The unequal toll of COVID-19 on racialized populations in Canada - Catalyst and Research Development Grant Project Highlight 

A new scoping review by Institute for Pandemics researchers find pre-existing inequalities and systemic barriers left racialized communities in Canada more vulnerable to the social, economic, and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

A recent scoping review funded by the Institute for Pandemics (IfP) has shed light on the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on racialized communities across Canada. Findings reveal that racialized communities faced greater social, economic, and health impacts from the pandemic. 

The review, which included 39 documents, explored how the pandemic affected the social and economic well-being, as well as the health outcomes, of Canadian racialized populations who were generally healthy prior to the pandemic. The team found that these populations experienced significantly higher rates of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Alongside these health disparities, they also faced increased discrimination, worsening mental health, and difficulty in accessing healthcare services. Furthermore, many struggled with food insecurity and lacked access to basic necessities, underscoring deep-rooted social and economic vulnerabilities. 

Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the research team consisted of IfP members Notisha Massaquoi, Sharon Straus, Fahad Razak, Benita Hosseini, Nav Persaud, Sharmistha Mishra, Azza Eissa, and Andrew Pinto. The project was primarily supported by a catalyst and research development grant from the Institute for Pandemics and the Emerging & Pandemic Infections Consortium. 

The study concludes that these inequities are not new—previous evidence from past pandemics has shown that racialized populations bore a heavier burden. Rather, these disparities are the result of longstanding structural inequities, rooted in systemic racism, which are amplified by pandemics and public health emergencies.  

The findings from this study underscore the importance of pandemic preparedness strategies. The authors call for targeted policy reforms and pandemic preparedness plans that address pre-existing disparities and target vulnerability areas.

Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22071054