Immune Response in Dialysis Patients Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Background and aims: Patients receiving kidney replacement therapy with dialysis are at high risk of infection and death from COVID-19. There is a lack of evidence whether SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is effective in this immunocompromised group. Study design: this is a prospective cohort study. Two cohorts will be included: dialysis patients and controls (medical staff), both vaccinated with Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) vaccine. Blood samples will be collected at 28 days and 22 weeks after after the second SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose administration. The primary outcome is the level of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies on day 28 after the second vaccination as compared to controls. The secondary outcomes are: 1) the level of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies on week 22 after the second vaccination; 2) T cell subtype immunity measured by SARS-CoV-2 interferon-γ release assays (IGRA) 28 days and 22 weeks after the second vaccination.