(New York City, NY) – (Feb 9, 2026) – The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) today released a new expert consensus report in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD). The research outlines practical, evidence-based recommendations to improve vaccination rates and protection for people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). People with CKD face a significantly higher risk of severe illness from vaccine-preventable infections due to impaired immune function and, for many, immune related therapies. Despite clinical guidance, vaccination rates in this population remain lower than recommended.
To address this gap, NKF convened a multidisciplinary Working Group of clinicians, researchers, patients, and family care partners to develop actionable solutions across the kidney care community. “Vaccination is a critical component of protecting people living with kidney disease, yet it is too often overlooked or inconsistently addressed,” said Susan Massengill, MD, a Pediatric Nephrologist at Atrium Health, and one of the lead authors of the report. “These recommendations focus on early assessment, coordinated care, and respectful communication that acknowledges patient concerns and lived experiences”.
The Working Group developed recommendations across key focus areas, including assessment of vaccination status and immune response, vaccination during immunosuppression and after transplantation, international travel, protection of household contacts, healthcare team training, use of technology, and policy and advocacy considerations. Patients participating in the Working Group stressed the importance of trust and clear communication. “People living with kidney disease want clear, consistent guidance from providers they trust,” said Kristina Bryant, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases physician at the University of Louisville, and another lead author on the research. “This report calls for a more unified, patient-centered approach to vaccination—one that reduces missed opportunities and helps prevent serious, avoidable infections.”
NKF encourages healthcare professionals, health systems, policymakers, and community partners to adopt these recommendations to strengthen prevention efforts, reduce disparities, and improve outcomes for people living with kidney disease.
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.10.014
About Kidney Disease
In the United States, CKD remains an under-recognized public health burden that impacts 1 in 7 adults, and 90 percent of those affected are unaware of their condition. Approximately 1 in 3 U.S. adults are at risk for CKD, but less than 20% are assessed with guideline-recommended testing, eGFR and uACR. Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are about four times as likely as White people to develop kidney failure. Hispanic and Native American people experience kidney failure at approximately double the rate of White people.
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org.
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Media Contact:
Sam Tyler
National Kidney Foundation
Phone: 212.889.2210 x 141
Email: sam.tyler@kidney.org