Characteristics of pediatric COVID-19 infections and the impact of influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations during the first two years of the pandemic

Abstract

The data regarding the demographics of SARS-CoV-2 in the pediatric population has been published based on several single-center experiences or on metanalyses over short time frames. This article reports data on the demographics of pediatric patients with COVID-19 on a global scale using the TriNetX COVID-19 Research Network. In addition, we examined the risk of COVID-19 infection in relation to the body mass index (BMI) category and the protective value of influenza and COVID-19 immunization against COVID-19 infection. The incidence of COVID-19 infection was higher in the younger age group (≤6 years old), but no gender differences. The incidence of COVID-19 infection was higher among African Americans/Black race (28.57%) White race (27.10%), and obese patients; across all age groups, all genders, all races, and ethnicities (p < 0.0001). The incidence of MIS-C was also higher in patients with obesity (OR 1.71, CI 1.36–2.14). We found that the patients who were neither vaccinated for COVID-19 nor influenza within one year before their COVID-19 diagnoses compared to those who received influenza vaccine only, had significantly higher odds for hospitalization (OR 1.19, CI 1.18–1.21), development of MIS-C (OR 1.52, CI 1.32–1.74), and more importantly mortality (OR 1.47, CI 1.26–1.71). In addition, those patients who were neither vaccinated for COVID-19 nor influenza within one year before their COVID-19 diagnoses, compared to those who received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, had significantly higher odds for hospitalization (OR 1.11, CI 1.04–1.19). However, those patients who did not receive the influenza vaccine within one year before their COVID-19 diagnoses nor received the COVID-19 vaccine had much higher odds for hospitalization (OR 1.46, CI 1.41–1.51), MIS-C (OR 3.72, CI 2.11–6.56), and mortality compared to those who received both vaccinations (OR 13.55, CI 1.91–9.62). Using the multiplicative interaction scale, we found a positive interaction between the COVID-19 vaccine and the influenza vaccine; they both combined have a larger effect than each separately. Our study is the largest of its kind (to date) examining the global demographic of the pandemic and the first of a kind to find a link between influenza vaccine and COVID-19-related hospitalization, MIS-C, and mortality in the pediatric population.