May 7, 2021

Antibody Response to MRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine among Kidney  Transplant Recipients – Prospective Cohort Study

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Vaccines and Immunity

Keywords (Tags): immunity, vaccine

• A study of kidney transplant recipients who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (N=308) found that  only 36% tested positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 2-4 weeks after receiving the second dose.  Factors associated with antibody detection included younger age, higher renal function, and  reduced immunosuppression. The authors note that although correlation between antibody levels  and protection has not been proven, detection of antibodies is much higher in non immunocompromised persons after receipt of the vaccine. These results may indicate a need for  additional booster doses, modified vaccine dosing, or mixing vaccine types to improve immune  response to vaccinations in transplant recipients. 

Rozen-Zvi et al. (May 2021). Antibody Response to MRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine among Kidney  Transplant Recipients – Prospective Cohort Study. Clinical Microbiology and Infection.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2021.04.028