1. < Transplants

Antibody tests and vaccinations in transplants

Posted by joko @joko, Jul 15, 2021

Following Johns Hopkins study on transplants vaccinations discussions on here. I got Moderna shots in Jan/Feb. 2021. After all the studies and discussions, got the antibody test on 7/11/21. It came back "Reactive" with H in the H/L or High/Low patient website results. My doctor said I had either had some contact with coronavirus* or the vaccinations were working. All of this is very confusing. There is no telling what level of protection it affords. Best advice comes from MD Andersen for cancer patients and antibody tests which follows: https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-do-negative-positive-antibody-test-results-mean-after-a-covid-19-vaccine.h00-159459267.html#.YO3UTFkdgjQ.mailto

*My wife and I cruised Pacific islands Aus/NZ in Nov. 2019. Caught what they thought was adenovirus on ship. Or so they called it. We both were deathly ill. Hers went to her lungs and lasted for months. No one in the States knew anything about Covid in early 2020 so I wonder if we didn't have Covid.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Aug 12, 2021

I'm closely following Mayo's advice via the Mayo News Network as headlines are becoming active with the anticipated approval of a booster vaccine for the immunosuppressed patients. I want to share this with you.
Mayo Clinic preparing for COVID-19 vaccine boosters when approved
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-preparing-for-covid-19-vaccine-boosters-when-approved/#
I'm not sure how this will be carried out in my local community.

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2 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Aug 12, 2021
In reply to @rosemarya "I'm closely following Mayo's advice via the Mayo News Network as headlines are becoming active with..." + (show)
@rosemarya

I'm closely following Mayo's advice via the Mayo News Network as headlines are becoming active with the anticipated approval of a booster vaccine for the immunosuppressed patients. I want to share this with you.
Mayo Clinic preparing for COVID-19 vaccine boosters when approved
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-preparing-for-covid-19-vaccine-boosters-when-approved/#
I'm not sure how this will be carried out in my local community.

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@rosemarya As a kidney recipient, my husband said he thinks he can "just show up" and get a booster. I am not so sure about that, but it might be that easy. As a chemo patient, I will need to get guidance from my oncologist.
Ginger

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pinkpam | @pinkpam | Aug 13, 2021

Are we suppose to get the same "brand"? And do we get a doctors script? so many unknowns right now

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1 reply
lizzy102 | @lizzy102 | Aug 13, 2021
In reply to @pinkpam "Are we suppose to get the same "brand"? And do we get a doctors script? so..." + (show)
@pinkpam

Are we suppose to get the same "brand"? And do we get a doctors script? so many unknowns right now

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I would most definitely switch brands. I read a LOT about the vaccines, everywhere. Moderna is touted, today, to have more effectiveness against Delta than Pfizer-BioNTec. By switching, you get a slightly different mRNA vaccine molecularly. I walked in to my local Safeway, said I was immunocompromised, showed the tech my phone with the approval article and got vaccinated.

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2 replies
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Aug 13, 2021
In reply to @lizzy102 "I would most definitely switch brands. I read a LOT about the vaccines, everywhere. Moderna is..." + (show)
@lizzy102

I would most definitely switch brands. I read a LOT about the vaccines, everywhere. Moderna is touted, today, to have more effectiveness against Delta than Pfizer-BioNTec. By switching, you get a slightly different mRNA vaccine molecularly. I walked in to my local Safeway, said I was immunocompromised, showed the tech my phone with the approval article and got vaccinated.

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@lizzy102, Thank you for your update! I think you are our 1st Booster poster.
I missed the live broadcast earlier today, and I was hoping to get a clarification about whether to switch the vaccine or to stay with the same one that I had for the first 2 doses. I also hear and read about a lot of opinions. For myself, I am uncomfortable to make such a decision based on what I hear, yet I respect your decision.
Do you have any links to information that the transplant experts have sited, to date, about this question that you would share? In the mean time I wait and watch. I'll do nothing until after my routine labs on Monday.
Thank you.

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2 replies
zon | @zon | Aug 13, 2021
In reply to @lizzy102 "I would most definitely switch brands. I read a LOT about the vaccines, everywhere. Moderna is..." + (show)
@lizzy102

I would most definitely switch brands. I read a LOT about the vaccines, everywhere. Moderna is touted, today, to have more effectiveness against Delta than Pfizer-BioNTec. By switching, you get a slightly different mRNA vaccine molecularly. I walked in to my local Safeway, said I was immunocompromised, showed the tech my phone with the approval article and got vaccinated.

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That’s awesome but true approval doesn’t happen until later today. “Friday”

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lizzy102 | @lizzy102 | Aug 13, 2021

Phew! The article worked enough for the tech to pass me through to the pharmacist (who I don’t even think looked at the paperwork). I am happy with my decision.

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lizzy102 | @lizzy102 | Aug 13, 2021
In reply to @rosemarya "@lizzy102, Thank you for your update! I think you are our 1st Booster poster. I missed..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@lizzy102, Thank you for your update! I think you are our 1st Booster poster.
I missed the live broadcast earlier today, and I was hoping to get a clarification about whether to switch the vaccine or to stay with the same one that I had for the first 2 doses. I also hear and read about a lot of opinions. For myself, I am uncomfortable to make such a decision based on what I hear, yet I respect your decision.
Do you have any links to information that the transplant experts have sited, to date, about this question that you would share? In the mean time I wait and watch. I'll do nothing until after my routine labs on Monday.
Thank you.

Jump to this post

I’ll look next time I’m in research mode. I don’t have a link or anything.

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yolanda53 | @yolanda53 | Aug 14, 2021
In reply to @rosemarya "@lizzy102, Thank you for your update! I think you are our 1st Booster poster. I missed..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@lizzy102, Thank you for your update! I think you are our 1st Booster poster.
I missed the live broadcast earlier today, and I was hoping to get a clarification about whether to switch the vaccine or to stay with the same one that I had for the first 2 doses. I also hear and read about a lot of opinions. For myself, I am uncomfortable to make such a decision based on what I hear, yet I respect your decision.
Do you have any links to information that the transplant experts have sited, to date, about this question that you would share? In the mean time I wait and watch. I'll do nothing until after my routine labs on Monday.
Thank you.

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Hello, I just wanted to share the FDA’s approval for the third booster for us that have immune system issues. I have bullous pemphigoid and am a senior who stays home religiously with my disabled senior sister with diabetes! On Thursday it was approved and on Friday morning I called my PCP for a shot! You do have to take the same brand (in my case in March/April, I had Moderna 1 and 2). With no antibodies for the vaccine found in a blood test I had in June, I’m really hoping this one will give me some protection…..

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azdan99 | @azdan99 | Aug 14, 2021
In reply to @rosemarya "I'm closely following Mayo's advice via the Mayo News Network as headlines are becoming active with..." + (show)
@rosemarya

I'm closely following Mayo's advice via the Mayo News Network as headlines are becoming active with the anticipated approval of a booster vaccine for the immunosuppressed patients. I want to share this with you.
Mayo Clinic preparing for COVID-19 vaccine boosters when approved
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-preparing-for-covid-19-vaccine-boosters-when-approved/#
I'm not sure how this will be carried out in my local community.

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How do we identify ourselves as transplants? I don't have an ID. Bring our bottle of tacro?

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