COVID-19 Vaccine Appears Safe for Children With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome
A study of children and adolescents who received a COVID-19 vaccination following multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) found that there were no reports of serious complications including myocarditis or MIS-C re-occurrence.
About half of the participants experienced mild and typical reactions, including arm soreness and fatigue. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, demonstrates that it is safe to get a vaccine after having MIS-C. The findings will publish in JAMA Network Open.
‘COVID-19 vaccine for children after Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) that occurs after COVID-19 infection, appears to be safe.’
The new study helps resolve a lingering question about whether the COVID vaccine can increase the risk of health problems in young people who have had MIS-C.
MIS-C and COVID-19: Uncommon but Serious Condition in Children
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) is a rare and potentially fatal immunological reaction that can occur following infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.MIS-C is a poorly understood condition that affects 1 in about 3,000 to 4,000 children and adolescents who had COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It occurs a few weeks after COVID-19 infection and can lead to organ failure. Symptoms can range from stomach pain, fever, and rash to inflammation of the heart muscle, a serious condition called myocarditis. The exact causes of MIS-C are unknown, but medications can be given to decrease the inflammation that can damage organs.
Some families and healthcare professionals have questioned whether COVID-19 vaccines could lead to more serious adverse reactions in those with a history of MIS-C, including a recurrence of the disease, but data on this topic were lacking.
The cross-sectional study included 22 medical centers (21 in the United States and 1 in Canada) participating in the NHLBI's Long-Term Outcomes After the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MUSIC) study.
How safe is COVID-19 Vaccine for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome?
It enrolled 385 patients aged 5 years or older with prior MIS-C who were eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. Of this group,185 (48.1%) received at least one vaccine dose. The median age was 12.2 years and 73.5% were male.The participants were racially diverse - 24.3% were Black, 31.9% were Hispanic, and 28.6% were white. The median length of time from their MIS-C diagnosis to their first vaccine dose was 9 months.
Of those who received a COVID-19 vaccination following MIS-C, mild adverse reactions - mostly arm soreness and fatigue - occurred in 49% of them, similar to the general population. There were no reports of serious complications, including myocarditis or recurrence of MIS-C.
The results are very reassuring and this safety data should be comforting to families and healthcare professionals when considering and recommending vaccination.
The findings provide support for the CDC's recommendation that patients with a history of MIS-C receive a COVID-19 vaccine at least 90 days after diagnosis and that it is safe to do so.
In light of the acute and long-term consequences of COVID-19, it is vital to continue the development, testing, and deployment of preventive as well as therapeutic agents in at-risk groups as well as the general population.
Source: Eurekalert