[Vaccination coverage against COVID-19 according to country of birth, and underlying risk of severe clinical course].

Background: Support for the COVID-19 vaccination programme has been high in Norway throughout the pandemic, but previous studies have observed variation based on country of birth. If the unvaccinated are young and healthy, the risk and consequences for the individual and for the health service will be less than if the unvaccinated have underlying risk of severe COVID-19. The purpose of the study was to examine the degree to which vaccination coverage varied by country of birth in persons with and without underlying risk.

Impact of Omicron on sick leave across industries: A population-wide study.

Aims: To estimate the industry-specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (Omicron wave) on sick leave.

Methods: Using individual-level data from the Norwegian Emergency Preparedness Register, the study covers all workers in different industries ( = 2,733,751 people) on a monthly level in the time periods January-March 2017-2020 (except March 2020) and 2022 (38,199,536 person-months). We estimated the industry-specific increase in monthly average sick leave during the Omicron wave in 2022 compared with the corresponding months in 2017-2020.

Has vaccination alleviated the strain on hospitals due to COVID-19? A combined difference-in-difference and simulation approach.

Background: Serious measures, including mass vaccination, have been taken to ensure sufficient hospital capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to high hospitalization risk in the oldest age groups, most countries prioritized elderly for vaccines. The aim of this study is to broaden the understanding of how vaccination in younger age groups relieved the strain on hospitals during the pandemic.

General practitioner visits after SARS-CoV-2 omicron compared with the delta variant in children in Norway: a prospective nationwide registry study.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is followed by an immediate increase in primary care utilisation. The difference in utilisation following infection with the delta and omicron virus variants is unknown.

Objectives: To study whether general practitioner (GP) contacts were different in children infected with the omicron versus delta variant for up to 4 weeks after the week testing positive.