Simone Cesaro, Paola Muggeo, Daniele Zama, Monica Cellini, Katia Perruccio, Antonella Colombini, Francesca Carraro, Maria Grazia Petris, Valeria Petroni, Maurizio Mascarin, Francesco Baccelli, Elena Soncini, Rosamaria Mura, Milena La Spina, Nunzia Decembrino, Roberta Burnelli, Stefano Frenos, Elio Castagnola, Maura Faraci, Cristina Meazza, Federica Barzaghi, Maria Rosaria D’Amico, Maria Capasso, Elisabetta Calore, Ottavio Ziino, Angelica Barone, Francesca Compagno, Laura Luti, Federica Galaverna, Raffaella De Santis, Letizia Brescia, Linda Meneghello, Angelamaria Petrone, Nagua Giurici, Daniela Onofrillo, Fabian Schumacher, Federico Mercolini, Cesaro S., Muggeo P., Zama D., Cellini M., Perruccio K., Colombini A., Carraro F., Petris M.G., Petroni V., Mascarin M., Baccelli F., Soncini E., Mura R., La Spina M., Decembrino N., Burnelli R., Frenos S., Castagnola E., Faraci M., Meazza C., Barzaghi F., D'amico M.R., Capasso M., Calore E., Ziino O., Barone A., Compagno F., Luti L., Galaverna F., De Santis R., Brescia L., Meneghello L., Petrone A., Giurici N., Onofrillo D., Schumacher F., and Mercolini F.
Vaccines represent the best tool to prevent the severity course and fatal consequences of the pandemic by the new Coronavirus 2019 infection (SARS-CoV-2). Considering the limited data on vaccination of pediatric oncohematological patients, we developed a Consensus document to support the Italian pediatric hematological oncological (AIEOP) centers in a scientifically correct communication with families and patients and to promote vaccination. The topics of the Consensus were: SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease (COVID-19) in the pediatric subjects; COVID-19 vaccines (type, schedule); who and when to vaccinate; contraindications and risk of serious adverse events; rare adverse events; third dose and vaccination after COVID-19; and other general prevention measures. Using the Delphi methodology for Consensus, 21 statements and their corresponding rationale were elaborated and discussed with the representatives of 31 centers, followed by voting. A high grade of Consensus was obtained on topics such as the potential risk of severe COVID-19 outcome in pediatric oncohematological patients, the need for vaccination as a preventative measure, the type, schedule and booster dose of vaccine, the eligibility of the patients for vaccination, and the timing, definition, and management of contraindications and serious adverse events, and other general prevention measures. All 21 of the statements were approved. This consensus document highlights that children and adolescents affected by hematological and oncological diseases are a fragile category. Vaccination plays an important role to prevent COVID-19, to permit the regular administration of chemotherapy or other treatments, to perform control visits and hospital admissions, and to prevent treatment delays.