Hispanics are still 2.5 times more likely to become hospitalized and 2.1 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than non-Hispanic whites. Sexual minority stress compounds this risk for Latinx sexual and gender minorities (SGM), but little remains known about the drivers of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in this community. Data come from the Latinx SGM sub-study of the National Institutes of Health-funded Florida Community Engaged Alliance against COVID-19 Health Disparities (FL-CEAL) (N=120). A multivariable logistic regression model was fit with a dichotomous outcome indicating whether the respondent had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose at the time of the survey. Key covariates included an index of COVID-19-related challenges (e.g. transportation, job loss), immigration status, education level, gender identity, trust in the federal government, poverty, and whether the survey was taken before or after June 1, 2021- the date the Delta variant became dominant in the US. Immigrants and those with a high degree of trust in the federal government had significantly higher odds of vaccination than non-immigrants (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.93, p=0.049) and those with less trust in the government (aOR: 8.97, p=0.004). Those below the federal poverty level had significantly lower odds of vaccination (aOR: 0.13, p=0.013). This analysis provides the first insights into the modifiable factors associated with vaccine uptake in a highly marginalized community. Data collection is ongoing and will be instrumental in designing FL-CEAL's targeted outreach and intervention activities throughout 2022.
