BCCA Advice for Patients COVID 19 vaccination in 12-15 year olds with Congenital Heart Disease

COVID 19 vaccination in 12-15 year olds with Congenital Heart Disease

Vaccination for 12-15 year olds with congenital heart disease

The Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation recently recommended that 12-15 year olds in specific risk categories should receive two doses of Covid-19 vaccine.  This advice can found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jcvi-statement-september-2021-covid-19-vaccination-of-children-aged-12-to-15-years/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-of-children-aged-12-to-15-years-3-september-2021#annex-a-jcvi-advice-on-vaccination-of-children-aged-12-to-15-years-with-underlying-health-conditions-31-august-2021

The risk categories included 12-15 year olds with “Haemodynamically significant congenital and acquired heart disease, or milder heart disease with other co-morbidity.” The 12-15 year olds who should be offered two doses of the Pfizer vaccine has been considered within the BCCA and includes:

- Single ventricle patients or those palliated with a Fontan (Total Cavo-Pulmonary Connection) circulation

- Those with chronic cyanosis (oxygen saturations <85% persistently)

- Patients with cardiomyopathy requiring medication

- Patients with congenital heart disease on medication to improve heart function

- Patients with pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) requiring medication

- Patients who have undergone heart transplantation

- Patients with congenital heart disease and significant co-existing conditions e.g. chronic kidney disease or chronic lung disease.

- Any patient who was previously classified as “clinically extremely vulnerable” and advised to shield

- Patients who have been advised to receive Covid 19 vaccination by their cardiologist because of their specific clinical situation.

The Chief Medical Officers of all nations of the United Kingdom have recommended that 12-15 year olds without associated health conditions should be offered vaccination against Covid – 19 with a single dose of vaccine (Pfizer vaccine). This is based on assessment of balance of medical and educational benefits of preventing severe Covid-19 infection versus rare potential side effects of vaccination.  12-15 year olds with congenital heart disease outside the risk groups outlined above should be offered a single dose of Covid-19 vaccination in the same way as those without associated risk factors.

BCCA  

14 September 2021

14 September 2021

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