Vaccination Strategies for a Liver Transplant Recipient

Patients with cirrhosis and liver transplant recipients are at increased risk of infections. Malnutrition, multiple hospital admissions, immune dysfunction related to cirrhosis, and immunosuppressive agents used for liver transplantation predispose the recipient to various life-threatening infections. Some of these infections are preventable with vaccines. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an accelerated research in vaccination technology and platforms, which in turn may also improve awareness of physicians regarding this healthy and often ignored aspect of management of patients with cirrhosis and transplant recipients. The organ transplant candidates should complete the recommended vaccination schedule as early as possible (especially patients with compensated cirrhosis) or at least during their pretransplant work-up so as to prevent or reduce the severity of various infections.