Has anyone who has been vaccinated tested positive for spike protein antibodies after immunization?

[Grateful9]

Because of immunosuppressant medications I am in a study to see if we generate an immune response to vaccine.

[Kidney2014]

Hi Grateful9!

I’m nearly seven years post transplant, on Tacrolimus, prednisone, Myfortic. I recently got my lab results for serum antibodies after my second vaccine (Pfizer). My neph/transplant hospital ordered both tests two weeks after the second vaccine: Anti-SARS-COV-2 IgG and Anti-spike IgG Antibody Titer. For the first test, it shows reactive. And the second test shows a high titer ratio, which confirms the positive, if I read it correctly. The second test is not FDA approved yet, and my hospital is using it for their own data and research.

Big sigh of relief that the vaccine is working, but my concern is if it’s effective against new variants and how long immunity lasts.

Let me know how it goes for you. Good luck!

[Grateful9 in reply to Kidney2014]

Hi Kidney 2014! Thank you so much for your reply. I am so happy you had a positive reaction to the vaccine antibody test. I had the same test ordered by Johns Hopkins and my nephrologist after first and second immunization. All tests were non-reactive. I also take Tacrolimus, prednisone and Mycophenolate and was transplanted nine years ago. I was an incompatible transplant patient at Johns Hopkins. For the time being I was told by my local nephrologist to continue strict COVID-19 guidelines and stay at home as much as possible. Stay healthy and thank you again for your reply. I am optimistic and know God has a plan!

[LisaSnow in reply to Grateful9]

Hi Grateful, although you are also 9 years out, because of your transplant organ being imperfectly compatible it is likely that the doses of your immunosuppressive meds are high than Kidney2014's. This will explain why the antibody response was nonreactive. Once your meds are lowered the vaccine will yield the appropriate response when/if you are exposed to the virus. But yes, staying diligent in avoiding the exposure is the best way to go, for all of the at risk folks.

[Grateful9 in reply to LisaSnow]

Thank you!

[nobska in reply to Kidney2014]

Hi! I have had my transplant for 18 years and just had my first Pfizer shot. I am on mycophenolate and am curious what your myfortic dosage is. Mine is 750mg twice a day. I am hoping this isn't too much to prevent the antibodies. Congrats on your results!

[Kidney2014 in reply to nobska]

Thank you and good luck to you! My brother was my donor, even though we were 0/6 haplotype match. I’m on 360mg of Myfortic twice a day. It was tapered over the years to the current dosage. Also, note that I have IgA Nephropathy, which is an autoimmune disease and might be recurring as my lab results indicate. The immune reaction is so variable from one person to the next.

[nobska in reply to Kidney2014]

Thank you so much for your reply. That's great you are on such a low dose. I have to see if mine can be lowered. It's wonderful that your brother was your donor. Be well and stay safe!

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

I am 21+ years post transplant. I have had both of my shots of Moderna. I was tested last week Thursday and was positive for serum antibodies.I take Neoral and Myfortic.

[Grateful9 in reply to WYOAnne]

Hello! So happy to hear you tested positive for serum antibodies. I really appreciate your reply. I had the Moderna vaccine also. I am so glad I joined this site. I have been wondering if any fellow kidney transplant patients were able to generate serum antibodies. Stay healthy and thank you again for your reply.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador in reply to Grateful9]

I was a little worried about it, from what I heard from others. I know some have not built up antibodies against COVID. Hopefully the studies they are doing, like at Johns Hopkins, will give the experts some answers. Just like some get severe COVID and die, while others hardly even no they have it. So, maybe some transplant recipients have no issues with building up antibodies and others do. It'll be the experts job to determine who?

[Grateful9 in reply to WYOAnne]

You are so right! It is a strange virus. Take care.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador in reply to Grateful9]

You too, stay well!

[Grateful9 in reply to WYOAnne]

Thank you!

[LisaSnow in reply to WYOAnne]

I think it is the amount of immune suppression (from medication) that dictates how responsive our immunity is to the vaccine.

[Grateful9 in reply to LisaSnow]

Thank you so much for reply!

[FrankF]

I am glad to hear that the vaccine is working in transplant patients. It puts me more at ease. I received my 2nd moderna shot last week. I am 31 years post transplant with my sister's kidney. We were a 6 antigen match and I hardly take any immunosupression now. I wish the best for everyone.

[Grateful9 in reply to FrankF]

That is wonderful! Stay healthy and thank you for reply!

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Since last posting on this site, I have had the antibody "SPIKE" test an it was positive. I am a month out from my second Moderna vaccine shot. So glad my body is doing what it should. I am 21+ years out from my transplant.

[Hidden in reply to WYOAnne]

Quick question--did you have side effects with the second Moderna vaccine? Thanks!

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Yes, for about 36 hours. I ran a low-grade fever and felt all achy. Didn't last long.My doctor tested me March 11th to see if I had built up the needed antibodies against COVID. My 2nd shot of Moderna was Feb 10th. And yes, I did build up the antibodies. Yeah!!!

[Grateful9 in reply to WYOAnne]

That is wonderful!

[Grateful9]

I am so very happy for you! Praying and trusting God has a plan for those of us that didn’t make antibodies. Thank you for reply!

[LisaSnow]

I would like to share what my nephrologist reminded me of. I hope that you feel more at ease with your antibody results regardless of what you find, and know that the (up to) 98% protection still applies to you. "I think you should look at the results only out of interest : if positive - its reassuring, but we still have to see how it will perform with the new variants in real life. If antibody is undetectable - there was no data on giving booster doses for seronegative vaccine responses in any of the trials, and it was (still) 95% preventative of severe covid in all patient types. "

[Grateful9 in reply to LisaSnow]

Thank you for your reply. From what I understood from a webinar yesterday 100% of the participants in the Moderna and Pfizer clinical trials generated antibodies. In the Johns Hopkins transplant vaccine trial only 17% generated antibodies after first dose. More participants were seropositive after second dose; however this data has not been released.

[LisaSnow in reply to Grateful9]

That is hardly surprising because of the heavy immunosuppressive medications transplant patients take. The take home message is that of the population based trials, subjects were of all ages and with diverse medical conditions including those also taking immunosuppressive medications. Yet, the protection against SERIOUS outcomes as a whole was evident. This is why regardless of seropositivity status those who got vaccinated are better off from before the vaccination.

[Grateful9]

Thank you again for your reply. From what I understand Immunosuppressed patients and patients with unstable chronic conditions were not included in the phase III trials. This is why Johns Hopkins started vaccine antibody transplant trial. They are studying other options for those of us seronegative after two doses. Stay safe and I appreciate information.

[Hidden in reply to Grateful9]

Does Johns Hopkins have data for the second dose? What percentage of those enrolled in the study produced antibodies (or immunogenicity) to the second vaccine?

[Grateful9 in reply to Hidden]

More patients made antibodies to the second dose but the data has not been released yet.

[KidneyBham]

OMG, I have been reading the reviews about spike protein. I got my second vaccine shot Monday (Pfizer) and today I had foamy urine, of course I’m freaking out. I’m calling my nephrologist tomorrow and see if he can check my labs.

[Grateful9 in reply to KidneyBham]

Prayers for you that all is well.

[LisaSnow]

One month after my second vaccine I had a high tier reading for SARS-CoV-2 "S" antibody.

[Grateful9 in reply to LisaSnow]

That is wonderful news! Thank you for sharing!