COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Related Disorders: Feasibility and Acceptability.

Abstract

Autistic individuals often have comorbid medical conditions, which can increase the likelihood of being severely affected by COVID-19. The best prevention for this is vaccination. However, some autistic individuals engage in behaviors that might create a barrier to successful vaccination. We describe the development and acceptability of a clinic specializing in the administration of COVID-19 vaccines for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who exhibit challenging behavior. The clinic utilized behavioral antecedent strategies and contingencies to increase compliance with the vaccine and decrease distress associated with the procedure. We achieved a 100% success rate with vaccine administration and caregivers reported high satisfaction with the clinic. The present vaccine clinic is adaptable to various settings and patients and was well-received overall by caregivers. Replication in different geographic regions may be beneficial when resources allow for this type of clinic.