News

Beyond the changing colours and prospect of flakes of snow, the cooler temperatures also mark the start of cold and flu season. People living with kidney disease are at higher risk from severe illness from both the flu and COVID-19, so it's crucial to take precautions. You may be more susceptible to other infections, including some respiratory infections. It’s important to ensure that your vaccinations are up to date.  

According to the Living with Kidney Disease patient handbook, it is recommended that all people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage kidney disease (ESKD) receive a flu vaccine once a year unless their healthcare team advises otherwise.  Anyone can catch the flu, so it’s important to protect yourself and others.  Get your flu shot as early as possible as soon as it is available to you. 

In addition, it’s also recommended that everyone diagnosed with CKD and ESKD ensure that they receive the recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine boosters.  The pneumococcal vaccine is also recommended to prevent severe forms of pneumonia. This vaccine is given once and then repeated in five years.   

Kidney disease is a risk factor for more severe complications of COVID-19 and the flu.  Complications from these infections can have serious health consequences. Treatment of these complications may require hospitalization. In Ontario, the flu vaccine is offered free of charge and is available from your healthcare practitioners, at flu clinics and pharmacies. 
 
Your healthcare team is the best resource available to answer your questions and provide information, strategies, and resources to help. Kidney transplant recipients should speak to their teams as well as there are some special considerations for kidney transplant recipients. 

Vaccination is the best protection! 

Sources: https://kidney.ca/Support/Resources/Living-With-Kidney-Failure-6th-Ed -  

https://www.ontario.ca/page/flu-facts