Prevalence and correlates of influenza vaccination among kidney transplant patients

The coverage of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination among kidney transplant recipients and waiting list patients: A cross-sectional survey in Denmark

BACKGROUND

To characterize level and predictors of influenza and pneumococcal vaccine uptake among Danish kidney transplant recipients (KTR) and kidney transplant waiting list patients (WLP).

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey based on self-reported vaccine uptake including WLP and KTR ≤ 1½ years post transplantation. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses identifying factors associated with influenza vaccine uptake in the latest season were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 220 participants were included in the study, 54% KTR and 46% WLP. Self-reported influenza vaccine uptake in the latest season was overall 41.8%. Uptake of influenza vaccine on any prior season apart from the latest season was 53.2% and significantly higher among WLP than KTR (P = .007). Pneumococcal vaccine uptake was only 4% overall. The only factor positively associated with influenza vaccine uptake in the latest season was any prior influenza vaccine uptake (OR 5.79, CI95 2.44-13.76) (P < .001). Recommendations given by other persons (non-physician) were negatively associated with receiving the influenza vaccination in the latest season (OR 0.34, CI95 0.13-0.92) (P = .03). Reasons for not being vaccinated were primarily lack of information, perception of own good health, and fear of adverse reactions.

CONCLUSIONS

Influenza and pneumococcal vaccine uptakes were suboptimal among Danish WLP and KTR. Increased awareness about guidelines and physicians´ education are warranted.

Determinants of influenza vaccination among solid organ transplant recipients attending Sicilian reference center

Among solid organ transplant recipients, influenza infection is commonly associated with higher morbidity and mortality than immunocompetent hosts. Therefore, in these subjects influenza vaccination is of paramount importance. The main objective of the study was to assess compliance to vaccination and analyze factors associated with influenza vaccination of solid organ transplant recipients admitted to the Sicilian solid organ transplant Reference Center IRCCS-ISMETT in Palermo during 2014-2015 influenza season. Thirty one (37.8%) out of 82 solid organ transplant recipients were vaccinated against influenza. The main reason for vaccination refusal was fear of adverse reaction (n = 16, 31.4%), impaired health status (n = 14, 27.4%) and low vaccine efficacy (n = 10, 19.6%). Vaccinated solid organ transplant recipients compare with unvaccinated had smaller hospital admissions for infectious respiratory diseases (9.7% Vs 23.5%) during surveillance period. On multivariate analysis the factors positively associated with influenza vaccination were the advice of Reference Center physicians (OR 53.4, p < 0.001) and to perform vaccine against pneumococcus (OR 7.0, p = 0.016). This study showed that Reference Center physicians play a key role on vaccine communication and recommendation for patients at risk and it underlines the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in solid organ transplant recipients. However, it remains that, although physician advice resulted a strong determinant for vaccination, influenza vaccination coverage in this subset of population remains still unsatisfactory.

Influenza vaccine after pediatric kidney transplant: a Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium study

The main aim of this study was to compare the response to trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in children who received a kidney transplant and were on steroid-free versus steroid-based immunosuppression. Groups: 1. Kidney transplant recipients on steroid-free immunosuppression (n=27); 2. Kidney transplant recipients on steroid-based immunosuppression (n=39); 3. Healthy controls (n=21). Hemagglutination inhibition titers against 2007-2008 A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 and B strains were measured before and 8 weeks postvaccination. Postvaccination geometric mean titers to A/H1N1 were significantly lower among both transplant groups than controls (p=0.025 and 0.015, respectively). Postvaccination titers to H3N2 and B strains were not statistically different between groups. Proportions of participants developing seroprotection were not different among groups. Both kidney transplant groups seroconverted less than controls for A/H1N1 (p=0.0002) and were no different from controls for B. For A/H3N2, the steroid-free group had the weakest seroconversion (p=0.008), possibly due to mycophenolate-enhanced exposure and a younger age. Overall, children after kidney transplantation demonstrated a good serologic response to the inactivated influenza vaccine although somewhat lower than controls. Steroid-free immunosuppression did not seem to present an advantage in antibody response. Data on inactivated influenza vaccine safety and efficacy was collected and demonstrated absence of acute rejection or laboratory-proven influenza for 6 months postvaccination.