Summary: Early reluctance to accept COVID-19 vaccination within the autism community declined over time. After FDA approval, most caregivers and dependents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) went on to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Nonetheless, persistent, general vaccine-hesitant beliefs continued to shape decisions for a minority of caregivers. Recent evidence also indicates that people on the autism spectrum face higher risks of hospitalization from COVID-19, while historically a notable share of parents of children with ASD have been more likely than the general population to delay or decline routine childhood immunizations.
Source: Pediatric Academic Societies
A recent study explored the factors linked to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and uptake within the autism community. These findings are scheduled for presentation at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2022 Meeting, held April 21–25 in Denver.
People with autism spectrum disorder are reported to have an increased risk of hospitalization following COVID-19 infection. Vaccination reduces both the chance of contracting COVID-19 and the likelihood of severe outcomes. At the same time, long-standing patterns of vaccine hesitancy among some parents of children with ASD have led to higher rates of delayed or declined childhood vaccinations in this population compared with the general public.
This study tracked attitudes and decisions over time and found that initial hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines diminished. After vaccines received FDA approval, a majority of caregivers chose to have their dependents with ASD vaccinated. The research team also noted that deeply held beliefs opposing vaccines in general — not beliefs only about the COVID-19 vaccine — remained a decisive factor for a smaller subset of caregivers, influencing whether they ultimately accepted vaccination for their children or dependents.
“We conducted this study to better understand how baseline vaccine hesitancy in the autism community, which is higher than the general population, was impacting parent decision-making about COVID-19 vaccines,” said J. Kiely Law, MD, MPH, director of research operations at SPARK, a Simons Foundation autism research initiative. The research aimed to identify whether initial skepticism persisted, shifted, or resolved as more information and official approvals became available.
Dr. Law emphasized the clinical importance of these findings: “This was especially important to understand since other studies were finding that children with developmental disabilities, like autism, were at increased risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19. Getting children vaccinated was critical to reducing this risk.” The study’s longitudinal view helped reveal how attitudes evolved over months, and how many caregivers ultimately chose vaccination to better protect their family members with ASD.
Dr. Law added: “Early on, 60% of parents were hesitant about their child receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Ten months later, it was reassuring to see that the majority of parents in our study made the decision for their child with autism to get vaccinated.” This change highlights the potential impact of clear communication, regulatory decisions, and the broader accumulation of safety and effectiveness data over time.
About this COVID-19 vaccines and autism research news
Author: PAS 2022 Meeting
Source: Pediatric Academic Societies
Contact: PAS 2022 Meeting – Pediatric Academic Societies
Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: The study’s findings will be presented at the PAS 2022 Meeting.
Taken together, these results offer important insight for clinicians, public health officials, and advocacy groups working with the autism community. Understanding both the concerns that drive hesitancy and the factors that encourage vaccine uptake can guide targeted education and outreach efforts. While most caregivers ultimately accepted COVID-19 vaccination for dependents with ASD after regulatory approval and additional information became available, the persistence of broader anti-vaccine beliefs in a minority underscores the ongoing need for respectful, evidence-based conversations tailored to families’ specific concerns and circumstances.