Flu Shot Information For Transplant Recipients and Candidates
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
The American Society of Transplantation supports the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations that all individuals older than 6 months of age who do not have contraindications to vaccination, including those with immunocompromising conditions (including organ transplant candidates and recipients) receive a routine annual influenza vaccination. Please be aware that this recommendation applies to the GENERAL PUBLIC and is especially important for health care workers and household contacts.
This fall and winter, we will all be facing the continued risk of COVID-19 infection in addition to the seasonal risk of the flu. A flu vaccination will reduce a person’s risk or severity of illness for influenza and can also reduce symptoms that might be confused with those of COVID-19. Prevention of and reduction in the severity of the flu will also help alleviate stress on our health care system at this unprecedented time as well as the potential worse outcomes if people develop both COVID-19 and influenza at the same time.
Transplant candidates and recipients are strongly encouraged to talk with their transplant program about the appropriate flu vaccination for them. Please do not delay in taking action. Flu season is upon us.
For transplant providers: You may review the full ACIP report, Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – United States, 2020-21 Influenza Season at https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/rr/rr6908a1.htm