I had a kidney transplant in 1981 from my dad who passed away in 2007. His kidney is now 91 yrs old! Two weeks ago I received a reply on my Mayo portal saying that both vaccines can be given to transplant patients. The vaccine will only be 65% effective, not 95%, on transplant patients. Communicate with you transplant team.

Here is info I received on my portal. Hope it helps
Dear Thomas Allyn Thulin,

On behalf of our Transplant Center we wanted to share the following FAQs about COVID-19 vaccines. There are still many unknowns, but vaccines offer a new tool to prevent COVID-19 infection.

When should transplant recipients or transplant candidates receive the vaccine?

Transplant candidates (patients waiting for transplant) should receive the vaccine as soon as it is available to them, as the antibody response is likely to be better before transplantation.

Transplant recipients (patients who have received a transplant) should receive the vaccine as soon as it is available, generally waiting 1-3 months after transplantation, depending on the type of anti-rejection medications received at the time of transplantation. If you have received treatment for rejection in the past 3 months please reach out to your transplant team for advice on timing of vaccination.

Different states will have different allocation plans for vaccine prioritization and distribution. In general, the first supplies of vaccine will be going to healthcare workers, skilled nursing facility workers and nursing facility residents. It is expected that other essential workers and high-risk patients (like transplant candidates and recipients) would be the next groups to be offered the vaccine, based on guidance from the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

Mayo Clinic does not yet have information on when the vaccine would be available for high-risk patients, but this information will be shared once details are known. Those who are able to obtain the vaccine locally, from the state they reside in, are encouraged to do so once the vaccine is available.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Multiple vaccines are undergoing clinical trials to evaluate their safety and efficacy. At this time, two vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) have been granted the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Authorization (FDA). Both of these vaccines are mRNA based, and require 2 doses to be effective.

These vaccines, similar to other common vaccines, can cause fevers, muscle aches, and headaches. Most of these effects are mild to moderate in severity, but some may be severe enough to briefly limit activities. These effects typically resolve within 1-2 days.

The safety of mRNA vaccines is still under investigation in solid organ transplant recipients. Based on their mechanism of action, they are unlikely to trigger rejection episodes, but we will continue to carefully monitor for any unexpected effects in transplant recipients.

Are these vaccines effective for transplant patients?

Both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines were very effective in a large group of people with essentially normal immune systems. No transplant recipients were included in these clinical trials. The effectiveness was similar in patients older than 65 years of age. Importantly, less severe disease was noted if a breakthrough infection occurred after vaccination. We do not know how long this protection will last after getting the vaccine and we do not know the efficacy of these vaccines in transplant patients. Solid organ transplant recipients may have a lower antibody response than those without transplants. More study is needed in this area. However, the expert consensus opinion from the American Society of Transplantation, the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the NIH is that transplant candidates and recipients should receive the vaccine.

Precautions after COVID vaccine for the transplant patients

It is possible that the vaccine is less effective in people who are getting immunosuppressive medications, like transplant recipients. Transplant patients and their families should continue practicing social distancing, use of face coverings when facing people outside of their households, and hand-washing as the most effective way of avoiding COVID-19 infection.

I hope this helps answer any questions that you have about the vaccine but please let us know if not. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help with.

Thank you for using Patient Online Services and have a great day.

Cassy Williams, RN, CCTC
Your Transplant Care Team

----- Message -----
From:Thomas Allyn Thulin
Sent:1/12/2021 9:24 AM CST
To:Katherine M Linnen
Subject:Non-Urgent Medical Question

Good Morning Katie,
Government just announced that those 65 and older should start being vaccinated for covid-19. My question to you is the vaccinations safe for transplant patients?

Look forward to your advice
Tom thulin

@cania I like your post regarding your transplant, your faith and your concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccination. I had a pancreas transplant 15 years ago at a transplant center other than Mayo. It has and continues to be my personal God given miracle. I am immune suppressed to protect the transplant which as you know presents its own challenges. Friends and family pointed out that these meds may be part of God’s miracle. Yes “He is good all the time & all the time He is good”. But He does work in mysterious ways.
Fast forward to the pandemic and the roll out of the vaccine. I received a notification from my transplant center that they recommended either the Moderna or the Pfizer vaccine for me. They were not offering to give it to me, nor did they have any advice on how, when or where I should get it. This transplant center was great for me 15 years ago but the care and follow up since then has not been satisfactory. It looks as though I may need dialysis or a kidney transplant at some point and I have switched to the Mayo system. I have gone there for 4 out of the past 5 years for pre-transplant evaluation. I’ve been approved & accepted for kidney transplant if/when the time comes. In the meantime of course the whole situation is in God’s hands. We are called to be good stewards of the gifts God has given us so I continue to practice good post transplant healthcare, follow guidelines for COVID-19 protection and pay attention to Mayo’s findings & advice regarding COVID vaccinations for the post transplant group. There are good links to articles & information here. Last but not least pray always. Blessings to you.