Purpose: To detect antibody responses to inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine in patients undergoing hemodialysis and to investigate vaccine-related adverse events.
Patients and Methods: A total of 120 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 24 healthy controls (HCs) who had not been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and had received their first dose of the inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac; Sinovac Biotech Ltd) were recruited for this study. All participants were scheduled to receive a second dose of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Serum-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 were detected at least 14 days after the second dose of vaccine using a commercial kit. Positive and negative results were defined as a sample/cutoff (S/CO) ratio≥ 1.00 and < 1.00, respectively. Vaccination-related adverse events were assessed using a standardized questionnaire.
Results: There were no significant differences regarding the seroprevalences of IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and the self-reported vaccination-related adverse events between HD patients and HCs. The analysis results for HD patients suggest that 82 (68.3%) and 27 (22.5%) tested positive for IgG and IgM, respectively. The levels of IgG were higher than IgM levels (P < 0.0001). In addition, the IgG-positive group had significantly higher serum albumin levels than the IgG-negative group (P < 0.05). Only mild vaccine-related adverse events were observed in two patients (1.66%) and in one healthy individual (4.2%).
Conclusion: The seroprevalences of IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and vaccination-related adverse effects are similar between HD and HCs. The inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is effective and safe in inducing near-term immunity in hemodialysis patients.
Keywords: adverse events, COVID-19, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, IgM and IgG antibody