expectancy and higher mortality rates from respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

Here, the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Irish Travellers was investigated. Public health surveillance data on 238,907 notified COVID-19 cases in Ireland from March 2020 to April 2021 were analysed.

RESULTS

The crude incidence rate (CIR) of recorded COVID-19 infections in Irish Travellers was the highest of any ethnic group in Ireland during the study period. The one-year CIR/100,000 population was 11,094.34 (95% CI:10755.73-11436.95) for Irish Travellers in contrast to 3,213.00 (95% CI:3196.54-3229.53) for the White population and 4,233.77 (95% CI:4216.40-4251.20) for the general population. The mean age of COVID-19 cases was 27.24 years (95% CI:26.66-27.81) in Irish Travellers versus 39.10 (95% CI:39.00-39.21) and 39.65 years (95% CI:39.56-39.73) in the White and general populations, respectively. Age-specific incidence rates were higher in Irish Travellers across each age group ranging from 2.52-fold higher (95% CI:2.34-4.01) in the 20-29 age group to 4.70-fold higher (95% CI:4.36-7.47) in the 0-9 age group relative to the White population.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, a higher incidence rate for notified COVID-19 was observed for Irish Travellers compared to the White and general populations in Ireland across all age groups. This highlights ongoing health disparities experienced by Irish Travellers and the need to further address respiratory illnesses in this marginalised ethnic minority.