COVID-19 vaccination among individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A population-based study.
Autism priority policies doubled COVID-19 vaccination rates, so similar fast-track rules could fix other service gaps.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Kerub et al. (2021) looked at COVID-19 shots in Israeli adults with autism.
They matched each adult with autism to a similar adult without autism.
Then they compared who got the vaccine first.
What they found
People with autism were 2.55 times more likely to get the shot.
The biggest gap was in adults aged 21-40.
Autism priority rules worked: the group needing extra help actually got it faster.
How this fits with other research
Brian et al. (2022) also found better reach when they moved parent training online.
Both studies show that creative delivery can widen service access for autism families.
Ebrahim et al. (2021) looked at Saudi moms of kids with autism.
They found friend support helped mothers grow after the diagnosis.
Together the papers paint one picture: when services meet families where they are—online, through friends, or via vaccine priority—people with autism benefit.
Why it matters
You now have proof that policy can beat the access gap.
If your state adds autism to a priority list, uptake can jump.
Use this fact when you talk to schools, clinics, or health boards.
Push for the same priority logic for flu shots, dental cleanings, or any service that often skips adults with autism.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Individuals with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) are more susceptible to COVID-19 morbidity and should therefore be prioritized for vaccination. Although individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities are given some priority in Israel, it is unclear to what extent individuals with ASD are being vaccinated relative to that of the general population. This study was aimed to assess vaccination prevalence among individuals with ASD. METHOD: Individuals with ASD, and age- and sex-matched controls (total n = 11,080), were assessed for prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination by February 2021, approximately a month and a half after the national vaccination distribution plan was launched in Israel. Data were obtained from the database of Clalit Health Services (CHS), the largest healthcare organization in Israel. RESULTS: Individuals with ASD were more likely to be vaccinated for COVID-19 (OR = 2.55, 95 %CI 2.35-2.75, p < .001) across both sexes, but only in the 16-20 (OR = 2.04, 95 %CI 1.79-2.32, p < .001) and 21-40 (OR = 3.95, 95 %CI 3.52-4.43, p < .001) age groups. After adjusting for chronic illnesses, ASD remained significant in predicting the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to prioritize ASD patients may improve vaccination prevalence among individuals with ASD, especially among younger individuals. Healthcare providers worldwide should therefore consider prioritization policies so as to increase vaccination rates among this vulnerable population.
Research in autism spectrum disorders, 2021 · doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00256-X