A recent study led by Nemours Children’s Health suggests that children aged 5 and older who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 may experience lower rates of asthma symptoms. The research team analyzed state-level data comparing parent-reported asthma symptoms in 2020 and 2021 to those in 2018 and 2019, taking into account various state-level variables.
According to the observational study, social distancing measures in 2020 were linked to decreased rates of emergency visits and hospitalizations for asthma in children. The study also found that COVID-19 vaccination played a role in reducing the individual-level risk of COVID-19 infection for both adults and children.
The average state-level rates of parent-reported asthma symptoms showed a decrease from 7.77% in 2018-2019 to 6.93% in 2020-2021, with a notable reduction of 0.85 percentage points. Additionally, the study revealed that for every 10 percentage point increase in COVID-19 vaccination coverage, the prevalence of childhood asthma symptoms decreased by 0.36 percentage points.
Lead author of the study, Dr. Matthew Davis, emphasized the importance of helping children avoid asthma flare-ups as it significantly impacts their quality of life. The findings of the study were published in JAMA Network Open this week, shedding light on the potential benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in reducing asthma symptoms in children.
