Heterologous high dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine booster may improve immune response in seronegative kidney transplant recipients

Leszek Tylicki; Bogdan Biedunkiewicz; Zuzanna Ślizień; Marta Muchlado; Alicja Dębska-Ślizień

doi:10.5114/aoms/150000

Heterologous high dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine booster may improve immune response in seronegative kidney transplant recipients

Arch Med Sci. 2022 Jun 23;18(4):1100-1102. doi: 10.5114/aoms/150000. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Leszek Tylicki¹, Bogdan Biedunkiewicz¹, Zuzanna Ślizień², Marta Muchlado², Alicja Dębska-Ślizień¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
² Medical students of the Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.

Abstract

Introduction: Three-dose mRNA vaccination against COVID-19 is unable to elicit a sufficient immune response in immunocompromised subjects.

Methods: The aim of the study was to conduct a retrospective evaluation of the efficacy of a heterologous mRNA booster with mRNA-1273 in constantly seronegative kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) after three doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Twelve seronegative KTRs received a mRNA-1273 booster 5 months after the third dose of BNT162b2.

Results: A total of 5 out of 12 patients (41.7%) seroconverted, with a mean titer of 353 BAU/ml.

Conclusions: The administration of a heterologous mRNA vaccine as a booster may be an effective alternative for achieving post-vaccination immunity in seronegative KTRs.

Keywords: COVID-19; humoral response; kidney transplant recipients; mRNA vaccine.