COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and polycystic kidney disease update

Updated  21 July 2021

We provide some quick facts here on COVID-19 for people with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The situation keeps changing and rules can differ by area. 

The Government in England relaxed restrictions on 19 July 2021. The situation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differs. Please use the hyperlinks on this page to find further information relevant to you.

Your doctor, renal centre, dialysis centre or transplant centre should keep you up to date. Contact them if you’re unsure how services are affected or if you want health advice.

People with normal or mildly reduced kidney function are unlikely to be at increased risk from COVID-19

There is nothing to suggest that people with PKD and normal or only mildly reduced kidney function are at higher risk of getting seriously unwell from COVID-19. You will fall into this group if you’ve been told:

• Your kidney function is 60% or higher
• Your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is 60 or higher
• You have chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 1 or 2.

People with kidney function below 60% are at higher risk from COVID-19

People with moderately or severely decreased kidney function are at increased risk of getting seriously unwell if they get COVID-19. They are classed as ‘clinically vulnerable’. You will fall into this group if you’ve been told:

• Your kidney function is 59% or lower
• Your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is 59 or lower
• You have chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3 or 4.

People who are receiving dialysis, have had a transplant or have CKD stage 5 are at extremely high risk from COVID-19

People who have had a kidney or liver transplant or who are on dialysis are thought to be at extremely high risk of getting seriously unwell if they get COVID-19. They are classed as 'clinically extremely vulnerable'. People who are not receiving dialysis and have not had a transplant but who have CKD stage 5 are also classed as 'clinically extremely vulnerable'. If you’re in this group, the government advises you take extra steps to reduce your chance of catching COVID-19 (see later).

If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19

With restrictions lifted in England, people who are clinically extremely vulnerable are no longer being advised to shield. Steps you can take to reduce your risk are below. It’s sensible to follow this advice when possible, but think about what is right for you too.

Vaccination

• Get fully vaccinated – two doses are better than one
• Have a third ‘booster’ dose if it’s offered to you
• Ask all adults in your household to get vaccinated
• If you’re taking immunosuppressants, children aged 12 or more years old whom you live may also be offered the vaccine.
• Consider delaying seeing people until both you and they are fully vaccinated (14 days after dose 2)

Meeting others

• Avoid crowded places
• Meet friends and family outside if possible
• If inside, keep the area well ventilated
• Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face
• When around people other than your household, keep socially distanced (2 metres apart) and wear a mask
• Encourage others to wear a mask too
• Ask family and friends to consider taking a lateral flow test before visiting you

Work

• Ask your employer how they plan to keep you safe
• Download this Open Letter to Employers from the SafeAtWork Charity Coalition and give it to your employer – it highlights the need for ongoing COVID safe measures for staff at higher risk
• See the government website for more information on your rights regarding work and COVID-19

There is separate guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable living in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

In addition to guidance from governments, your doctor might also recommend you take extra precautions. For example, if you’re on the transplant waiting list or had a transplant within the last 3 months, your transplant unit may advise you to shield.

Contact your dialysis centre, transplant centre, kidney specialist or doctor if you’re unsure what steps you should be taking or you’re anxious about your risk.

How well do COVID-19 vaccines work in the general population?

The vaccines protect most people from coronavirus with 3 to 4 weeks of having the jab. The effectiveness of the vaccine differs depending on brand (make of vaccine) and the variants of the virus that are circulating in the country. 

If you have had both vaccine shots, there is still a chance you could catch COVID-19. However, you’d be less likely to get seriously unwell compared with if you hadn’t had the vaccine.

Vaccination makes it less likely that you will pass on the virus to other people, but there is still a chance you could pass it on. You still need to follow government advice on coronavirus even if you have had the vaccine.

You can find an explanation of how the vaccines work on the ZOE website.

How well do COVID-19 vaccines work in people on dialysis? 

We are getting a lot of questions about how well the COVID-19 vaccines work for people who are on dialysis. We understand why this information is so important to you.

Experts advise people on dialysis to have both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination.

It’s likely that COVID-19 vaccines protect most people on haemodialysis from COVID-19. However, we don’t know for sure.

In a study in which people on haemodialysis received two COVID-19 vaccinations, over 8 in every 10 people (86%) produced antibodies that might protect them against COVID-19. These people had not had a coronavirus infection before.

How well our bodies fight an infection depends on more things that just antibodies. For example, immune cells need to work together to kill the virus. We therefore can’t say for sure that all people who make antibodies against COVID-19 are fully protected from the virus.

If you’re on haemodialysis and have had both COVID-19 vaccinations, there is still a chance you could get COVID-19. It is important that you take steps to reduce your risk of catching COVID-19, even if you have received both vaccine shots. 

Read some top tips on how to stay COVID safe.

How well do COVID-19 vaccines work in people who have had a transplant?

We are getting a lot of questions about how well the COVID-19 vaccines work for people who have had a kidney transplant. We understand why this information is so important to you.

Experts advise people who have had a transplant to have both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination.

It’s likely that COVID-19 vaccines protect some – but not all – people who have had a transplant from COVID-19. However, we don’t know for sure.

In a study in which people who have had a transplant received two COVID-19 vaccinations, over 5 in every 10 people (55%) produced antibodies that might protect them against COVID-19. These people had not had a coronavirus infection before.

How well our bodies fight an infection depends on more things that just antibodies. For example, immune cells need to work together to kill the virus. We therefore can’t say for sure that all people who make antibodies against COVID-19 are protected from the virus.

If you’ve had a transplant and have had both COVID-19 vaccinations, there is still a good chance you could get COVID-19. See earlier on this page for steps you can take to reduce your risk.

If you have had a transplant, it is important that you take steps to reduce your risk of catching COVID-19, even if you have received both vaccine shots. 

Read some top tips on how to stay COVID safe.

People at greatest risk from COVID-19 could get a booster jab from September 2021

The JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) committee that makes recommendations about vaccines in the UK has said that people most risk from COVID-19 should be offered a third vaccine dose from September. This third dose is called a booster. It will hopefully give people extra protection before winter starts and will also help to protect them from new variants of coronavirus.

People who have had a kidney transplant, people on dialysis, and those with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) will be among the first to be offered the booster. For information on all people who will be eligible, see the Gov.uk press release. Experts in kidney disease recommend that you take up this offer of a booster.

Antibody tests don’t prove that you’re immune (or not) to coronavirus

Antibody tests can be used to see whether you have had COVID-19 in the past. They can also be used for research to see if your body made antibodies against COVID-19 after you had a COVID-19 vaccine.

Even if one of these tests shows that you have antibodies to COVID-19, this doesn’t prove you’re immune to COVID-19. You might still be able to catch the virus.

You can learn more about these tests on the ZOE website. Kidney disease experts recommend that you do not purchase tests for checking antibodies. Many are unreliable so the results cannot be trusted. 

If you are offered the vaccine, ask your doctor to talk you through the potential benefits, risks and any uncertainties

On the NHS website you can find out more about the vaccines, including how it is given, how well it works, and possible side effects. 

People with high blood pressure are unlikely to be at increased risk from COVID-19

People who have high blood pressure (hypertension) are probably no more likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19 than people with normal blood pressure. If you’re taking medicine to reduce your blood pressure, keep taking it.

People taking immunosuppressants should not stop taking them unless advised by their transplant specialist

Stopping your immunosuppression could put your donated organ at risk and increase the chance of you needing hospital treatment.

People taking tolvaptan should get medical advice if they develop a fever

Fever is a possible sign of COVID-19. For people taking Jinarc® (tolvaptan) for ADPKD, fever can also be a sign of liver problems. Please read and follow all advice provided in the leaflet for tolvaptan.

If you’re taking tolvaptan and have a fever, use the online NHS coronavirus service for advice. Ring 111 if you can’t get advice online. Also call your kidney centre for advice.

Dialysis centres have put measures in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19

Please follow the instructions your dialysis centre provides. For example, there may be limits on how many people can go with you and the times you can arrive at the centre. Your dialysis centre may provide you with a special mask (a fluid-resistant surgical mask) to wear while travelling to appointments and while at the dialysis unit. These masks reduce the chance of spreading the virus.

Support is available to help you cope through the pandemic

The threat of COVID-19 and the changes that we have made to our lives are putting every one of us under strain. We understand that if you’re in a high-risk group or self-isolating, this is an especially worrying, stressful and lonely time.

We encourage you to support one another through our online PKD Charity groups. Stay in touch with family and friends by phone or online. Try not to spend too much time reading news or social media on COVID-19.

MIND, Every Mind Matters and Public Health England have advice on emotional wellbeing, mental health and how to cope in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Where to find more information

Receive updates on the coronavirus and other news, guides and tips from PKD Charity

Stay up to date

Checked and updated 21 July 2021