Moderate acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in patients pre- and post-heart transplantation: Experiences from a German Transplant Centre.
Transpl Infect Dis
; 23(4): e13681, 2021 Aug.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1295140
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:
Patients awaiting heart transplantation (HTx) are at increased risk developing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Patients supported by a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) face additional risks due to coagulopathies during COVID-19. Following HTx, elevated risk factors for severe COVID-19 persist due to chronic immunosuppression and frequent comorbidities. Taken together, COVID-19 vaccination is of critical importance in all three patient cohorts. Here, we report our experience to deliver COVID-19 vaccination in a German transplant center. METHODS ANDRESULTS:
We screened 211 patients for contraindications and offered the remaining 186 eligible patients COVID-19 vaccination. Of those, 133 patients (71%) accepted the offer and were vaccinated. Acceptance of vaccination differed between HTx recipients (84 of 113, 74%), patients on the waiting list (34 of 47, 72%), and patients with LVAD support (28 of 50, 56%). The LVAD cohort demonstrated lower acceptance levels for vaccination compared to HTx recipients and patients awaiting HTx (74% vs. 56%; p = 0.028).CONCLUSION:
We demonstrate for the first time only moderate acceptance levels of COVID-19 vaccination in HTx recipients and candidates on the waiting list compared to general population, despite perceived high-risk for severe disease. Additionally, those supported by LVAD have even lower adherence. Efforts may need to be made to increase acceptance in this vulnerable as well as cost-intensive patient cohort.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Heart-Assist Devices
/
Heart Transplantation
/
COVID-19
/
Heart Failure
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Topics:
Long Covid
/
Vaccines
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Transpl Infect Dis
Journal subject:
Transplantation
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Tid.13681
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