NOTTO COVID-19 vaccine guidelines for transplant recipients
Vasanthi Ramesh, Vivek B. Kute, SanjayK Agarwal, Jai Prakash, Sandeep Guleria, Sunil Shroff, Ashish Sharma, Prem P. Varma, Narayan Prasad, Manisha Sahay, Subhash Gupta, S Sudhindran, Kewal Krishan, Sunil Kumar
Abstract
In December 2019, novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection started in Wuhan and resulted in a pandemic within a few weeks' time. Organ transplant recipients being at a risk for more severe COVID-19 if they get SARS CoV-2 viral infection, COVID-19 vaccine has a significant role in these patients. The vaccine is a safer way to help build protection and would either prevent COVID-19 infection or at least diminish the severity of the disease. It would also reduce the risk of the continuing transmission and enhance herd immunity. Immuno-compromised patients should not receive live vaccines as they can cause vaccine-related disease and hence the guidelines suggest that all transplant recipients should receive age-appropriate 'inactivated vaccine' as recommended for general population. Though trials have not been undertaken on transplant recipients, efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccine have been scientifically documented for few vaccines among the general population.