TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19 vaccination among individuals with autism spectrum disorder
T2 - A population-based study
AU - Weinstein, Orly
AU - Krieger, Israel
AU - Cohen, Arnon Dov
AU - Tzur Bitan, Dana
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors of this manuscript have no conflicts of interest to declare with regard to this manuscript. Other financial relations are as follows: Prof. Arnon Cohen received research grants from Janssen, Novartis, AbbVie and Sanofi. Prof. Arnon Cohen served as a consultant, advisor or speaker to AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Dexcel pharma, Janssen, Kamedis, Lilly, Neopharm, Novartis, Perrigo, Pfizer, Rafa, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi, Sirbal and Taro. Dr. Dana Tzur Bitan received a research grant from Pfizer and from the American Psychological Foundation. All other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding Information:
The authors of this manuscript have no conflicts of interest to declare with regard to this manuscript. Other financial relations are as follows: Prof. Arnon Cohen received research grants from Janssen , Novartis , AbbVie and Sanofi . Prof. Arnon Cohen served as a consultant, advisor or speaker to AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Dexcel pharma, Janssen, Kamedis, Lilly, Neopharm, Novartis, Perrigo, Pfizer, Rafa, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi, Sirbal and Taro. Dr. Dana Tzur Bitan received a research grant from Pfizer and from the American Psychological Foundation . All other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/11/1
Y1 - 2021/11/1
N2 - Background: Individuals with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) are more susceptible to COVID-19 morbidity and should therefore be prioritized for vaccination. Although individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities are given some priority in Israel, it is unclear to what extent individuals with ASD are being vaccinated relative to that of the general population. This study was aimed to assess vaccination prevalence among individuals with ASD. Method: Individuals with ASD, and age- and sex-matched controls (total n = 11,080), were assessed for prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination by February 2021, approximately a month and a half after the national vaccination distribution plan was launched in Israel. Data were obtained from the database of Clalit Health Services (CHS), the largest healthcare organization in Israel. Results: Individuals with ASD were more likely to be vaccinated for COVID-19 (OR = 2.55, 95 %CI 2.35–2.75, p <.001) across both sexes, but only in the 16–20 (OR = 2.04, 95 %CI 1.79–2.32, p <.001) and 21−40 (OR = 3.95, 95 %CI 3.52–4.43, p <.001) age groups. After adjusting for chronic illnesses, ASD remained significant in predicting the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusions: Efforts to prioritize ASD patients may improve vaccination prevalence among individuals with ASD, especially among younger individuals. Healthcare providers worldwide should therefore consider prioritization policies so as to increase vaccination rates among this vulnerable population.
AB - Background: Individuals with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) are more susceptible to COVID-19 morbidity and should therefore be prioritized for vaccination. Although individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities are given some priority in Israel, it is unclear to what extent individuals with ASD are being vaccinated relative to that of the general population. This study was aimed to assess vaccination prevalence among individuals with ASD. Method: Individuals with ASD, and age- and sex-matched controls (total n = 11,080), were assessed for prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination by February 2021, approximately a month and a half after the national vaccination distribution plan was launched in Israel. Data were obtained from the database of Clalit Health Services (CHS), the largest healthcare organization in Israel. Results: Individuals with ASD were more likely to be vaccinated for COVID-19 (OR = 2.55, 95 %CI 2.35–2.75, p <.001) across both sexes, but only in the 16–20 (OR = 2.04, 95 %CI 1.79–2.32, p <.001) and 21−40 (OR = 3.95, 95 %CI 3.52–4.43, p <.001) age groups. After adjusting for chronic illnesses, ASD remained significant in predicting the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusions: Efforts to prioritize ASD patients may improve vaccination prevalence among individuals with ASD, especially among younger individuals. Healthcare providers worldwide should therefore consider prioritization policies so as to increase vaccination rates among this vulnerable population.
KW - Autism spectrum disorder
KW - COVID-19
KW - Cohort
KW - Vaccination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85115109718&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101865
DO - 10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101865
M3 - Article
C2 - 34548878
AN - SCOPUS:85115109718
SN - 1750-9467
VL - 89
JO - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
JF - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
M1 - 101865
ER -
