Availability and prioritisation of COVID-19 vaccines among patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and kidney failure during the height of the pandemic: A global survey by the International Society of Nephrology

• Published in: BMJ Open
• Main Author: Wijewickrama E.S.; Abdul Hafidz M.I.; Robinson B.M.; Johnson D.W.; Liew A.; Dreyer G.; Caskey F.J.; Bello A.K.; Zaidi D.; Damster S.; Salaro S.; Luyckx V.A.; Bajpai D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2022
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85145424531&doi=10.1136%2fbmjopen-2022-065112&partnerID=40&md5=0ffb30a593565bf1d2e72670ae23b8de

Objective Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) or kidney failure receiving replacement therapy (KFRT) are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, morbidity and mortality. Vaccination is effective, but access differs around the world. We aimed to ascertain the availability, readiness and prioritisation of COVID-19 vaccines for this group of patients globally. Setting and participants Collaborators from the International Society of Nephrology (ISN), Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study and ISN-Global Kidney Health Atlas developed an online survey that was administered electronically to key nephrology leaders in 174 countries between 2 July and 4 August 2021. Results Survey responses were received from 99 of 174 countries from all 10 ISN regions, among which 88/174 (50%) were complete. At least one vaccine was available in 96/99 (97%) countries. In 71% of the countries surveyed, patients on dialysis were prioritised for vaccination, followed by patients living with a kidney transplant (KT) (62%) and stage 4/5 CKD (51%). Healthcare workers were the most common high priority group for vaccination. At least 50% of patients receiving in-centre haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or KT were estimated to have completed vaccination at the time of the survey in 55%, 64% and 51% of countries, respectively. At least 50% of patients in all three patient groups had been vaccinated in >70% of high-income countries and in 100% of respondent countries in Western Europe. The most common barriers to vaccination of patients were vaccine hesitancy (74%), vaccine shortages (61%) and mass vaccine distribution challenges (48%). These were reported more in low-income and lower middle-income countries compared with high-income countries. Conclusion Patients with advanced CKD or KFRT were prioritised in COVID-19 vaccination in most countries. Multiple barriers led to substantial variability in the successful achievement of COVID-19 vaccination across the world, with high-income countries achieving the most access and success. © 2022 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.