Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Arkansas Over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence studies largely focus on adults, but little is known about spread in children. We determined SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children and adolescents from Arkansas over the first year of the coronavirus dise...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society 2022-06, Vol.11 (6), p.248-256
Main Authors: Boehme, Karl W, Kennedy, Joshua L, Snowden, Jessica, Owens, Shana M, Kouassi, Marianne, Mann, Ryan L, Paredes, Amairani, Putt, Claire, James, Laura, Jin, Jing, Du, Ruofei, Kirkpatrick, Catherine, Modi, Zeel, Caid, Katherine, Young, Sean, Zohoori, Namvar, Kothari, Atul, Boyanton, Bobby L, Craig Forrest, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Antibodies, Viral
Arkansas - epidemiology
Child
Child, Preschool
COVID-19 - epidemiology
COVID-19 Vaccines
Humans
Infant
Original
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Seroepidemiologic Studies
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Summary:Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence studies largely focus on adults, but little is known about spread in children. We determined SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children and adolescents from Arkansas over the first year of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods We tested remnant serum samples from children ages 1-18 years who visited Arkansas hospitals or clinics for non-COVID-19-related reasons from April 2020 through April 2021 for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We used univariable and multivariable regression models to determine the association between seropositivity and participant characteristics. Results Among 2357 participants, seroprevalence rose from 7.9% in April/May 2020 (95% CI, 4.9-10.9) to 25.0% in April 2021 (95% CI, 21.5-28.5). Hispanic and black children had a higher association with antibody positivity than non-Hispanic and white children, respectively, in multiple sampling periods. Conclusions By spring 2021, most children in Arkansas were not infected with SARS-CoV-2. With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, recognition of long-term effects of COVID-19, and the lack of an authorized pediatric SARS-CoV-2 vaccine at the time, these results highlight the importance of including children in SARS-CoV-2 public health, clinical care, and research strategies.
ISSN:2048-7207
2048-7193
2048-7207
DOI:10.1093/jpids/piac010