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Full recommendations here

Summary

•       The risk and morbidity of acquiring COVID-19 appears to be relatively similar among healthy children and those with rheumatic diseases, pending prospect data collection

•       The new COVID -19 vaccines are approved by various health authorities for patients 5 years of age and older, and are recommended for pediatric rheumatic patients, as well.

•       PRES recommends that paediatric rheumatology patients should be vaccinated against COVID-19 using vaccines approved by relevant national health authorities for children in this age group.

 When using prednisone above 20 mg/day or above 0.5mg/kg/day consult the rheumatologist.

•       It is advised to consult your pediatric rheumatologist to assess your disease activity and medications before deciding about vaccination.

•       It is important to establish registries regarding the efficacy, immunogenicity and safety of COVID-19 vaccines for patients with pediatric rheumatic diseases.

•       The PReS vaccination study group is conducting an ongoing registry study that aims to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the COVID-19 vaccines among patients with childhood RD. So far there are no safety concerns following available data on about 100 patients.

•       It is advisable to adhere to the annual flu vaccine however; consider not  to give  the influenza vaccine together with the COVID-19 vaccine (best 2 weeks apart).

•       The vaccine will most likely protect the patient from getting a severe course of COVID-19, but it is still possible that vaccinated people can carry the virus and be contagious to others. Therefore, vaccinated patients should still wear masks and practice physical distancing, according to the local health guidelines.

•       A child who has recovered from COVID-19 can receive a vaccine at least 3 months after the day of full recovery. This is valid for the first vaccine dose as well as the second dose. In situations where a child had COVID-19 after receiving the first dose, the second dose can be given at least 3 months following the day of full recovery.

•       According to the local health authority a 3ed booster vaccine is recommended.

•       Following MISC it is suggested to vaccinate according to the local health authorities

•       Following MISC It is recommended to vaccinate after 6 months, following full clinical recovery, and normal cardiac function. If IVIG was not given as MISC therapy, consider to vaccinate after 3 months.

•       For children who had MISC following Covid vaccine, it is recommended to withhold further vaccination