COVID-19 and CKD

Dialysis patients need urgent access to vaccine

Challenges faced by dialysis patients have increased in complexity by COVID-19. In light of this, The Kidney Foundation is calling on the provincial government to consider the urgent need for dialysis patients to be immunized quickly as phases of eligibility are applied to those beyond frontline workers and those in long term care.

Behind the scenes over the last few months, The Kidney Foundation has been delivering this message to our provincial government, Medical Officers of Health, members of the Vaccine Distribution Task Force and key personnel within the Ministry of Health.

“As the Ministry of Health and Public Health Units assess the most vulnerable segments of the population, people with kidney failure mustn’t be overlooked,” said Anthony Tirone, Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation’s Ontario Branch. “We are calling on provincial governments to prioritize people on dialysis for COVID-19 vaccination.”

Given that 75 percent of dialysis patients currently travel to a hospital or treatment centre for their dialysis, it would be relatively easy to vaccinate this population. While some regions have started reporting that vaccinations for dialysis patients are underway, there does not appear to be a systematic approach in place for this group.

According to the Ontario Renal Network, there have been over 600 reported cases of COVID-19 among dialysis patients, which translates into an infection rate of approximately five percent. More staggering is the low survival rate.

We will continue to seek opportunities to engage with decisions makers to ensure that dialysis patients are immunized as quickly as possible.

Have your voice heard! Connect with your local MPP and ask for their support in moving this important issue forward. 

COVID – 19 Webinars

In partnership with the Canadian Society of Nephrology, a webinar entitled COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Dialysis Patients took place on February 10. The details will also soon be available about a COVID-19 vaccine webinar specifically for transplant patients. Watch our webinar page for registration information or to access the recording of the Vaccine Information for dialysis patients webinar. https://kidney.ca/Support/ Resources/Webinars Ontario Branch 1599 Hurontario St., Ste. 201

Mississauga, ON L5G 4S1 1-800-387-4474 • 905-278-3003 ontario@kidney.ca

African-Caribbean Kidney Association 1-800-387-4474 president@acka.ca 1-800-387-4474 Brant County 1-800-387-4474 brant.president@kidney.ca Central Ontario 1-800-387-4474 • 905-278-3003 daniela.piotrowski@kidney.ca

Chinese Renal Association 1-800-387-4474 • 289-344-0813 shukyu.fong@kidney.ca Durham Region 1-800-387-4474 Eastern Ontario 1-800-387-4474 •613-724-9953 suzanne.laniel@kidney.ca Hamilton & District 1-800-387-4474 julie.bertoia@kidney.ca Kingston 1-800-387-4474 • 613-542-2121 katie.kyte@kidney.ca London & District 1-800-387-4474 • 519-9505362 rizwana.ramzanali@kidney.ca Niagara & District 1-800-387-4474 julie.bertoia@kidney.ca North Bay 1-800-387-4474 Northern Superior 807-624-2680 ontario@kidney.ca Sarnia-Lambton 519-344-3462 elaine.hayter@kidney.ca Sault Ste. Marie 705-949-0400 tannis.mcmillan@kidney.ca Timmins-Porcupine 1-800-387-4474 • 705-365-7492 timmins.president@kidney.ca Waterloo – Wellington & District 1-800-387-4474 tracey.babineau@kidney.ca Windsor & District 519-977-9211 erika.muscat@kidney.ca