Vaccination coverage in Polish solid organ transplant recipients

Being a solid organ transplant recipient is associated with increased risk for infections. Vaccinations are considered potent preventive procedures against numerous infections.

The subject of our study was to assess the vaccination coverage in solid organ transplant recipients remaining under the long-term post-transplant care at the largest Polish transplant center.

A questionnaire on realization of vaccinations included in the operative Polish Vaccination Programme was completed by adult recipients of solid organ transplantation during routine outpatient visits.

One hundred ten patients were included. In 18% of patients, vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has never been performed, and booster doses of the vaccine received 47% of patients. 15% of patients reported annual vaccination againts influenza, 30% has been vaccinated against influenza less often than anually, and in 55% vaccination against influenza has never been performed. In 7% of patients, vaccination against diphteria, tetanus and pertussis has been done within recent 10 years. 1 patient (1%) reported vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae. No patient reported vaccinations against Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, zoster, or RSV.

Our results show that solid organ transplant recipients are undervaccinated. Urgent actions are needed to improve the current state.