Covid-19 Question Time webinar An update on vaccinations

How well are vaccines working for kidney patients? How can I keep myself safe after I’ve had the vaccine? What should I do if I feel anxious about restrictions easing?

At a recent webinar, delivered in partnership with National Kidney Federation (NKF) Kidney Care UK, Kidney Research UK, the PKD Charity, and the UK Kidney Association, we heard a panel of experts from renal medicine answer questions about how people with suppressed immune systems and CKD are responding to the Covid-19 vaccines, as well as a discussion about returning to normal activities and coping with anxiety as restrictions ease. Speaking at the event, Dr Andrew Frankel began by acknowledging the difficult time kidney patients have experienced during the pandemic. He outlined three main areas of change – the emergence of the Delta variant and the implications of this, the successful vaccine, and how kidney patients can begin to emerge from this period of lockdown.

Here is a summary of the areas discussed:

• Delta variant is now the dominant variant in the UK with convincing evidence that it transmits more easily than other variants. At the moment, there is no evidence to suggest the Delta variant poses a greater risk to kidney patients or people using immunosupression, but two doses of vaccine does increase your protection. • Children, including children with kidney disease, are less likely than adults to develop severe Covid-19 or suffer complications from the virus. • Laboratory studies show that people with kidney disease who do not receive immunosuppression have been shown to have a good antibody response, whilst those on immunosuppressant drugs have weaker responses, this is expected, and it does not necessarily mean people are not protected from severe illness. • Doctors do not advise people take an antibody test outside of a research study – it is not clear what the results mean in terms of protection, so it is not considered a helpful guide. It will take more time to understand what antibody levels mean in terms of protection from severe disease. • Clinically extremely vulnerable people are no longer advised to shield but they should continue to be cautious and take precautions. • People returning to work are entitled to a comprehensive risk assessment and employers must ensure that workplaces are Covid-secure. • Those feeling anxious about restrictions easing should make changes at their own pace, resuming activities gradually and slowly.

Recommendations

• Kidney patients are recommended to have both doses of vaccine and those taking immunosuppressant medication should encourage people they live with (who are eligible) to also have the vaccine. • If you have concerns at work, ask your employer to do a comprehensive risk assessment – and remember that support is available if you do not feel your workplace is

Covid-secure. • Kidney patients are encouraged to take up the offer of the flu vaccine.

Read the UK Kidney Association (UKKA) statement on the care of clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) kidney patients after easing of COVID-19 restrictions on 19th July: https://renal.org/sites/renal.org/files/UKKA%20CEV%20 statement%2020%20July%202021.pdf Thank you to the panel of four kidney doctors: Dr Rebecca Suckling from Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust, Dr Andrew Frankel, Dr Steven McAdoo, and Dr Michelle Willicombe from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Webinar delivered in partnership with:

MORE INFORMATION

Visit the NKF website to keep up to date on the latest information and advice: https://www.kidney.org.uk/ news/coronavirus-latest-information-and-advice