Vaccines and Kidney Disease

If you have kidney disease, staying up to date with recommended vaccines is one of the best ways to help protect your health.

For people with chronic kidney disease, those on dialysis, kidney transplant recipients, those taking prescription medications for end-stage renal disease, and others who are immunocompromised, vaccination is safe and can help protect against serious disease and related complications that can lead to hospitalization and even death.

If you are a kidney transplant recipient, vaccines can help protect you from many preventable diseases which is important because the immune suppression required to protect your transplant increases your risk for infections. Most vaccines are safe and effective, but you should talk with a trusted healthcare professional before getting vaccinated because live virus vaccines should not be given to kidney transplant recipients and others who are immunocompromised.

Share these social media graphics to help raise awareness:

---

What Vaccines Do People with Kidney Disease Need?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following vaccines for people with kidney disease:

COVID-19

Everyone age 6 months and older should stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines.

Those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have the option to get additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines. This includes kidney transplant recipients, people with chronic kidney disease, and those on dialysis. Talk with a trusted healthcare professional about how many doses you may need and when they should be given.

Flu (Influenza)

Everyone age 6 months and older should get vaccinated against flu every year.

There are several types of flu vaccines. Generally, injectable flu vaccines are recommended for those with kidney disease. People who have advanced kidney disease, those on dialysis, transplant recipients, and others who are immunocompromised should not get the nasal flu vaccine because it contains live (weakened) influenza viruses.

Hepatitis B

Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis B infection and potential complications, including liver cancer. Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for people with advanced kidney disease, kidney failure, those on dialysis, kidney transplant recipients, and others who are immunocompromised.

Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal disease is caused by bacteria that can attack different parts of the body and can cause pneumonia (lung infection), bacteremia (blood infection), and meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).

Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for:

• All children younger than age 2 years
• All adults age 65 years and older
• Individuals age 2 to 64 years with certain chronic health conditions or other risk factors, including those with severe or advanced kidney disease, kidney failure, those on dialysis, transplant recipients, and others who are immunocompromised

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis

Everyone age 2 months and older should be vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). Most infants receive a combined vaccine called DTaP (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis). Adults, older children, and adolescents should receive a booster of the combination vaccine, Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis) or Td (tetanus-diphtheria), every 10 years. Pregnant women should also receive a dose of Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy.

These vaccines protect against 3 potentially serious diseases:

• Tetanus can cause severe muscle spasms, leading to “locking” of the jaw, making it hard to open the mouth or swallow. In severe cases, tetanus infections can lead to death.
• Diphtheria can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis, and sometimes death
• Pertussis (whooping cough) can cause coughing spells that are so severe that it can be hard to breathe, sleep, or eat

Other Vaccines You May Need

Talk with a trusted healthcare professional about other vaccines you may need, depending on your age and other factors. Note that those who are immunocompromised, including kidney transplant recipients, should not receive any vaccine that contains live (weakened) viruses.

If your healthcare professional does not offer the vaccines you need, ask for a referral to ensure you get all the vaccines recommended for you.