JAMA Netw Open

Did COVID-19 vaccination result in decreased childhood asthma symptoms?

July 24, 2024

This cross-sectional study found that higher COVID-19 vaccination rates may confer protection against symptomatic asthma among children. This finding further supports vaccination recommendations, particularly in those with comorbid conditions like asthma.

• Researchers used state-level data regarding parent-reported current asthma symptom prevalence in their children; age-adjusted COVID-19 mortality rates and proportion of population ≥5 years of age who completed the COVID-19 primary vaccination series; and state face mask requirements in enclosed spaces through August 2021.
• Mean state-level prevalence of parent-reported childhood asthma symptoms decreased from 7.77% in 2018-2019 to 6.93% in 2020-2021 (P < .001). The absolute mean change score was −0.85% points. The mean age-adjusted state-level COVID-19 mortality rate was 80.3 per 100,000 population in 2020, increasing to 99.3 in 2021. The mean state-level COVID-19 primary series vaccination rate through December 2021 was 72.3%.
• With each increase of 10% points in COVID-19 vaccination coverage, parent-reported child asthma symptom prevalence decreased by 0.36% points (P = .04). Parent-reported child asthma symptom prevalence was not associated with state-level COVID-19 mortality or with face mask requirements. State-level COVID-19 vaccination rates were inversely correlated with the state-level COVID-19 mortality rate in 2021 but not in 2020 and were positively correlated with face mask mandates.

Source:

Davis MM, et al. (2024, July 1). JAMA Netw Open. COVID-19 Vaccination and Parent-Reported Symptomatic Child Asthma Prevalence. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38958981/