Did you know?

Kidney transplant recipients are at increased risk of developing infections, including vaccine‑preventable diseases. Vaccines help keep you from getting a serious disease that can make you very sick or cause death.

Two Categories of Vaccines

Vaccines help your body’s immune system prepare for a real infection. Because transplant recipients use medications that affect the function of the immune system, it is important to understand which vaccines you should and should not have. Most vaccines fall into two categories: inactive (contains parts of a dead germ) or live (contains weakened germ).

Inactive vaccines are considered safe for transplant recipients, but live vaccines should be avoided. In general, if you have a transplant, you should avoid:

  • Influenza nasal (Flu Mist). *The flu shot that is injected is an inactive vaccine, unlike the nasal mist noted here.
  • Chicken-pox (varicella)
  • Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
  • Yellow Fever

For more information you can contact your healthcare team or check the website.

It is best to wait until the first 3-6 months after kidney transplantation, the period of intense immunosuppression, before attempting vaccination. However, inactivated influenza vaccination can be administered as early as 1 month after kidney transplant to time it before onset of the flu season. (Source: The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes- KDIGO guidelines)

More Information

Vaccination of household contacts and pets is recommended to prevent infections in kidney transplant recipients. In general, inactivated vaccines are chosen for vaccination of household contacts.

Travel to endemic regions is best avoided. If unavoidable, travelers should take precautionary measures and check and discuss that with your doctor.

You should check with your healthcare team about which vaccinations you should take.