The results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Pediatric Survey were presented in the 2024 American College of Rheumatology Convergence Annual Meeting.
Key Findings:
• High Vaccination Rates: 70% of children with pediatric rheumatic disease received at least one COVID-19 vaccine, significantly higher than the 37% rate for otherwise healthy children.
• Low Adverse Reactions: Most children (93%) experienced no adverse vaccine reactions, with severe reactions being very rare (2.7%).
• Reduced Long-Term COVID Risks: Post-COVID conditions were reported in only 13.5% of children with pediatric rheumatic disease, compared to 25% in healthy children, possibly due to high vaccination rates.
• MIS-C Incidence: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) occurred in 3.4% of surveyed children, with higher occurrences in those with autoinflammatory diseases.
Caregiver Concerns:
Parents hesitant about vaccination often cited concerns about safety and potential impacts on their child’s PRD. However, the study found that vaccines were generally safe and well-tolerated in this population.
Conclusion:
Close collaboration between rheumatologists and families may explain high vaccine uptake, but efforts to address safety concerns and expand participation to diverse groups are crucial to further improving vaccination rates.
This research underscores the importance of including immunocompromised patients in vaccine studies and providing clear, evidence-based guidance to caregivers.
Once again, thank you for being a part of this important survey. We greatly appreciate your support and participation!
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- The COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (GRA) registries are the collaborative work from an international group of rheumatologists, researchers, and patient partners.
- These registries are an international effort to collect information pertinent to COVID-19 infection in patients with rheumatologic disease.
- The de-identified information collected in these registries will be shared for analysis, with results shared with the public .