3 COVID-19 vaccine doses can improve immunity in solid organ transplant recipients: Study

An extra boost of a vaccine may mean more protection for organ transplant recipients.

An extra boost of a vaccine may mean more protection for organ transplant recipients in their fight against COVID-19, a new study finds. Solid organ transplant recipients, including kidney, liver, heart and lungs, are part of a larger group of immunocompromised individuals, or those with weaker immune systems. Unlike the robust immune response and protection found in their immunocompetent counterparts, these individuals have been shown to have a blunted immune response when given COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. These clinical observations are not surprising. Immunocompromised individuals were excluded from studies of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Due to the administration of immune-modulating medications post-transplant, frequent procedures and multiple interactions with healthcare, transplant patients are more vulnerable to COVID-19. When combined with ineffective vaccination, these patients are further susceptible to breakthrough infections and dangerous complications.