Pre-graft vaccination or infection do not decrease COVID-19 infections in recipients of allogeneic stem cell transplantation vaccinated and/or protected by immunotherapy after transplant

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2024 Dec 31;20(1):2370970. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2370970. Epub 2024 Jul 8.

Abstract

The impact of pre-graft COVID-19 vaccinations in donor or recipient as well as pre-graft infection has been studied in 157 adults having received allogeneic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT) for various hematological diseases during the delta/omicron waves. We showed here that pre-Allo-SCT COVID-19 vaccination and/or infection do not provide more protection in patients receiving vaccine, immunotherapy or both after transplant. COVID-19 vaccination is and remains of crucial importance after Allo-SCT, reinforcing the recommendation to start COVID-19 vaccination as soon as the third month following the transplant.

Keywords: BNT162b2; COVID-19; allogeneic; infection; mRNA-1273; vaccine.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / administration & dosage
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / immunology
  • COVID-19* / immunology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Transplantation, Homologous* / adverse effects
  • Vaccination*

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines

Grants and funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.