J Korean Med Sci.  2023 Aug;38(32):e248. 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e248.

COVID-19 Vaccination Status Among Korean Pediatric Population With Comorbidities

• Shin A
• Kim DW
• Kim YE
• Kim DR
• Jung J
• Kim YJ

• KMID: 2545200
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e248

Abstract

The pediatric population with comorbidities is a high-risk group for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As of January 2023, the COVID-19 vaccination rate for at least two doses among Korean children 5–11 years is low at 1.1%. We summarized the COVID-19 vaccination status for the pediatric population (5–17 years) with comorbidities through July 2022 using the National Health Insurance Service database. Pediatric patients with comorbidities had higher vaccination rates than the general pediatric population (2.4% vs. 1.1% in 5–11-year-olds [P < 0.001], 76.5% vs. 66.1% in 12–17-year-olds [P < 0.001]). However, there were substantial differences according to comorbidity category, and the 2-dose vaccination rate was lowest among children with immunodeficiency in all age groups (1.1% in 5–11-year-olds, 51.2% in 12–17-year-olds). The COVID-19 vaccination rate among Korean children has remained stagnant at a low proportion despite ongoing outreach. Thus, more proactive strategies are needed alongside continuous surveillance.

Keyword

COVID-19 Vaccine; Children; Comorbidity

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Differential tendency of COVID-19 vaccination rates for comorbidity categories.(A) 5–11 years and (B) 12–17 years age groups.COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019.aThere is a significant difference between the maximum values of the graphs (10% vs. 100%).bThis indicates a significant difference between vaccination rates of pediatric population with comorbidities compared to that of total pediatric population in age groups via binomial distribution (P < 0.001).cThis indicates a significant difference between vaccination rates of each comorbidity category compared to that of total pediatric population in age groups via binomial distribution (P < 0.001).

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  Fig. 2 Differential tendency of COVID-19 vaccination rates for individual diseases including high-risk disorders.(A) Two-dose vaccination rates in 5–11 years. (B) Two-dose vaccination rates in 12–17 years. (C) Three-dose vaccination rates in 12–17 years.COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019.aThere are significant differences between the maximum values of the graphs (10% vs. 100% vs. 50%).bBronchopulmonary dysplasia was included for the 5–11-year-olds but was excluded for the 12–17-year-olds considering the disease epidemiology. In the same context, systemic connective tissue disorders were included in the 12–17-year-olds but were excluded for the 5–11-year-olds.cThis indicates a significant difference between vaccination rates of patients with each individual disease compared to that of total pediatric population in age groups via binomial distribution (P < 0.001).

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