Vaccines have been keeping people safe from serious, and potentially life-threatening, viruses and diseases—like the common flu, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, and pneumonia—for many years. To protect yourself and those around you, it’s essential to stay up-to-date on your vaccinations, particularly for people with compromised immune systems, such as those living with kidney disease and kidney failure. 

Understanding vaccines, how they work, and which vaccinations to avoid if you’ve had a kidney transplant is crucial to keep yourself as healthy as possible and free of other illnesses.*

How do vaccines protect you?

Most vaccines contain parts of a dead or weakened version of a germ. A few, like the nasal version of the flu shot, use live germs. In response to the vaccination, which is usually an injection, your body produces antibodies, i.e., proteins that neutralize foreign bodies that could harm your health. 

This helps your body become familiar with the invading germ. If active versions of the germ invade your system, it will now be able to recognize the invaders and generate the appropriate antibodies to fight them. 

Are vaccines safe for people with kidney disease?

Vaccines do carry the possibility of side effects, as most medications do, but they help much more than they harm. 

Some side effects may include:

• Muscle soreness
• Mild rash at or around the point of injection
• Low-grade fever

Vaccines are not recommended for people who are allergic or for those with overactive immune systems. Though most vaccines are safe, some are specifically not recommended for:

• Pregnant women
• People with underactive or compromised immune systems
• People with advanced kidney disease, especially if you’re on dialysis or have had a kidney transplant

What vaccines should I avoid with kidney disease?

Since kidney disease impacts your immune system, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people who have had kidney transplants avoid all live vaccines, like the nasal flu shot.

Other vaccines to be avoided by transplant patients include:

• Chickenpox (varicella zoster)
• Shingles (herpes zoster)
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
• Yellow fever

Most vaccines are considered safe in certain doses for people on dialysis. Your healthcare provider is the best person to ask about which vaccinations to get and avoid.

Are any vaccines specifically recommended for people with kidney disease?

Vaccines recommended by the CDC (in certain doses) include:

• Flu
• Haemophilus flu
• Hepatitis A & B
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Pneumonia
• Tetanus

How often are vaccines necessary?

Some vaccines you get once in a lifetime, others are annual, and some need to be repeated every two or three years. Certain vaccines are only necessary if you are planning to travel to a destination where certain diseases are common. 

Does insurance pay for vaccines?

Some vaccines are covered by insurance, and costs vary. If you have to pay out of pocket, check to see if your local health department offers that vaccine; some vaccines are provided either free of charge or at a discount.

Medicare Part B covers several vaccines, including flu, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B. Medicare Part D covers shingles and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis).

*National Kidney Foundation. (2019, Aug. 19). Which Vaccination Do I Need? https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/vaccinations