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JAMAICAN DIALYSIS PATIENTS AND THE COVID VACCINE

Dialysis patients are recommended to have the covid vaccine. Dialysis patients are immunocompromised and are at increased risk for poor outcomes with covid infections. This immunocompromised state will therefore be an indication for a booster shot 6 or more months after the completed covid vaccination when available.

It is important to remember the covid vaccine may not prevent you from becoming infected with covid but reduces significantly your chance of dying or being admitted to hospital because of covid. There is no preference of the type of vaccine for dialysis patients generally, but discuss the various options with your Nephrologist for further guidance.

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR DIALYSIS PATIENTS TO TRAVEL TO JAMAICA?

Yes, dialysis patients can safely travel to Jamaica and receive dialysis from local dialysis centers. These patients are considered transient (holiday/temporary) dialysis patients. All the local private dialysis centers provide this service. The public/government dialysis centers are usually too busy to consistently offer this service.

HOW SHOULD A DIALYSIS PATIENTS PLAN FOR A TRIP TO JAMAICA?

It is very important to plan ahead for your trip. You should start at least 6 weeks before the date of travel unless it’s an emergency. At present, because of covid, you would need a travel authorization to travel to Jamaica before entering the island. You should be fully covid immunized for safety and reducing quarantine periods. Your dialysis center would have a social worker or a travel coordinator to help you through the steps needed. The Jamaican dialysis centers can also help you if you choose to do the steps your self but I highly recommend you use your center travel coordinator.

HOW WOULD I FIND A JAMAICAN DIALYSIS CENTER?

Your social worker or center travel coordinator might have to check with more than one center to find one in the area you are staying and if they could accommodate you on the days required. Not all Jamaican dialysis centers are open on weekends. Your social worker might have used a center before and is satisfied with their safety and quality. Your hotel short stay rental relatives or friends can give you the name of the center closest to them. Of course, you can search the internet for dialysis centers in the area you plan to stay.

WHAT IF I NEED TO TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY?

Most of the private dialysis centers would be able to accommodate you. The centers would still require information on your medical history before they accept you. So you must travel with this information if you are not able to book with a unit beforehand.

WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED BY JAMAICAN DIALYSIS CENTERS?

The required information may vary slightly so you must check with the individual center. The dialysis center would require at least a summary of your medical history including allergies, your dialysis orders, copies of your last 3 to 5 dialysis flow sheets, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV status. Each center would stipulate how recent this information should be, for example, within 3 months.

This information must be sent prior to arrival with the required treatment dates before a confirmation is given. Most centers now require covid immunization status and recent covid swab results to decide what area you would be dialyzed in. To enter Jamaica you need to have already been tested for covid with a negative result; some centers would require a negative PCR test to dialyze you with the normal/non-covid patients.

HOW CAN I ENSURE THE QUALITY OF JAMAICAN DIALYSIS CENTERS?

The Jamaican government has a standards and quality department that inspects the dialysis centers to ensure the centers are operating at the expected standards. Your social worker or travel coordinator can guide you here also.

HOW DO I PREVENT MYSELF FROM BECOMING SICK IN JAMAICA?

Pace yourself, do not book too many activities in one day. Continue your fluid restriction and renal diet. Take advice on the new foods you might want to try. Speak to the nephrologist and dialyzers nurse on local foods. Ensure you obtain contact numbers for the nurse and nephrologist for emergencies. Do not miss your dialysis or shorten your treatment time.

WHAT ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD PERITONEAL DIALYSIS PATIENTS MAKE FOR TRAVEL?

The good news is that peritoneal dialysis patients can travel safely to Jamaica. You should contact the Jamaican dialysis centers to find out which centers support peritoneal dialysis patients. The nephrologist should be engaged and contact information obtained for emergencies. The peritoneal dialysis fluid should be shipped to your destination and cleared customs before you arrive. You should also travel with at least 72 hrs of supplies with you. You must find out the system used by the local center (Fresenius or Baxter). Both fluid types are on the island but need arrangements beforehand if you plan to access the fluid locally.

I however recommend that you bring along or ship your own supplies or have your provider ship the supplies for you.

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