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 2022 and some content may be unavailable. To unlock all content for 2022, please visit the archives.

Abstract: FR-PO835

Importance of Dedicated Outreach Program to Facilitate COVID-19 Vaccination in Kidney Transplant Patients

Session Information

Category: Transplantation

  • 2002 Transplantation: Clinical

Authors

  • Shahmoradi, Arezou, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Hopman, Wilma M., Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Lacey, Margaret, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Donelle, Jessy, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Witton, Natalie, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Van Manen, Lori N., Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Silver, Samuel A., Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Shamseddin, M. Khaled, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Background

Transplant patients are at high risk of COVID-19 infection and its complications. Timely vaccination in this population is important. To achieve this, we launched an Outreach Program (OP) and a Vaccine Clinic (VC) for transplant patients in early April 2021, as part of Canadian phase II roll out policy.

Methods

We started an Outreach Program at our clinic in April 2021 that consisted of a clinical clerk, a nurse and a transplant nephrologist in conjunction with a VC, located separately from the Transplant Clinic, at either hospital site designated for transplant patients . Patients were assessed for vaccination eligibility by the transplant team, consented by phone by the nurse, and then booked in the VC and notified by the clerk prior to their vaccination appointment. Vaccination statuses were assessed on regular intervals up until April 15th, 2022. Time between doses in patients who received their vaccinations at the OP versus those who got vaccinations elsewhere (External Vaccination–EV) were compared using the Mann-Whitney Test.

Results

213 adults kidney transplant patients [Age 57±14 year, female (35.7%), Caucasian (89.7%)] are followed in our clinic. By April 15th, 2022, 207 (97.2%) patients received their 1st vaccination, 204 (95.8%) received 2nd dose, 179 (84%) received 3rd dose and 152 (71.4%) received 4th dose. Vaccination was facilitated through the OP for 145 (70%), 165 (80.9%), 171 (95.5%), and 152 (100%) of patients for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th doses, respectively. The time interval between doses was shorter when vaccination was facilitated by the OP compared with EV [1st and 2nd doses: 23 (21-24) vs. 35 (26-67) days, P <0.001; 2nd and 3rd doses: 106 (98-126) vs. 134 (102-173) days, P =0.046]. The 4th dose was exclusively provided to our eligible patients through the OP with a median interval of 153 (140-158) days from the 3rd dose.

Conclusion

An Outreach Program for kidney transplant patients shortened the time between COVID-19 immunizations compared with external vaccination.