COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines May Reduce Long COVID Risk in Children, Adolescents
COVID-19 vaccination before a SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a 75% reduced likelihood of long COVID symptoms that impact daily functioning among patients between the ages of 5 and 17 years.
Immunization with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is linked with a lower likelihood of developing long COVID in children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 17 years, according to data published in JAMA Network Open.1 The authors of the study said the findings suggest that all children and adolescents should stay up to date with current COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines May Reduce Long COVID Risk in Children, Adolescents / New Africa - stock.adobe.com
In the United States, 1.3% of children between the ages of 0 and 17 have ever had long COVID.2 The data, which comes from the National Center for Health Statistics, shows that girls are more likely than boys to experience the condition, and those aged between 12 to 17 were more likely to have ever had it compared to younger children. Long COVID in children and adolescents is typically characterized by symptoms like dizziness, an increased heart rate, and fatigue. It can impact multiple organ systems, including the heart, brain, and lungs.3
READ MORE: Vaccine Review Can Help Pharmacists Raise Awareness, Promote Immunizations
“Given the potential number of children infected by SARS-CoV-2 and therefore at risk of developing [long COVID], understanding factors that reduce the occurrence and severity of [long COVID] is essential,” the authors wrote. “While data from adult studies show that COVID-19 vaccination is associated with a reduced risk of [long COVID], data on the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on [long COVID] in children are limited.”
A team of investigators from the CDC conducted a study to evaluate the odds of long COVID among children and adolescents who were vaccinated against COVID-19 before an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Data for the study was gathered from the Pediatric Research Observing Trends and Exposures in COVID-19 Timelines (PROTECT) study, a longitudinal prospective study that aimed to assess SARS-CoV-2 incidence and COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against infection in those aged between 6 months and 17 years.
For the new analysis, the study cohort included 622 patients who enrolled in the PROTECT study between July 2021 and September 2022. Of those, 28 were case patients and 594 were control patients. Patients were included if their first confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred during the study period, if they had completed a long COVID survey 60 days or more from the positive SARS-CoV-2 test, and if they were eligible for vaccination at the time of their positive test.
For immunization status, 16 case patients and 458 control patients were vaccinated, with 99% having received the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine. Compared to unvaccinated patients, a higher proportion of vaccinated patients reported having 4 or more symptoms during their acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, had no daily medication use, and reported excellent or very good health at baseline.
The study found that COVID-19 vaccination before a SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with 57% lower odds of 1 or more long COVID symptoms, 73% lower odds of 2 or more long COVID symptoms, and 72% lower odds of long COVID respiratory symptoms. Additionally, vaccination was also associated with a 75% reduced likelihood of long COVID symptoms that impact daily functioning. The authors noted that because the case and control patients all had an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the protection against long COVID from vaccination is likely higher.
“The data from this study are important as they indicate that even in a population that typically experiences only mild COVID-19, vaccination is associated with lower odds of [long COVID], the authors concluded. “Pediatric COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the US has been relatively low, particularly in younger children. Surveys have shown that one reason behind parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is the idea that COVID-19 in children is usually a mild illness and therefore vaccination is not necessary. However, even mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in postinfectious sequelae.”
READ MORE: Immunization Resource Center
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