COVID-19 and Transplant Patients

I am a liver transplant recipiant and am wondering how safe these top 3 Covid injections are for transplants. I would like Mayo to make a statement on these as they do for other medicines as they do for other medicines. As we are immune compromised and may get offered a vaccine I would like to know ahead of time.

@jerrynord, - Jerry, I think that we are all (I know that I am) having similar concerns about COVID vaccine. We are fearful of it being rushed through trials and are concerned about its safety. I have complete confidence to place my trust in Mayo, and all of our esteemed transplant centers to give us the information and guidance that we will need when the vaccine is approved and available.

I would like to stress that there is a lot of confusing and conflicting information that is coming thru a variety of media and news outlets. To locate trustworthy, accurate, and current information go to sites like Mayo Clinic, CDC and FDA.

Thanks for this info. I am new to this Mayo group, having had a liver transplant August 1, 2020, just a few months ago. I have had these same concerns and will contact my transplant team when appropriate. So far, I have avoided COVID-19, but I am not currently working and taking precautions at the rare times I go out in public.

@pinkyj, Welcome to Mayo Connect and Congratulations on your recent liver transplant. To have received your transplant during the pandemic has to have been quite challenging for you.
On Connect, we are patients, and we support each other by sharing our experiences. I want to thank you for mentioning your intention to seek advice from your transplant team. We have members from a variety of transplant centers, and with a variety of conditions and transplanted organs, and there will probably be a range of directives for every individual circumstance.

Pinkyj, How are you managing with your new post transplant living? What is it like for you to recover during COVID19?
Do you have any questions that you would like to ask? You are welcome to join in any discussion at any time. If you add the members @name (as I added @pinkyj) that person will be notified.

Can anyone share if the Covid vaccines are safe for transplant patients? Are there any studies yet? Are we in the "vulnerable persons" category?

I'm also very curious about this, I haven't heard anything yet and I will admit I'm concerned that based on what I'm hearing that the type of method there using is to try to get our immune system to basically produse a immune response to attack the virus. My concern is will it also cause an attack on our transplanted organ which is why we take anti rejection meds. I'm thinking that even tho they are testing on a lot of people does that include people in our catagory.
Blessings
Dana

Hi Dana & @jolinda -
I too would be cautious about finding out the safety for transplant patients before taking the vaccine - I wonder if anyone in the Mayo transplant department knows if there have been transplant recipients included in any trial?
But my question is - since the purpose of all the vaccines like flu, shingles and pneumonia is to provoke an immune response, is the Covid-19 vaccine any different?
Sue

@sueinmn- Can I jump in here? This vaccine is different in that it introduces, for the first time ever on humans, the mRNA-based vaccine.(the molecule which tells cells what to build) genetic material called mRNA inside a special coating so other proteins won't attack it. Once produced within the body, the antigen is recognized by the immune system, preparing it to fight the real thing. mRNA can most easily be described as instructions for the cell on how to make a piece of the “spike protein” that is unique to SARS-CoV-2. Since only part of the protein is made, it does not do any harm to the person vaccinated but it is antigenic. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/hcp/mrna-vaccine-basics.html

DNA based vaccines use a weakened or synthetic material vs the mRNA which have the actual live virus. This is needed because SARS-CoV-2 is an unknown virus to our bodies and an immune reaction needs to be activated in order to make this happen.

Since I am not a science major I hopefully haven't mess this explanation up too badly!

Here is more information
http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/rna-vaccines-a-novel-technology-to-prevent-and-treat-disease/
https://www.phgfoundation.org/briefing/rna-vaccines

Like the rest of you, I am keeping an eye out for information about the COVID19 Vaccine and it's safety for transplant recipients.

I find confidence in recalling what was told to me during my annual post transplant check-up in June when I inquired about potential vaccines: "...the transplant experts are closely watching and studying vaccines for their effect on transplant patients". As I have said on many occasions, I trust Mayo to provide the information when the vaccines are approved. Until then, we wait patiently...and we can expect to continue waiting patiently while we Wash hands, Wear masks, and keep a Safe Distance. Isn't that what we learned at the beginning of out transplant living?

Here is a Mayo Clinic Podcast that explains about 2 of the vaccine candidates that are currently in the headlines. In the first part Dr. Poland explains about how the RNA vaccine will work and at the end is a helpful message about holiday baking! Grab a comfy seat while you learn and listen to the experts - How messenger RNA vaccines work
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/podcasts/newsfeed-post/how-messenger-rna-vaccines-work/

@merpreb and all I am concerned, also, about the vaccine. Not only for my for my husband who has had his kidney just over 4 years now, but for me with my autoimmune conditions. We will be watching this very closely. I don't have a lot of confidence in his nephrologist, and I will be asking my specialists next week.
Ginger