Beaumont Hospital has rescinded a recommendation by top doctors to remove unvaccinated COVID-19 patients from the kidney transplant waiting list.
The move comes more than two weeks after a letter was issued to consultants stating that transplants would not be possible for unvaccinated people due to the risk of COVID-19 infection.
Still, the hospital said it expects all patients to “fully comply” with COVID-19 prevention measures after transplant, including getting vaccinated, wearing masks, social distancing and staying at home.
The letter, dated August 3, was signed on Beaumont's behalf by Dilly Little, surgical director of the National Kidney Transplant Service, and Colm McGehee, clinical director of transplant, urology and nephrology.
Campaigners for the 500 people on the waiting list say many of them are extremely keen to get the coronavirus vaccine or a booster shot, but the letter prompted one person to complain to MPs about “medical discrimination” against those who have not been vaccinated.
In response to media inquiries, Beaumont Hospital issued a statement on Friday saying, “No patients will be, and have never been, removed from the transplant list, regardless of vaccination status.”
A hospital spokesman said the advice supersedes an August 3 letter, which has now been rescinded.
The statement read: ” [kidney] When organs are donated, a risk-benefit assessment is performed to determine whether a safe and successful transplant can be performed under all circumstances.
It added: “If the risk assessment indicates that the risk to the patient is too high at the time, including because safeguards cannot be put in place, the transplant may be postponed.”
Rising risks
Carol Moore, chief executive of the Irish Kidney Association, said there were 123 transplants last year, down from 153 in 2019 after the disruptions caused by Covid-19.
“It would be a problem if people were simply taken off the list, but our understanding is that's not the case,” Moore said.
The Aug. 3 letter cited the increased risk from COVID-19 variants, saying, “Therefore, if for any reason a patient cannot be vaccinated, we recommend that they be immediately removed from the waiting list until the COVID-19 crisis has passed and there is no longer any risk of COVID-19 transmission to them personally, or to immunosuppressed staff or other patients in the transplant unit.”
The hospital said Friday that COVID-19 infection poses a “particular risk” for kidney, liver, pancreas, lung and heart transplant patients.
“After a transplant, your immune system will be weakened, putting you at significantly higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19,” the hospital said.
“In the context of ongoing community transmission of COVID-19, unvaccinated patients are at very high risk. In addition to the individual risk, transplant patients with COVID-19 may unintentionally bring infection into transplant services, posing a risk to other transplant patients.”
The hospital added: “To ensure the greatest possible protection for all immunosuppressed transplant patients from COVID-19, it is expected that all patients will take all available measures to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection and minimise the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to themselves and other transplant patients.”
Transplant candidates who are unable to participate in COVID-19 prevention measures will “continue to participate” in the transplant program, the statement said.
