Single dose SARSCoV-2 vaccine not adequate for dialysis patients:CMAJ
In a recent development, new research in Canadian Medical Association Journal has shown that most hemodialysis patients do not develop adequate antibodies after their first dose of SARSCoV-2 vaccine.
"We advise that the second dose of the BNT162b2 [Pfizer] vaccine be administered to patients receiving hemodialysis at the recommended 3-week time interval, and that rigorous SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control measures be continued in hemodialysis units until vaccine efficacy is known," elaborates Dr. Rita Suri, a nephrologist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, with coauthors.
Patients receiving hemodialysis are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 as they must leave their homes three times a week for dialysis at a health care facility, and case fatality rates are 20%–30%, which is 10 times higher than in the general population.
The study included 154 patients receiving hemodialysis in Quebec (135 without and 19 with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection), 40 healthy volunteers (20 without and 20 with prior SARS-CoV2 infection) and convalescent plasma from 16 dialysis patients who survived COVID-19. Researchers measured antibody levels in the participants and found dialysis patients who were never previously exposed to COVID-19 had lower antibody levels than participants in the two control groups, even up to 8 weeks later.
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.