CONCLUSION
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial effect on morbidity and mortality in kidney replacement therapy patients affected by the disease, peaking in elderly and diabetic patients. Despite the higher risk of morbidity and mortality due to impaired immunity, kidney transplantation from a deceased or living donor appears to be a safe treatment modality for patients with end-stage renal failure even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mortality of the kidney transplant patients from COVID-19 is significantly lower than the risk of infection and death during a hemodialysis treatment. It is of vital importance that in future pandemics the nephrology community has a crisis management and protocols in place and be able to act swiftly to increase the safety of their patients and mitigate the damage to their health as much as possible. Transplant centers need to be flexible during a pandemic, adopting both short-term and long-term changes along the way. Important precautionary measures include early vaccination of at-risk groups, including kidney transplant patients.