Organ transplantation is a crucial medical process and indeed very important for the recipients but one must try to postpone it during the pandemic. The reason being a higher risk of infection. Since vaccination is being carried in full swing, people might believe that they are good to go for organ transplantation after getting vaccinated. Is this true? NO. Experts have found that even after getting all the doses of the covid-19 vaccine, one may catch infection after an organ transplant. Find details in this article.
Is organ transplant safe during a pandemic?
The pandemic is getting intense with each passing day and while we are battling the second wave of coronavirus, experts have already warned of the third wave. Things are getting haywire and getting a crucial medical surgery during this pandemic situation is very risky. If you are thinking that you can get transplantation done after vaccination, you are wrong. Researchers from John Hopkins University have found that vaccine doesn’t provide protection to those who get organ transplants. They can still get infected.
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What is the research?
According to the study published in the Journal of American Medical Association(JAMA), only 17% of organ transplant recipients are immune to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The rest of them didn’t produce antibodies that can secure them from getting the infection. Senior author of this study Brian Boyarsky says, “While there was an increase in those with detectable antibodies — 54 percent overall — after the second shot, the number of transplant recipients in our second study whose antibody levels reached high enough levels to ward off a SARS-CoV-2 infection was still well below what’s typically seen in people with healthy immune systems. Based on our findings, we recommend that transplant recipients and other immunocompromised patients continue to practice strict Covid-19 safety precautions, even after vaccination.”
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The reason why organ transplant recipients do not produce antibodies is that they are given drugs to reduce the risk of rejection. These drugs can prevent their bodies from making antibodies to foreign substances. This includes the content of covid vaccines. Thus, if a person has gotten both doses of the coronavirus vaccine, they may still be at risk of catching the infection. One needs to practice all the precautions including wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, preventing direct contact even with family members, avoid going out unless urgent, have a nutritious diet that helps in building immunity.
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