Health Watch USA to Examine COVID-19 Vaccination and Kidney Disease Outcomes

Infection prevention is evolving rapidly, and nowhere is that more evident than at the intersection of chronic disease, vaccination strategy, and COVID-19 outcomes. As the health care community continues to refine its approach to protecting vulnerable populations, timely, evidence-based discussion is essential.

You are invited to the next Health Watch USA meeting on February 18, 2026, hosted by Kevin Kavanagh, MD, MS, a member of Infection Control Today^®’s (ICT^®’s) editorial advisory board, and featuring Christos Argyropoulos, MD, PhD, MS, FASN. This session will focus on one of the most clinically and operationally relevant questions facing infection prevention and public health professionals today: the effects of repeated COVID-19 vaccinations versus COVID-19 disease in patients with kidney disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease and those receiving dialysis or transplant care represent a uniquely high-risk population. They face increased susceptibility to infection, higher rates of severe COVID-19 outcomes, and complex immune responses shaped by uremia, inflammation, and immunosuppressive therapies. For infection preventionists, understanding how repeated vaccination compares with infection-related immune and nonimmune effects is critical to guiding policy, education, and patient-facing conversations.

Argyropoulos will examine both immunological and nonimmunological impacts of COVID-19 vaccination and disease in kidney patients. This includes how repeated vaccine exposure may influence immune function, inflammation, cardiovascular risk, and overall disease progression, as well as how COVID-19 infection itself can exacerbate kidney injury and long-term health outcomes. The discussion will emphasize evidence over ideology and data over speculation.

For ICT readers, this session offers practical value beyond theory. The information shared will help inform risk communication with patients and families, guide vaccination and booster strategies within dialysis centers and hospital settings, and support collaboration between infection prevention, nephrology, and public health teams. It also provides context for navigating ongoing vaccine misinformation that disproportionately affects medically vulnerable populations.

Health Watch USA meetings are designed to foster informed discussion grounded in clinical evidence and public health realities. This upcoming session is particularly timely as health systems prepare for future respiratory virus seasons while continuing to care for patients with complex chronic conditions.

Mark your calendar for February 18, 2026, and join the conversation on how best to protect kidney disease patients through science-driven infection prevention strategies.

Topic: Health Watch USA Meeting
Time: Feb 18, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Every month on the Third Wed, until Dec 16, 2026, 11 occurrence(s)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89170206444?pwd=WFi32Sdl5bPpZygQ5tGoqH3FHFvQpQ.1

Meeting ID: 891 7020 6444
Passcode: 240008