INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE
Below is a snippet of the full responses, which you can access here.
This content has been modified for the Australian context from the document: Mitochondrial Medical Society Response to COVID-19 Vaccine (11 January 2021)
Patients with mitochondrial disease (mito) and their families have many questions about the new COVID-19 vaccine, including whether to take it, the potential risks and benefits and whether people with mito will be prioritised.
Although we are continuing to learn more about COVID-19, there is still much uncertainty about risks of COVID-19 in people with mito. At this time, there are still few reported children and adults with mito who have had COVID-19 based on worldwide registries. While some of the few reported to have had COVID-19 may have had significant problems, we do not have any evidence to believe or suspect that the frequency of poor outcome following COVID-19 infection is out of proportion to that in the general population.
The Therapeutic Drugs Administration (TGA) has approved two vaccines for roll-out in Australia, the Pfizer/BioNTech and the AstraZeneca vaccines. Although these two vaccines have been approved for individuals aged 16 years (Pfizer/BioNTech) or 18 years (AstraZeneca) and older, it is understood that the vaccine will be offered to all Australians.
The Australian COVID vaccination roll-out program link provides up to date information and contact details should you have additional questions.
It is important to remember that even with vaccines becoming available, the best measures to prevent COVID-19 spread remain the current infection control procedures:
- keep wearing your mask as directed by local authorities
- wash your hands
- avoid large gatherings
- remember social distancing
The vaccine does not replace these important safety measures.
The accompanying frequently asked questions document may be of help to you. You can also view a web-friendly version here.
Please also refer to the third-party resources listed below
If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your medical team.
Support Services
Our dedicated Patient Pathways Nurse will help with your care needs, including emergency planning and at-home care plan.
Call the Mito Helpine to talk to a support officer for general advice, assistance in seeking a referral or more information on Mito Foundation support services.
We encourage members to share their day-to-day experiences with mito, tips and advice on living with mito and ask about others’ experiences.
We have increased the frequency of our Mito Connect Calls to help address the community's concerns around COVID-19
Latest Information and Advice
It is important to follow the advice of the Federal and State health departments. Below are links to the relevant department website, please visit these sites occasionally as information is updated frequently. For specific concerns around your health and wellbeing, please refer to your general practitioner or specialist
For 24-hour support please call the National Coronavirus Helpline: 1800 020 080
Mito Foundation Resources
Third-party Resources
Vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccines
- Information for people with disability about COVID-19 vaccines
- Mitochondrial Medicine Society's Response to COVID19 Vaccine
Mental Health and Wellbeing:
- Head To Health - Australian Government's digital wellbeing platform
- Black Dog Institute - resources for Coronavirus anxiety, stress and wellbeing
For Families:
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Support
Practical Tips
We will continue to update this page as new information and resources become available.