Abstract: PO0136
How Well Do Hemodialysis Patients Respond to the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine?
Session Information
- COVID-19: Vaccines, Diagnosis, and Treatment
November 04, 2021 | Location: On-Demand, Virtual Only
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 000 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Authors
- Carrera, Fernando, DaVita Kidney Care, Leiria, Portugal
- Costa, Joana Silva, DaVita Kidney Care, Leiria, Portugal
- Pereira, Luciano, DaVita Kidney Care, Leiria, Portugal
- Marques, Marco Alexandre, Affidea Laboratory, Lisbon, Portugal
- Spencer, Belarmino, DaVita Kidney Care, Leiria, Portugal
- Ferrer, Francisco, DaVita Kidney Care, Leiria, Portugal
Background
Hemodialysis patients as well as healthcare workers are considered to be in a high-risk category for SARS-CoV-2 infection and a priority for vaccination.
Methods
In a single-center out-patient hemodialysis unit, 46 healthcare workers and 216 patients were vaccinated simultaneously with BNT162b2 (BioNTech-Pfizer) vaccine. They received two doses, 21 days apart. The primary objectives were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
Results
There were no major adverse events in either group. Lymphadenopathy was reported by some health workers.
All (100%) individuals in the healthcare workers group developed a positive antibody response (anti-S IgG) after the second dose compared with 91.7% of patients.
Among patients there was a significant negative correlation between anti-S levels and age after both, the first dose (R= -0.176, p=0.01) and the second dose (R= -0.193, p=0.005); there was also a significant negative correlation between anti-S and Charlson Comorbidity Index adjusted for age after both, the first dose (R= -0.150, p=0.028) and the second dose (R= -0.163, p=0.018). Finally, a negative correlation between anti-S and Body Mass Index was found after the first dose (R= -0.140, p=0.04). No correlations were found with dialysis vintage, Kt/V, or diabetes.
Conclusion
Following vaccination, patients had a significantly lower anti-S response than healthcare workers. Age, Charlson Comorbidity Index and Body Mass Index negatively impacted the humoral response. However, with more than 91% response we believe that vaccination can be recommended strongly in the hemodialysis population.