COVID-19 Vaccines in Pancreatic Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Observative Study

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was a real test of doctors' abilities to adapt and respond to patients' needs. The course of infection varied from influenza-like symptoms to severe infections with multi-organ failure and death. Therefore, the possibility of vaccination against the COVID-19 virus brought great hope. Since 2004, 240 pancreas and pancreas with kidney (simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation, pancreas after kidney, pancreas transplants alone) transplants were performed in our center. Currently, 130 transplant patients are under the care of the transplant clinic. All patients were informed about the possibility of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 with the mRNA vaccine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the development of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in patients who had previously undergone transplantation. Fifty-three patients were vaccinated with the full double dose and 37 patients received an additional third dose. The level of antibodies in the IgM and IgG classes was assessed in patients' serum. The level of antibodies was assessed before administration of the vaccine and then after administration of the first and second doses. Most patients had no response to vaccination after 1 dose of the vaccine and 21 patients achieved therapeutic antibody levels after the full dose of vaccination. However, the highest titer of immunoglobulins was found in recipients who received the third dose. The use of vaccinations is safe and can protect the group of patients after pancreas transplantation from serious complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection despite the use of immunosuppressive drugs.