ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Please note that you are viewing an archived section from 2021 and some content may be unavailable. To unlock all content for 2021, please visit the archives.

Abstract: PO0131

Humoral Response to the BNT162b2 Vaccine in Hemodialysis Patients

Session Information

Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

  • 000 Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Authors

  • Yau, Kevin, University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Abe, Kento T., Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Perl, Jeffrey, University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Naimark, David M., University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Chan, Christopher T., University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Oliver, Matthew J., University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Colwill, Karen, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Gingras, Anne-Claude, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Hladunewich, Michelle A., University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background

Hemodialysis (HD) patients have high mortality from COVID-19 and immunity following vaccination remains uncertain. This study evaluated SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in HD patients following BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination compared to health care workers (HCW) and convalescent serum.

Methods

This single centre observational cohort study enrolled 142 HD patients and 35 HCW receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine. SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies to the spike protein (anti-spike), receptor binding domain (anti-RBD), and nucleocapsid protein (anti-NP) were measured in 66 HD patients receiving one vaccine dose, 76 HD patients receiving two vaccine doses, and 35 HCW receiving two vaccine doses.

Results

In HD patients receiving a single BNT162b2 dose, seroconversion occurred in 53/66 (80%) for anti-spike and 35/66 (55%) for anti-RBD by 28 days post dose, but only 15/66 (23%) and 4/66 (6%), respectively attained a robust response defined as reaching the median level of anti-spike and anti-RBD in convalescent serum. In patients receiving two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine, seroconversion occurred in 69/72 (96%) for anti-spike and 63/72 (88%) for anti-RBD by 2 weeks following the second dose while 52/72 (72%) and 43/72 (60%) reached median convalescent serum levels of anti-spike and anti-RBD. In HCW, 35/35 (100%) exceeded median levels of anti-spike and anti-RBD in convalescent serum 2-4 weeks post second dose.

Conclusion

This study found poor immunogenicity 28 days following a single dose of BNT162b2 vaccine in HD patients, supporting adherence to recommended vaccination schedules, and avoiding delay of the second dose in this population.

Figure 1: SARS-CoV-2 IgG Spike, RBD, and NP Antibody Response Following One Versus Two Dose BNT162b2 Vaccine in Hemodialysis Patients.

Funding

  • Government Support – Non-U.S.