Prevention is Power: Protecting Kidneys Through Vaccination

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a time to remember that vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to protect our health. For people living with kidney disease, including chronic kidney disease (CKD), polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and those on dialysis, vaccination is especially important.

Kidney patients often experience weakened immune systems, making them more vulnerable to serious infections. Dialysis patients spend hours each week in healthcare settings where the risk of exposure is higher. Even a “routine” infection like the flu can quickly escalate, leading to hospitalization, missed treatments, or long-term complications.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists several vaccines as essential for people with kidney disease. These include influenza, pneumococcal, hepatitis B, shingles, and COVID-19 vaccines. For example, patients receiving dialysis are at greater risk for hepatitis B because of frequent blood exposure. Vaccination offers vital protection against this preventable infection.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, people with CKD are up to three times more likely to be hospitalized from flu-related complications. In the Pacific Northwest, timely immunization can reduce strain on both patients and the healthcare system.

The ESRD Networks Vaccination Toolkit offers dialysis providers, patients, and caregivers practical resources to improve vaccine access and awareness.

With fall and winter approaching, now is the time to schedule your flu shot and review your vaccine records with your provider. Ask about pneumococcal and hepatitis B vaccines if you’re on dialysis, and make sure you are up to date on COVID boosters.

Take this National Immunization Awareness Month as your reminder: talk with your primary care doctor today about which vaccines are right for you.