ELDERLY PEOPLE, ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS, CANCER PATIENTS MAY NEED COVID BOOSTER SHOT

Kidney transplant recipients who didn›t develop antibodies following two Covid-19 vaccine doses might benefit from a third jab, a new US study suggested.

In kidney transplant patients with no response following their second dose of the Moderna vaccine, 49% of those who received a third shot saw a serologic response—defined as antibody levels greater than 50 AU/mL—after a median 28 days, according to the researchers group. 

However, this still means that 51% of kidney transplant patients didn’t develop antibodies response, the group explained in a JAMA research letter.

“The findings in this large group of kidney transplant recipients are in accordance with other studies of solid organ transplant recipients,” the researchers pointed out, adding that “the use of a third dose of vaccine may be considered in organ transplant recipients”.

It is noteworthy that there weren›t any serious adverse events reported after the third dose.

The study looked at kidney transplant recipients at the outpatient Kidney Transplantation Department of Strasbourg University Hospital from 20 January to 3 June. The majority were men, with a median age of 58, and the median time from transplantation was about 5 years.

The standard 100-μg Moderna vaccine dose was administered about 51 days after the second dose as a booster shot. 

According to health experts, elderly, and those with diminished immunity such as organ transplant patients, with cancers, (chemotherapy), undernourished, on corticosteroids, rheumatological diseases on various immunomodulators, and even many healthy individuals, do not mount antibodies after two doses of Covid vaccination. 

Therefore, this latest study makes case for recommending a third booster Covid vaccine for such patients in India as well. 

Meanwhile, India reported 39,742 daily new cases in the last 24 hours while 535 people succumbed to the virus. As per the data shared by the Union Health Ministry, India’s active caseload now stands at 4,08,212 and active cases now constitute 1.30% of the country›s total Positive Cases. 

“Weekly positivity rate is currently at 2.24% and the daily positivity rate stands at 2.31%. The daily positivity rate has remained less than 3% for 34 consecutive days, and has remained below 5% for 48 consecutive days now,” the data further read. 

More than 45.37 crore (45,37,70,580) vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far, through all sources and a further 11,79,010 doses are in the pipeline, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. 

Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 42,08,32,021 doses (as per data available at 8 am Sunday).

More than 3.29 crore (3,29,38,559) balance and unutilized Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states/UTs and private hospitals to be administered.