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Transplant: No or Few Antibodies after COVID Vaccination
My daughter received a kidney from her father 15 months ago. She is participating in the Johns Hopkins study of transplant patients undergoing vaccination. The study required that she be tested for antibodies just before she received her second shot. The test results showed that she had no antibodies to Covid-19. I wonder if anyone else on this list is participating in the Hopkins study and can share their experience. I know the study will be asking participants to repeat the antibody test four of five more times over the year after being fully vaccinated. Thank you
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Good morning @contentandwell 🙂 So great to hear from you. My fingers are crossed and I am hoping you got some antibodies from the booster. I think the percentage chance of us getting antibodies is only 46%. Most people I know that are on MMF and Tac do not get antibodies from the third dose. But there a few pleasant surprises out there! Now that a month has passed, are you planning on testing for antibodies?
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2 ReactionsI am a liver and kidney transplant recipient in Oct. 2017. I had my first two Moderna vaccinations in Feb. & March with the third in August. The antibody test after the first two showed no antibodies. The spike protein antibody test done this week showed positive >250! We still don't know what that means and how much protection that represents. But, it demonstrates some degree of antibodies from the third vaccine. I just don't feel quite as naked during this dangerous time for us. All the precautions are still necessary.
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4 Reactions@millds Congratulations on showing positive for some antibodies!! I totally agree that some antibodies are better than none! 🙂 May I ask if you are on MFF and Tac and what dosages...or are you taking something else?
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1 ReactionHi all! I am headed to get my flu shot today. Do you think the same is true for the flu shot.... Is there a good chance that I will not get antibodies from the flu shot (just like the covid vaccine)?
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2 ReactionsI am on Tac 7mg, mycophenalic acid 720, and prednisone 5 mg daily (morning & night).
It’s a possibility that you will have diminished results. But as my transplant doctor said, “It’s worth a shot.” LOL.
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5 ReactionsThanks so much @millds 🙂 I am very happy to hear that patients on MFF and Tac are getting some covid antibodies from the booster! I wish I could figure out why the booster is only working on half of us if the drugs that we are on are the same. I assume that's the question the JH study is hoping to analyze and eventually solve. Thank you again for sharing!
I agree @loribmt !! 🙂
Im happy to share. It is a puzzle and one that may take some time to solve. Its difficult to be patient. The scientific process is amazing but it is a process and takes time.🥰
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3 Reactions@hello1234 My transplant department will not write a lab order for an antibody test but my PCP did for me last spring so I am hoping she will again. At that time I did have some antibodies - 13.83 was my measurement.
I am wondering if the immunosuppressant a person is on affects this and also if the level of immunosuppressant that you take does. I take sirolimus and my transplant department monitors my lab work every other month keeping my sirolimus level very close to the minimum level in the range. It would make sense to me that if a person is at a higher point on the range they would not get as many antibodies as a person on the lower end so I am hoping I will have acquired more.
JK