Safety of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in children with chronic kidney disease: a national population study from South Korea

Abstract

BackgroundIn South Korea, COVID-19 vaccination has been recommended to children since October 2021, targeting all teenagers aged 12-15 years, with emphasis on high-risk group including chronic kidney disease (CKD) pediatric patients. In this study, we aimed to assess the rate of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination in children with CKD in South Korea, using national cohort data. MethodsWe retrieved the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency-COVID19-National Health Insurance Service (K-COV-N) cohort data linked to the National Health Insurance System (NHIS) data, to calculate rate of purpura and other hemorrhagic conditions, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), myocarditis and/or pericarditis, and anaphylaxis incidence in children with CKD, after BNT162b2 vaccination. ResultsAmong the 2,078 children with CKD, 69.2% (n = 1,437) had received BNT-162b2 vaccine. Guillain-Barré syndrome and anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock did not occur during observed period. Purpura and hemorrhagic conditions were more frequent in the unvaccinated group (5/641 vs 1/1,437) while myocarditis/pericarditis was observed only in vaccinated group (0/641 vs 3/1437). The difference in the risk of any of these two events between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups was insigni cant. ConclusionsIn this national cohort study of children with CKD in Korea, we found no evidence of increased risk of adverse events following BNT162b2 vaccination. Our results provide the safety pro les of COVID-19 vaccine for patients with CKD.

COVID-19 vaccination among adolescents and young adults with chronic kidney conditions: a single-center experience

“…The risk of purpura, hemorrhagic conditions, or myocarditis/pericarditis was not higher in the vaccinated patients than in the unvaccinated patients. Guillain-Barre syndrome, Kawasaki disease/ MIS-C, and anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock were not observed in any patient [26]. An important limitation of that study was that only severe adverse effects were screened with the help of the International Classification of Disease codes, and the effects of the vaccine, such as exacerbation of immune-mediated disease, progression of CKD stage, and rejection in transplant patients, were not evaluated.…”