Children and young people with disabilities are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19
Many children and young people with disabilities have underlying medical conditions such as lung disease, heart disease, kidney disease, weakened immune systems, cancer, obesity, diabetes, some blood disorders, and muscle or central nervous system disorders. Children and young people with one or more underlying medical conditions are more likely to become seriously ill with COVID-19.
Similarly, children and young people with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and autism are more likely to suffer from mental illness due to social isolation, may experience barriers to accessing the medical care and other supports they need, and may have other characteristics that put them at higher risk of COVID-19, such as:
They have limited mobility; They need important support services; They have difficulty practicing preventative measures, such as wearing a mask; They have difficulty communicating symptoms of illness or feeling unwell.
Vaccinating children and young people with disabilities against COVID-19
The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks
COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 infection and severe illness if infected. In clinical trials, about 20% of children and young people who participated had underlying medical conditions. Some children and young people with weakened immune systems may need to receive a booster vaccination as part of their primary COVID-19 vaccination.
Prepare all children and teens for their vaccination visit and use resources such as picture stories to support them during and after their vaccination.
After vaccination, parents should continue to follow all current precautions recommended by the CDC.