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Introduction: Dialysis patients are at increased risk of severe COVID‐19 infection making vaccination a priority. We explored COVID‐19 vaccine uptake and perceptions in our dialysis population, associated COVID‐19 infection, and hospitalization rates. Methods: This is a single‐center retrospective study using telephone questionnaires and hospital records to investigate COVID‐19 vaccine uptake and attitudes behind vaccination status. Results: A total of 230 patients were interviewed. Vaccine uptake was 97.8% (two doses) and 86.6% (booster dose), with 79.5% vaccinated at Renal Unit. Most (58.5%) cited healthcare worker advice as a contributing factor and 54% sought protection through vaccination. COVID‐19 hospitalization was higher in unvaccinated and patients vaccinated with one dose, compared to two doses (63.2% vs. 20%, p = 0.05) and booster dose (63.2% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Our dialysis population recognized the importance of COVID‐19 vaccination. Intensive patient education and easy access to the COVID‐19 vaccine may have facilitated vaccine uptake in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of pre-formed donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) in kidney transplantation is associated with worse overall outcomes compared with DSA-negative transplantation. A positive complement-dependant cytotoxic crossmatch presents a high immunological risk, while a negative flow cytometry crossmatch is at the lower end of the risk spectrum. Yet, the presence of low-level DSA detected by Luminex alone, that is, positive Luminex and negative flow (PLNF) cytometry crossmatch lacks robust scientific exploration. In this systematic review and pooled analysis, we investigate the glomerular filtration rate, acute rejection (AR), graft survival and patient survival of PLNF transplants compared with DSA-negative transplants. Our analysis identified seven retrospective studies consisting of 429 PLNF transplants and 10 677 DSA-negative transplants. Pooled analysis identified no significant difference in the incidence of AR at 1 year [relative risk (RR) = 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90–2.02, Z  = 1.46, P = 0.14, I 2 = 0%], graft failure at 1 year (RR = 1.66, 95% CI 0.94–2.94, Z  = 1.75, P = 0.08, I 2 = 23%), graft failure at 5 years (RR = 1.29, 95% CI 0.90–1.87, Z  = 1.38, P = 0.17, I 2 = 0%), patient mortality at 1 year (RR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.31–2.56, Z  = 0.22, P = 0.82, I 2 = 0%) and patient mortality at 5 years (RR = 1.76, 95% CI 0.48–6.48, Z  = 0.85, P = 0.39, I 2 = 61%). Pooled analysis of graft function was not possible due to insufficient data. Current evidence suggests that low-level DSA detected by Luminex alone does not pose significant risk at least in the short–medium term. Considering the shortage of kidney transplants and the ever-increasing waiting time, the avoidance of PLNF transplants may be unwarranted especially in patients who have been enlisted for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]