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RESEARCH TORONTO GENERAL HOSPITAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE





               Third



               Time’s a



                Charm





               Clinical trial reveals that

               COVID-19 booster is safe and

                effective in transplant patients



               The first randomized, placebo-controlled trial
               of a COVID-19 booster vaccine in transplant
               recipients has revealed that a third dose of the
               Moderna vaccine is safe and induces a robust
               immune response.

               “We knew from previous studies that two doses
               of vaccines are not enough to produce a strong
               immune response against COVID-19 in transplant
               patients,” says the joint-senior author of the study,   vaccine group met these antibody levels.
               Dr. Deepali Kumar.                                The research team also found that the booster
                                                                 led to the production of T-cells and neutralizing
               The clinical trial was randomized, double-blind   antibodies, both of which specifically target
               and placebo-controlled—providing a high level of   and neutralize the virus. In the Moderna group,
               rigour. A total of 120 transplant patients that had   60% tested positive for at least some ability to
               not previously contracted COVID-19 and had        neutralize the virus, compared to only 25% of
               received two doses of the Moderna vaccine were    participants on placebo.
               enrolled in the trial.
                                                                 In terms of safety, the booster vaccine was well
               At the two-month mark after their second dose,    tolerated, associated with only mild side effects
               half of the participants received a third shot,   and did not lead to organ rejection. “We found
               while the other half received a placebo. The      that the third dose was safe and increased immune
               findings revealed that the booster shot increased   responses in transplant patients. These findings
               antibodies against the spike protein to levels that   are quite definitive and tell us that third doses
               are believed to provide at least 50% protection   should be given to this vulnerable population to
               against developing COVID-19. After three doses,   help prevent COVID-19,” says Dr. Atul Humar,
               only 18% of the participants in the placebo group   Medical Director of the UHN Ajmera Transplant
               showed this response, whereas 55% of those in the   Centre, and the joint-senior author of the study.


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