What Cancer Patients Should Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine
The American Society of Clinical Oncology has published answers to pressing questions about the COVID-19 vaccine for people with cancer.
COVID-19 Vaccine & Patients with Cancer
Source: asco.org
Should people with cancer be vaccinated against COVID-19?
At this time, patients with cancer may be offered vaccination against COVID-19 as long as components of that vaccine are not contraindicated. The current CDC interim clinical guidance discusses immunocompromised individuals. It states: “Immunocompromised individuals may still receive COVID-19 vaccination if they have no contraindications to vaccination. However, they should be counseled about the unknown vaccine safety profile and effectiveness in immunocompromised populations, as well as the potential for reduced immune responses and the need to continue to follow all current guidance to protect themselves against COVID-19.” Also, it may be advantageous for patients to visit a family medicine clinic first, where the doctor is familiar with the patient’s medical history. It might encourage the patient to initially talk to someone he is conversant with and gets mentally prepared for the vaccine. Following that, he may refer to a cancer specialist to learn about the precautions that he might need to take following the vaccine dosage. The expert panel noted that while some immunocompromised patients may experience decreased response to the vaccine, it may still confer some benefit and is important to reduce the risk or severity of COVID-19 to cancer patients, especially given recent evidence of higher rates of severe infection.
Should people undergoing active treatment for cancer be vaccinated against COVID-19?
At this time, patients undergoing treatment may be offered vaccination against COVID-19 as long as any components of the vaccine are not contraindicated. Oncologists have experience providing other types of vaccines to patients receiving treatment for cancer, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy or stem cell transplantation. Strategies such as providing the vaccine in between cycles of therapy and after appropriate waiting periods for patients receiving stem cell transplants and immune globulin treatment can be used to reduce the risks while maintaining the efficacy of vaccination.
Should cancer survivors be vaccinated against COVID-19?
Cancer survivors may be offered vaccination against COVID-19 as long as any components of the vaccine are not contraindicated.
Visit the ASCO website for updates on this topic and responses to more questions, including:
- Are there people who should not be vaccinated?
- What other concerns are there for people with cancer who are vaccinated?
- CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
COVID-29 Vaccine Interm Guidelines For Cancer Patients: A Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Guide
This document provides guidelines that are “intended to provide clinicians with practical recommendations on using the emergency authorized (EUA) mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for patients with active and treated cancer”.