COVID-19 Vaccine & Transplant Recipients
How You Can Stay Safe
Continue to socially distance and practice safe habits (wearing a mask, washing your hands), even after being vaccinated.
For more information please refer to the CDC's Prevent Getting Sick.
How The Vaccine Works
The current vaccines available (Pfizer and Moderna) are mRNA vaccines. They work by injecting mRNA, which is like a blueprint, into your body. The mRNA tells your body how to make a “spike protein” of the virus. This “spike protein” allows your immune system to recognize it as a foreign protein and make antibodies against it, similar to when your body makes antibodies to natural infections. This allows vaccinated patients to gain protection (antibodies) without actually getting the infection.
The vaccines were ~95% effective in study volunteers. The trials did not include kidney transplant patients or other immunocompromised patients. It is expected the vaccine may produce fewer antibodies in transplant patients as compared to the general population because of the anti-rejection (immunosuppressive) medications they are on. Data is being collected in kidney transplant patients now.
Is The Vaccine Safe?
- mRNA vaccines have been studied since 2011, but the COVID-19 vaccines are the first mRNA vaccines to be authorized for use outside of a clinical trial.
- The vaccines were tested in over 70,000 subjects (both studies combined). The majority of adverse reactions were mild and similar to other vaccines, including headache and flu-like symptoms, as the body builds an immune response.
- You will not get COVID-19 infection from a vaccination.
- Your vaccination center will also provide you with a consent regarding details prior to vaccination.
Is The Vaccine Safe For Transplant Patients?
Transplant patients are on anti-rejection (immunosuppressive) medications and are considered high risk of infections, including COVID-19. The American Society of Transplantation (AST) states that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks in transplant recipients and states transplant patients should consider getting the vaccination when available.
Along with transplant recipients, it is highly recommended that family members and other household contacts also receive the vaccine as soon it is available to them.
For more information visit the American Society for Transplantation's COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ Sheet.
Preference of Vaccine
We have no preference between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine.
How To Get The Vaccine
Find Covid-19 vaccine locations
Georgia Patients
- Richmond County: Call (706) 825-8368 to make an appointment after filling out the Georgia Department of Health's Vaccine Request Form.
- Columbia County: Call (706) 868-3330 to make an appointment.
- For Georgia patients outside these counties, please refer to Georgia Department of Public Health Find a Covid Vaccination Site to find the closest vaccination site to your home.
- Georgia COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline: 1-888-357-0169.
South Carolina Patients
Please refer to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments.
- South Carolina COVID-19 hotline: 1-855-472-3432.
If you do not meet those criteria, we will be in contact as soon as we can get you the vaccine!