Important Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccination of Children With Developmental Disabilities

Children can transmit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and, although at a lower risk, can experience serious outcomes from infection. Vaccinating children against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is essential to protecting their health and establishing higher population immunity. In 2015–2017, 1 in 6 children aged 3 to 17 years had a developmental disability (DD) such as cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or intellectual disability (ID).1 DDs are a diverse group of chronic conditions that begin in childhood and can impact functioning throughout life. Despite limited data in public health surveillance systems, in some evidence, it is suggested that some children with DDs might be disproportionately affected by COVID-19, both by the illness itself and the pandemic’s impact on receipt of services. Children with DDs often have medical conditions that contribute to higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19,2 can experience barriers to accessing needed health care, and can possess other characteristics increasing their risk from COVID-19, including limited mobility, direct care requirements, and challenges practicing preventive measures and communicating illness symptoms.3 We describe the limited available data relevant for children with DDs and highlight other considerations for COVID-19 vaccination.In a cross-sectional study of >64 million US patients of all ages, COVID-19 incidence was >3 times higher among people with an ID than those without one.4 Among those with COVID-19, twice as many people with an ID were hospitalized, admitted to the ICU, or died, compared with those without an ID. In analyses adjusting for age and comorbidities, ID was the strongest risk factor for COVID-19 diagnosis, and the odds of mortality were almost 6 times higher among patients with COVID-19 who had an ID, compared with those without an ID.Private insurance claims data from the FAIR Health database revealed similar results among patients of all ages for other DDs.5 Among people with COVID-19, those with ASD, ID, learning disabilities, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder had ∼3 to 9 times higher likelihood of hospitalization (adjusted for age and sex) than those without these conditions and longer hospitalizations. Those who had a DD had an approximately threefold higher odds of mortality than those without.6 Data on 43 465 children ≤18 years revealed that from March 2020 to January 2021 children with neurodevelopmental disorders were 1.6 times as likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than children without neurodevelopmental disorders, although severe illness among children hospitalized for COVID-19 with neurodevelopmental disorders was less common than among children with other conditions.7 An analysis of 30 282 patients with COVID-19 from the TriNetX COVID-19 Research Network revealed the COVID-19 fatality rate among children 3000 caregivers of children with ASD, 62% reported moderate to severe negative impacts of COVID-19–related disruption in services on their child’s ASD symptoms, and 72% reported experiencing moderate to extreme stress due to these disruptions.10 School closings to in-person learning and modified remote learning options have kept children within the home more, isolating and essentially resegregating many children with DDs from their peers, despite the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandate that children with disabilities be educated with children without disabilities to the maximum extent possible in the least restrictive environment. Prioritizing adolescents with DDs aged ≥12 years for COVID-19 vaccination and children aged <12 years when vaccines are authorized for use in this age group is essential to resuming needed educational services within the school setting.Pediatricians can work with other providers to tailor COVID-19 vaccination efforts for children with DDs to overcome issues of access and hesitancy. Children with DDs may have more interactions with health care or other service specialists than with general pediatricians. Collaboration between pediatric hospital systems, pediatric specialists, disability-specific practices and clinics, and occupational, physical, or speech specialists with knowledge of the specific needs of the children with DD in their community will be important for successful vaccination implementation. COVID-19 vaccination can be provided in ways that are easier for children with DDs to accept, such as the option to be vaccinated in their vehicle or quiet areas. Some children with DDs may require more time or sensory modifications during vaccination appointments. In addition, some children with DDs may be unable to wear masks or practice physical distancing, limiting their ability to receive services at many locations. Trusted care providers can work with parents to learn and address specific concerns with vaccination. Collaboration with schools may facilitate parental education and/or leverage school-based clinics.In conclusion, children with DDs are likely at a higher risk of COVID-19 illness because of increased prevalence of underlying health conditions, suboptimal vaccination rates, and systemic inequities. Strategies can be implemented and supported by pediatricians to ensure that children with DDs, their caregivers, family members, and service providers receive the COVID-19 vaccine to reduce negative outcomes. Highlighting the unique considerations for COVID-19 vaccination for children with DDs can support equitable access of vaccination for children with DDs and their families.