COVID-19 Vaccination for Children and Teens with Disabilities

Children and Teens with Disabilities Are at Increased Risk for Severe Illness from COVID-19

Many children and teens with disabilities have underlying medical conditions such as lung, heart, or kidney disease, a weakened immune system, cancer, obesity, diabetes, some blood diseases, or conditions of the muscular or central nervous system. Children and teens with one or more underlying medical condition are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Similarly, children and teens with developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, an intellectual disability, or autism, may be more likely to experience mental health conditions from social isolation. They can also experience barriers to getting needed health care and other support, and can have other characteristics that increase their risk of COVID-19, including:

• Limited mobility
• Need for important support services
• Challenges practicing preventive measures, such as wearing a mask
• Challenges communicating symptoms of Illness or being sick

Getting Children and Teens with Disabilities Vaccinated against COVID-19

The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks

• COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective at protecting against COVID-19 and preventing severe illness if infected.
  • In clinical trials, about 20% of children and teens who participated had an underlying medical condition.
• Some children and teens with a weakened immune system should get an additional dose of vaccine as part of their primary COVID-19 vaccination series.

Prepare all children and teens for the vaccination visit and use resources such as picture stories for support during and after vaccination.

After vaccination, parents and caregivers should continue following all current prevention measures recommended by CDC.