Like adults, children with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of getting very sick compared to children without underlying medical conditions. For these children, it is even more important to provide the additional protection of getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Because we are still learning about COVID-19, all factors that may increase a child’s risk of severe illness are not known.
Examples of underlying conditions that increase the risk of severe disease in children six months to under five years: premature birth, heart and breathing conditions, neurological disorders, feeding tube dependence, hypertension, neurodevelopmental disorders, epilepsy/convulsions, obesity, chronic metabolic disease and immunosuppression.
Examples of underlying conditions that increase the risk of severe disease in children five to 11 years : genetic, neurologic, or metabolic conditions, congenital heart disease, obesity, diabetes, asthma/chronic lung disease (e.g., cystic fibrosis), sickle cell disease and immunocompromising conditions.
Children who have an underlying medical condition are at higher risk of getting very sick, severe disease including multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). MIS-C is a rare but serious complication that happens after having COVID-19 and generally requires hospital admission.