University of the Philippines

06/22/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/22/2022 00:49

COVID vax and kidney disease: UP webinar takes on the pluses and risks

COVID-19 has put an additional strain on patients with kidney disease. Earlier in the pandemic, there was limited access to dialysis centers, which led to many patients missing their crucial dialysis schedules. Also, as immunocompromised patients, the risks of COVID complications are far higher for them.

With the introduction of the vaccination program, a new hope for normalcy and protection has been restored. Most experts agree that the vaccine's benefits for people with kidney disease at any stage-including those on dialysis or those who had undergone a kidney transplant-are much greater than the risks. Some studies even point to highly high short-term mortality from COVID, higher than 20 percent.

However, questions still linger in the minds of patients, families, and even front-line workers: Do patients with kidney disease have the same level of protection from the vaccines compared to those without? Are additional precautions needed when administering vaccines to patients with chronic renal disease? Can transplant patients receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

This Friday, June 24, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D-current COVID-19 problems, and other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters.

This episode of UP's "Stop C.O.V.I.D. Deaths" webinar series-titled "Epektibo ba ang COVID-19 Vaccine sa mga may Sakit sa Kidney?" -will take a closer look at COVID-19 vaccination for patients with kidney disease, including those who have had a kidney transplant.

The main speaker is Dr. Romina Danguilan, Head of the Hemodialysis Unit and current Deputy Executive Director for Education, Training, and Research Services at the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI). She will provide an overview of chronic renal disease in the country and discuss the challenges of the pandemic for dialysis centers. She will also share the recent research findings on vaccine effectiveness among transplant patients at the NKTI.

Dr. Cybele R. Abad, Clinical Associate Professor at the UP-PGH and an expert on Infectious Diseases, will talk about breakthrough infections of COVID-19 among vaccinated kidney transplant patients.

UP-PGH Deputy Director for Health Operations Dr. Stella Marie L. Jose will deliver the synthesis and closing remarks.

Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account and TVUP's Youtube channel and Facebook page. Together, let's equip ourselves with knowledge on COVID-19 and kidney disease to correctly guide families in their decision-making.

The award-winning UP "Stop COVID Deaths" Webinar Seriesis the Philippines' first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community.