Pediatric COVID-19 Health Disparities and Vaccine Equity. (17th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oliveira, Carlos R; Feemster, Kristen A; Ulloa, Erlinda R
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Volume 11(2022)Supplement 4
• Page Start: S141
• Page End: S147
• Publication Date: 2022-09-17
• Subjects: SARS-CoV-2 -- COVID-19 -- pediatric -- health disparities -- vaccines; Communicable diseases in children -- Periodicals; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.929
• DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piac091
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2048-7193

Abstract

Abstract: While most children with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) experience mild illness, some are vulnerable to severe disease and develop long-term complications. Children with disabilities, those from lower-income homes, and those from racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to be hospitalized and to have poor outcomes following an infection. For many of these same children, a wide range of social, economic, and environmental disadvantages have made it more difficult for them to access COVID-19 vaccines. Ensuring vaccine equity in children and decreasing health disparities promotes the common good and serves society as a whole. In this article, we discuss how the pandemic has exposed long-standing injustices in historically marginalized groups and provide a summary of the research describing the disparities associated with COVID-19 infection, severity, and vaccine uptake. Last, we outline several strategies for addressing some of the issues that can give rise to vaccine inequity in the pediatric population.