Journal article
International Practices on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Transplant Candidates
KIDNEY360, Vol.3(10), pp.1754-1762
10/27/2022
DOI: 10.34067/KID.0004062022
PMCID: PMC9717656
PMID: 36514724
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created unprecedented challenges for solid organ transplant centers worldwide. We sought to assess an international perspective on COVID-19 vaccine mandates and rationales for or against mandate policies. Methods We administered an electronic survey to staff at transplant centers outside the United States (October 14, 2021-January 28, 2022) assessing the reasons cited by transplant centers for or against implementing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Each responding center was represented once in the analysis. Results Respondents (N590) represented 27 countries on five continents. Half (51%) of responding transplant center representatives reported implementing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, 38% did not, and 12% were unsure. Staff at centers implementing a vaccine mandate cited efficacy of pretransplant vaccination versus post-transplant vaccination, importance for public health, and minimiting exposure of other patients as rationale for the mandate. Of centers with a mandate, the majority (81%) of the centers mandate vaccination regardless of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection status and regardless of prevaccination spike-protein antibody titer or other markers of prior infection. Only 27% of centers with a vaccine mandate for transplant candidates also extended a vaccine requirement to living donor candidates. Centers not implementing a vaccine mandate cited concerns for undue pressure on transplant candidates, insufficient evidence to support vaccine mandates, equity, and legal considerations. Conclusions The approach to pretransplant COVID-19 vaccination mandate policies at international transplant centers is heterogeneous. International transplant centers with a vaccine mandate were more willing to extend vaccine requirements to candidates' support persons, cohabitants, and living donors. Broader stakeholder engagement to overcome vaccine hesitancy across the world is needed to increase the acceptance of pretransplant COVID-19 vaccination to protect the health of transplant patients.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- International Practices on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Transplant Candidates
- Creators
- Yasar Caliskan - St Louis Univ, Ctr Abdominal Transplantat, St Louis, MO 63103 USABenjamin E. Hippen - Fresenius Medical CareDavid A. Axelrod - University of IowaMark A. Schnitzler - St Louis Univ, Ctr Abdominal Transplantat, St Louis, MO 63103 USAKennan Maher - St Louis Univ, Ctr Abdominal Transplantat, St Louis, MO 63103 USATarek Alhamad - Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineNgam N. Lam - University of CalgarySiddiq Anwar - Sheikh Shakhbout Medical CityVivek Kute - Dr HL Trivedi Inst Transplantat Sci, Ahmadabad, Gujarat, IndiaKrista L. Lentine - St Louis Univ, Ctr Abdominal Transplantat, St Louis, MO 63103 USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- KIDNEY360, Vol.3(10), pp.1754-1762
- Publisher
- Amer Soc Nephrology
- DOI
- 10.34067/KID.0004062022
- PMID
- 36514724
- PMCID
- PMC9717656
- ISSN
- 2641-7650
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- R01DK120518 / National Institutes of Health; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA Mid-America Transplant/Jane A. Beckman Endowed Chair in Transplantation
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/27/2022
- Academic Unit
- Surgery
- Record Identifier
- 9984322772302771
Metrics
10 Record Views