Research Article Impact of Vaccinating Chronic Dialysis Patients During the Three Waves of COVID-19
Fernanda Salomão Gorayeb-Polacchini1,2*, Heloisa Cristina Caldas1,2, Mario Abbud-Filho1,2
1Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto/FUNFARME, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
2Laboratory of Immunology and Experimental Transplantation (LITEX), Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
*Corresponding author: Gorayeb-Polacchini FS, Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto/FUNFARME, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
Received Date: 14 June, 2023
Accepted Date: 20 June, 2023
Published Date: 23 June, 2023
Citation: Gorayeb-Polacchini FS, Caldas CH, Abbud-Filho M (2023) Impact of Vaccinating Chronic Dialysis Patients During the Three Waves of COVID-19. Rep Glob Health Res 6: 161. https://doi.org/10.29011/2690-9480.100161.
Abstract
Introduction: Patients on chronic dialysis are at high risk of infection and death from COVID-19, so additional doses of vaccine are needed to protect this population. The objective was to analyze the impact of vaccination on the COVID-19 pandemic in a dialysis center during the three epidemiological waves of the disease.
Methods: This is a prospective, observational study in a single center. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were analyzed for the periods of the first, second and third epidemiological waves of the disease.
Results: Of the 583 patients on dialysis, 225 have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Comparing the three epidemiological waves, it was observed that the third wave presented a higher incidence of the disease, but fewer symptoms, lower inflammatory markers on laboratory exams, lower severity of the disease, lower mortality and case fatality rate. In the third wave, the highest vaccination rate of patients occurred. Patients who were vaccinated with 3 doses of vaccine had a lower rate of hospitalization, need for intensive care, mechanical ventilation and death from COVID-19.
Conclusion: Vaccination did not prevent the high incidence of COVID-19 in the third wave, but the infection manifested with less severity and case fatality rate.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; dialysis; epidemiological waves; vaccination.