MISP 60528 Pneumococcal Vaccination

Response to Guideline-concordant Pneumococcal Vaccination Strategy in Cardiac Transplant Candidates and Recipients

This study aims to use two different blood tests (ELISA and OPA) to study response to pneumococcal vaccination administered as per standard guidelines in patients who are undergoing workup for heart transplant (whether or not they have undergone LVAD implantation or have undergone heart transplant.

The patients will be receiving vaccination consistent with standard of care guidelines, regardless of study participation. The additional risk of study participation would be the risks associated with venipuncture (injury to vessel or nerve, syncope).

Patients will not accrue benefits personally. However, participation will help others by identifying whether current vaccination strategies in this population are adequate.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 or over
• Either undergoing evaluation for heart transplant (with or without LVAD receipt), or having received a heart transplant
• Receiving a dose of PCV15 or PPSV23 (or both sequentially) concordant with AST guidelines

Exclusion Criteria:

• Infants and children under age 18
• Subjects without the capacity to consent
• Pregnancy
• Already up to date on pneumococcal vaccination or declining vaccination