Trends in Well-Child Visits and Routine Vaccination among Children of U.S. Military Members: An Evaluation of the COVID-19 Pandemic Effects

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted administration of healthcare including well-child visits and routine vaccinations. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic disruption on childhood health maintenance: well-child visits and scheduled vaccinations. We queried the TRICARE Management Activity’s Military Health System (MHS) database for outpatient well-child visits and vaccinations for all children 0 to 23 months of age eligible for TRICARE healthcare. The median rate of well-child visits, during the COVID-19 period (March 2020–July 2021), was significantly declined for all demographic groups: all ages, parental military ranks, sex, and regions as compared to the pre-COVID-19 period (February 2019–February 2020). Similar to rates of well-child visits, the rate of vaccinations declined during the COVID-19 period as compared to the pre-COVID-19 period for all demographic groups, except children 12–23 months. Rates of well-child visits for military dependent children under 2 years of age were decreased during the 16 month COVID-19 period, with large increases seen in the first 2 months of the pandemic; the consequences of missed well-child visits and vaccination are unknown

Association of Autism Spectrum Disorders With Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a common neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown etiology. Studies suggest a link between autism and neonatal jaundice. A 1:3 matched case–control study was conducted with children enrolled in the Military Health System born between October 2002 and September 2009. Diagnostic and procedure codes were used for identifying ASD and hyperbilirubinemia. Two definitions for hyperbilirubinemia were evaluated: an inpatient admission with a diagnosis of jaundice and treatment with phototherapy. A total of 2917 children with ASD and 8751 matched controls were included in the study. After adjustment, there remained an association between ASD in children and an admission with a diagnosis of jaundice (odds ratio = 1.18; 95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.31; P = .001) and phototherapy treatment (odds ratio = 1.33; 95% confidence interval = 1.04-1.69; P = .008). Children who develop ASD are more likely to have an admission with a diagnosis of jaundice in the neonatal period and more likely to require treatment for this jaundice