Third vaccine to boost antibodies against COVID infection?
Has anyone heard of or has information about transplanted folks receiving a third or another set of vaccines? I’m 20+ years out on my renal transplant and am thinking this might be a good thing to try.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.
when I contacted my MAYO transplant Coordinators - It looks like that is the direction they were suggesting. My annual follow-up is in
Mid-June and that should provide more information. In the meantime I will also check my local transplant doctor and see if they are offering any direction.
Here is a post from Mayo Clinic Newsfeed this morning. 04/26/2021
Mayo Clinic researchers question effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for solid organ transplant patients
Mayo Researchers, in Jacksonville have confirmed that solid organ transplant patients are at higher risk of infection, even after vaccination Their findings are published as a letter to the editor in the American Journal of Transplantation. The study suggests that "transplant patients don't have the same immune response as the general population. They got infected after getting vaccinated and lifting protective measures, thinking they were immune to the virus."
For me this little frightening, but it mostly confirms that we must not let down our guard, no matter what everyone else does! Remember that protective measures, such as social distancing, mask-wearing (for some) and regular hand hygiene have been part of transplant living since we got our transplants.
After reading this newsfeed, we can see that the research is ongoing, and that further studies are ongoing to learn more and expand the research/testing to include all of the Mayo campuses. Maybe some of us will be able to be participants in the studies.
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-researchers-question-effectiveness-of-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-for-solid-organ-transplant-patients/
You beat me to it, Rosemary! I just saw this article too and thought it was so relevant to our situation.
It’s really only been a year since the vaccine was developed and even less for full statistical data as to how long term the immunity from the vaccine will last in uncompromised people. So I’m sure, we compromised members will be waiting even a little longer for those details.
I’m guessing boosters are ahead for all of us anyway.
It will be interesting research, if a booster would provide immunity when the original vaccination did not.
How can we as a group of immunocompromised transplant patients advocate for more research/funding of better therapeutics? Since the vaccine provides little or no protection for us we need to know we can have easy access to treatment if we do happen to contract the virus. We can’t continue to live in fear and isolation.
Great point!
Just wondering if anyone has gotten a third vax to see if it would cause a better antibody response? With the Delta Variant coming on strong in the USA, it’s pretty scary to have a barely detectable level of anti-bodies.
I believe @jfk had a third dose.
Here’s some further information
- Testing Third Doses of COVID Vaccine in Transplant Patients
— New study offers hope for protecting this vulnerable population from COVID-19
https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/93102
I’ve actually had four doses now with no detectable antibodies.
Hi. Thanks for posting. I'm curious if the 4 doses were from the same vaccine brand - Pfizer, Moderna or J and J -or did you cross over on the last 2 doses?