COVID-19 Infection and Vaccination in Pediatric Demyelinating Diseases: Research Findings

Strategic Insights -

Children with demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated disease, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection. A new study published in Pediatric Neurology has found that COVID-19 vaccination does not increase the risk of neuroinflammatory events in children with demyelinating diseases. The research suggests that further studies are needed to understand the effects of COVID-19 infection and vaccination on children and adults with demyelinating diseases.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that 26% of children with demyelinating diseases had a known COVID-19 infection, with 10% of those infected being hospitalized.
  • None of the children hospitalized required intubation or ICU admission.
  • SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was not associated with any new onset or relapse neuroinflammatory events in the cohort.
  • Demyelinating diagnosis and anti-CD20 mAbs were associated with known SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Two participants had an initial clinical MS event associated with infection, but no association was found with SARS-COV-2 vaccination or infection with relapses.
  • The study concluded that larger multicenter studies are needed to prospectively compare how infection and vaccination affects children and adults with demyelinating diseases.

Statistics:

  • 116 children with demyelinating diagnoses were included in the study.
  • 30 out of 116 (26%) children had a known COVID-19 infection.
  • 3 out of 30 (10%) of those with known infection were hospitalized.
  • 2 out of 30 (7%) had neuroinflammatory events that occurred within four weeks of infection.
  • No children required intubation or ICU admission.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Investigators at Emory University Report Findings in COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection and Vaccination In Pediatric Demyelinating Diseases). Pediatrics Week. June 21, 2025; p 67.
  • Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection and Vaccination In Pediatric Demyelinating Diseases. Pediatric Neurology, 2025;168:13-16.