Clarification on kidney patients who are eligible for the third primary or booster COVID-19 vaccination is now available.

Further to their recommendations on third primary vaccination JCVI have now recommended a booster vaccine dose for patient groups that include patients on dialysis and CKD 3-5 patients not on dialysis. The renal patient groups for a third primary vaccination or booster vaccination are as follows:

1. All kidney patients who have a transplant including those who have returned to dialysis but still receive or have received immunosuppression in the last 6 months: third primary vaccination
2. Patients who at the time of the original 2 vaccine programme were receiving significant immunosuppression: third primary vaccination
3. All patients on the transplant waiting list: booster vaccination unless also in group 1 or 2 in which case a third primary vaccination
4. All patients on dialysis: booster vaccination unless also in group 1 or 2 in which case a third primary vaccination
5. Chronic kidney disease stage 3-5 not on dialysis treatment: booster vaccination unless also in group 1 or 2 in which case a third primary vaccination

JCVI advises a preference for an mRNA vaccine for third primary vaccination and UKKA strongly supports this as laboratory studies indicate these offer better protection in kidney patients.

UKKA will continue to make the strong case that a third vaccination for dialysis patients should be considered a third primary vaccination rather than a booster vaccination.

Thank you to renal units for working to ensure that patients with kidney disease have a third or booster vaccination.

JCVI recommendations can be read here

The evidence supporting the position of UKKA is being updated.