Side Effects Following COVID-19 Vaccination in Pediatric Patients with
Sickle Cell Disease
Abstract
Vulnerable patient populations have seen decreased rates of vaccination
against SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) due to hesitancies and distrust, magnified
by a paucity of data for certain populations. The rates of COVID-19
vaccination in children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) remains low
despite the risk for severe complications, resulting in continued
infections and hospitalizations from COVID-19. We sought to describe
vaccine reactions including vaso-occlusive crises, emergency department
visits, and hospitalizations in children with SCD. Our findings will
start to provide the necessary vaccine side effect data to inform
patients, caregivers, and clinicians considering the COVID-19 primary
vaccination series.