Vaccination for the post-kidney transplant population

Kidney transplant recipients are at high risk of contracting infections, some of which are considered vaccine-preventable, because of their highly immunosuppressed state. In this vulnerable group of patients, infection can lead to poor outcomes including graft failure and death, thus vaccination in the posttransplant population is an important strategy in order to mitigate this risk. The present review is aimed at providing an update on recent advances with respect to vaccination strategies in kidney transplant recipients.

General principles behind vaccination in kidney transplantation have remained consistent over many years. More recently, efforts have been focused on developing newer strategies for vaccination against influenza and herpes zoster in organ transplant recipients. Newer data on the immunogenicity of vaccines directed against pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus, and hepatitis B virus in kidney transplant recipients have become available and will also be discussed in the present review.

Kidney transplant recipients are highly-vulnerable to contracting serious infections by way of their immunosuppressed state and their dampened ability to mount an immunogenic response to vaccines. Thus, ongoing advances in vaccination strategies in this group of patients should be an important area of focus of future research in order to help promote healthier living and greater survival postkidney transplant.