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Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Transplantation Direct, 10(9), p. e1544, 2023

DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001544

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Vaccination in Kidney Transplant Candidates

Journal article published in 2023 by Kiran Gajurel ORCID, Tue Ngo, Robert T. Fairman ORCID, Lewis H. McCurdy
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Background: Kidney transplant (KT) candidates have historically low immunization rates against recommended vaccines. A retrospective single-center study of contemporary KT candidates was conducted to assess vaccination rates and vaccine uptake. Methods: All KT candidates ≥18 y evaluated between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed for history of prior vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis; 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; and recombinant zoster vaccine. Positive hepatitis A IgG total, hepatitis B surface antibody, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella IgG were assessed as surrogate markers of immunity. Vaccine uptake among vaccine-eligible candidates was also assessed. Results: Among 150 KT candidates, the rate of prior vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis; 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; and recombinant zoster vaccine (latter among patients ≥50 y) was found to be as low as 11%. Hepatitis A IgG total, hepatitis B surface antibody, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella IgG seropositivity rates were 30%, 66%, 88%, 78%, 90%, and 96%, respectively. Only 7 (5%) of 150 patients had complete immunization or seropositivity. Five (3%) of 143 vaccine-eligible patients declined vaccination. Hepatitis A vaccine declination was relatively common with 15 (16%) of 94 vaccine-eligible patients declining it. Conclusions: KT candidates have low baseline rates of prior immunization/seropositivity against most recommended vaccines. Overall vaccine uptake among eligible candidates was high.