Page 75 - Proceeding of Plenary Abstract of Parallel Symposim

Covid-19 Vaccination in Children with Heart Disease: Any Evidence for Recommendation?

Tina Christina L. Tobing
Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Sumatera Utara/H.Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia
Abstract
Background Covid-19 has become a global pandemic. By Sep 14th 2021, there are 219 millions confirmed
cases with 4.5 millions mortality worlwide. Apart from its rapid transmission, respiratory infection (leading
to viral pneumonia and ARDS) as well as uncontrolled SARS-CoV-2 infection, which can trigger a cytokine
storm (overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by the immune system resulting in
multiorgan damage), in some patients has become major concern. In Indonesia, 1 in 9 confirmed Covid cases
are children and it also has the highest proportion of pediatric mortality in Asia Pacific. Objective To determine
any evidence recommendation Covid-19 vaccination in children with heart disease. Results Cardiovascular
disease is one of the frequently found comorbidity in Covid-19 patients (found in 7,5% of pediatric cases
in an Indonesian study) and it is associated with more severe Covid-19 and higher mortality. Children
with Covid-19 have also been reported to develop hyperinflammatory syndrome, termed as Multisystem
Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). This data indicate bidirectional interaction between Covid-19
and the cardiovascular system, but the mechanisms underlying this interaction remain elusive. By September
3rd 2021, more than a million Covid-19 vaccination doses have already been given in Indonesia. Since July
2021, Covid-19 vaccination for children aged 12-17 years had started. However, considering the lack of
proper clinical studies of these vaccine, data regarding the causal relationship between Covid-19 vaccination
and benefit for cardiac patients is still minimal. Conclusion Covid-19 and heart diseases both compromise
health in all aspects, individually and collectively, physically, psychologically, socially, and economically. We
will rely on using the best available evidence to discuss further Covid-19 vaccination in children with heart
disease in this presentation.

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