The Prevalence and Vaccination Coverage Rates of COVID-19 in Asia: A Cross-sectional Study after Four Years

Abstract

Asia is the largest and most populous continent and is divided into five regions: Eastern Asia, South-eastern Asia, Central Asia, Southern Asia, and Western Asia. Understanding the pattern of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevalence in Asia could help researchers and decision-makers learn how to respond to public health emergencies more effectively. By the end of 2023, it would have been nearly four years since the first cases of COVID-19 were detected. In this article, COVID-19 data, including the vaccination coverage rate, were used to examine the COVID-19 prevalence across Asia by the end of 2023 based on income and geographic division. Data on COVID-19, including the vaccination coverage rates, for various Asian countries were collected from reliable, publicly available websites. Then, COVID-19 data were analyzed based on income and geographic division. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and an Independent Samples t-test were also performed to assess the variation of the means of COVID-19 data across the continent. As of January 1, 2024, COVID-19 data across Asia's five regions were inconsistent. West Asia was most affected, with the highest cases and deaths per million and most tests performed per population. Eastern Asia had the lowest deaths per million, tests per population, and case-fatality rates (CFRs). The COVID-19 vaccination rates range between 2.39% and 105.7%, while the booster vaccination rates varied from 0% in Kyrgyzstan and Laos to 141.7% in Japan. The ANOVA test showed significant variance in the mean, median age, mean vaccination coverage rates, and mean booster vaccination rates, where Eastern Asia had higher averages than the other parts. The independent t-test revealed significant differences in COVID-19 data means, except for CFRs, where low- and lower-middle-income countries had lower averages than upper-middle and high-income countries. Inconsistent COVID-19 data, including vaccination coverage, across Asia highlights the need for uniform standards in case identification and diagnosis, ensuring equitable vaccine distribution, and providing essential diagnostic resources to all countries for future emergencies.