COVID-19 vaccine compliance in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Objective

To compare the rate of the administration of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccinations between adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and non-ADHD subjects.

Method

A retrospective chart review was performed on all adolescents aged 12–17 years registered at a central district in Israel from January 1^st 2021 to October 31^st 2021.

Results

Of the 46,544 subjects included in the study, 8241 (17.7%) were diagnosed with ADHD. Of them, 3% were PCR-COVID-19 positive. Among the patients with ADHD, the older adolescents were more likely to be vaccinated: 48.8% of those aged 12-15 years were vaccinated versus 59.6% of patients aged 16-17 years. The ultra-orthodox Jewish and Arab adolescents in the ADHD group were far less likely to be vaccinated (22.9% and 34.6%, respectively), compared to the adolescents with ADHD in the general population (60.5%). Girls were also somewhat more likely to be vaccinated.

Conclusions

Adolescents diagnosed with ADHD had a higher COVID-19 vaccination rate compared to their non-ADHD counterparts. The vaccine uptake was lower amongst Arab and ultra-orthodox Jewish populations.