A LI Teacher Among First Organ Transplant Patients To Get Booster

HEWLETT, NY—An English teacher from Hewlett-Woodmere was among the first organ transplant patients to receive a booster COVID-19 vaccine shot in a new clinical trial on Long Island. Darla Smyth has spent 28 years with a liver transplant, and has had to work remotely since the pandemic because of her high risk.

On Monday, she received a booster shot of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as part of a clinical trial at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhassset, part of Northwell Health. The teacher was the first enrollee who will help scientists determine the efficacy of the booster.

Organ transplant patients are at higher risk of COVID due immunosuppressive drugs.

The clinical trial is happening nationwide at seven centers, where patients will be monitored for their immune antibody response 28 days after the third dose.

For Smyth, who was diagnosed with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis in her liver more than 28 years ago, the decision to join the trial was easy.

“When you weigh the options – either get sick or get vaccinated again, my choice was clear. I am hoping this third shot will help give me some lasting protection from this virus.”