Short report: Vaccine attitudes in the age of COVID-19 for a population of children with mitochondrial disease

Abstract

BackgroundChildren with developmental disabilities are vulnerable to morbidity associated with COVID-19. AimsTo understand attitudes toward routine childhood vaccinations versus the COVID-19 vaccine in a population of families affected by mitochondrial disease (MtD), a form of developmental disability. Methods and proceduresAn online survey was administered via several advocacy groups for children with MtD. Outcomes and resultEighty-six percent of families reported being up to date with the childhood vaccine schedule and seventy percent reported that their affected child receives the annual flu shot. However, only fifty percent reported that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine outweighed the risk for their affected child. One quarter of families expressed concern that their child may become sick or deteriorate after the COVID-19 vaccine. In comparison to other routine childhood vaccines, families expressed less confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions and implicationsFamilies affected by this population of developmental disabilities are more comfortable with the vaccines included in the routine childhood immunization schedule than with the newly introduced COVID-19 vaccine, even despite this group’s vulnerability.