The effect of COVID 19 vaccination on kidney recipients

Nearly one year from the onset of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, safe and effective vaccines began distribution around the world. This study aimed to assess the rate of COVID-19 disease among vaccinated kidney transplant patients and the types of symptoms found within them.

This cross-sectional study was performed at the transplant ward and Organ Procurement Unit of Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran. As a sample size, 159 cadavers' kidney recipients received two doses of the Sinopharm SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The required data were collected using a checklist via conducting a face-to-face interview.

The mean age of the vaccinated participants was 49.44 ± 13.87 years old. There were 73 (45.91%) vaccinated cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the study period, 18 cases (12.6%) occurred among fully vaccinated individuals, and 53 cases (33.3%) were among individuals who had received only one dose of vaccine. 45% of the fully vaccinated patients (received 2 doses vaccine) contracted SARS-CoV-2 from their families; 35% were infected through participation in social events (35%). There was a significant difference in disease severity levels between the fully vaccinated group and the one-dose vaccinated (p < 0.023). The severe disease occurred in 2 patients after vaccination, who were subsequently admitted to the hospital. There was a significant difference between the number of kidney transplant days and infection with SARS-CoV-2 before (P = 0.15) and after vaccination (p < 0.015).

Even after vaccination, kidney recipients are still at the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2. In addition to these results, the efficacy of vaccination in preventing death caused by SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed.