COVID-19 vaccination timing and kidney transplant waitlist management: An international perspective

Yasar Caliskan; David Axelrod; Alexis Guenette; Ngan N Lam; Vivek Kute; Tarek Alhamad; Mark A Schnitzler; Krista L Lentine

doi:10.1111/tid.13763

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COVID-19 vaccination timing and kidney transplant waitlist management: An international perspective

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

COVID-19 vaccination timing and kidney transplant waitlist management: An international perspective

Yasar Caliskan, David Axelrod, Alexis Guenette, Ngan N Lam, Vivek Kute, Tarek Alhamad, Mark A Schnitzler and Krista L Lentine

Transplant infectious disease, Vol.24(1), pp.e13763-n/a

02/2022

DOI: 10.1111/tid.13763

PMCID: PMC8646503

PMID: 34796585

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Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for solid organ transplant programs worldwide. The aim of this study is to assess an international perspective on challenges faced by kidney transplant programs. We administered an electronic survey instrument from January 3, 2021 to June 8, 2021 to staff at transplant programs outside the United States that comprised of 10 questions addressing the management of kidney transplant candidates with asymptomatic COVID-19 infection or unvaccinated who receive an organ offer. Respondents (n = 62) represented 19 countries in five continents. Overall, 90.3% of respondents encourage vaccination on the waiting list and prior to planned living donor transplant. Twelve percent of respondents reported that they have decided to inactivate unsensitized candidates (calculated panel reactive antibody, cPRA <80%) until they received the two doses of vaccination, and 7% report inactivating candidates who have received their first vaccine dose pending receipt of their second dose. The majority (88.5%) of international respondents declined organs for asymptomatic, nucleic acid testing (NAT)+ patients during admission without documented prior infection. However, 22.9% of international respondents proceeded with kidney transplant in NAT+ patients who were at least 30 days from initial diagnosis with negative chest imaging. Practitioners in some countries are less willing to accept deceased donor organs for waitlist candidates with incomplete COVID-19 vaccination status and to wait longer before scheduling living donor transplant, compared to United States practices. Access to vaccinations and other resources may contribute to these differences. More research is needed to guide the optimal approach to vaccination before and after transplant.

COVID-19

COVID-19 Vaccines

Humans

Internationality

Kidney Transplantation - adverse effects

SARS-CoV-2

United States

Vaccination

Waiting Lists

Details

Title: Subtitle: COVID-19 vaccination timing and kidney transplant waitlist management: An international perspective
Creators: Yasar Caliskan - Saint Louis University
David Axelrod - University of Iowa
Alexis Guenette - Saint Louis University
Ngan N Lam - University of Calgary
Vivek Kute - Institute of Transplantation Sciences
Tarek Alhamad - Washington University in St. Louis
Mark A Schnitzler - Saint Louis University
Krista L Lentine - Saint Louis University Center for Abdominal Transplantation, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Transplant infectious disease, Vol.24(1), pp.e13763-n/a
DOI: 10.1111/tid.13763
PMID: 34796585
PMCID: PMC8646503
NLM abbreviation: Transpl Infect Dis
ISSN: 1398-2273
eISSN: 1399-3062
Grant note: R01DK120518 / NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 02/2022
Academic Unit: Surgery
Record Identifier: 9984322942202771

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