ASN calls for federal allocation of COVID-19 vaccine for patients on dialysis
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Advocating for patients on dialysis across the United States, the American Society of Nephrology joined more than 40 kidney organizations in sending a letter to the Biden-Harris administration COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force.
The letter emphasized the heightened mortality risk posed by the virus to patients with kidney failure, concluding that vaccine distribution efforts should prioritize patients receiving dialysis, their families and dialysis staff.
“Today we are urgently calling on the Biden-Harris administration to provide a federal allocation of COVID-19 vaccine for people with kidney failure receiving dialysis and for the front-line health care workers in the dialysis facilities,” Susan E. Quaggin, MD, FRCP(C), FASN, president of ASN, said in a related press release. “Patients with kidney failure are some of the most vulnerable to COVID due to their many comorbidities. Kidney diseases and COVID both disproportionately impact people of color, so a direct vaccine allocation would both save lives and address racial injustice at the same time.”
The letter specifically noted that because approximately 50% of patients on dialysis in the United States are Black, Hispanic, Native American, or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander providing the vaccine at the clinics where patients already receive treatments would “expedite their access,” thus providing more equity in the vaccine rollout.
“In the context of overcoming vaccine hesitancy within these communities, acceptance depends on the patients’ trust and confidence in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, as well as in the health care professionals,” the organizations wrote. “We believe that the established trusting relationships with the staff within the dialysis units will accelerate vaccine acceptance within these communities, similar to seasonal influenza vaccinations.”
The organizations contended that the kidney care community is well-prepared to safely administer the vaccine.
“This is a critical moment in this public health battle, and people receiving dialysis need this commitment to health care and equity,” Quaggin said.
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