If I’ve Had Cancer . . .
Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
As a nurse practitioner — and fellow cancer-person — I’ve been asked more than a few times if the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for cancer patients.
I applaud every cancer-person — whether you are tackling cancer now or have a history of cancer (as I do) — for asking such an important question.
Asking questions, instead of merely doing what your doctor or provider recommends, means you are taking charge of your body and your health.
Good for you! Applause!! High-five!!
What is a Vaccine?
Vaccines are also called vaccinations or immunizations and they help a person’s immune system recognize and protect the body against certain infections.
Are Any Vaccines Safe for People With Cancer?
I’m going to take a quick step backward and address vaccines in general first. Because cancer-people face unique health challenges, it’s critical to have a basic understanding of vaccines from which you can understand the COVID-19 vaccine.
- There’s a difference between inactive virus vaccines and live virus vaccines. Generally speaking, persons with a weak immune system should not get a live virus vaccine. Since some persons with cancer may have a weak immune system, it’s crucial to talk to your provider or doctor before getting any vaccine. Ask your cancer team about spending time with children or family members who get vaccines and if there are risks for you.
- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu shot for everyone over 6 months with very few exceptions. These exceptions are updated annually with every new flu vaccine released. It’s essential to prevent influenza (the viral infection referred to as “the flu”) in people who have cancer or weakened immune systems because these individuals are at a higher risk for serious and sometimes life-threatening complications. The CDC recommends that cancer patients receive a flu shot with inactive (dead) flu virus annually. Why annually? Because research has shown that typically there is a different strain of flu each year. However, every person has a unique health history, so be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of receiving a flu vaccine with your cancer team each year before getting vaccinated. They will help you determine the best time each year to get the flu vaccine based on your type of cancer and treatment.
Understanding the COVID-19 Vaccines Available in the US
As of today, there are two COVID-19 vaccines that have received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
- The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is FDA authorized for people older than 16 years of age. It is given in 2 doses, 3 weeks apart.
- The Moderna vaccine is FDA authorized for persons older than 18 years of age. It is given in 2 doses, 4 weeks apart.
Both of these vaccines have been found to be more than 90% effective in preventing severe COVID-19 disease in those who receive both doses but may not be as effective with only one dose.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine contain messenger RNA (mRNA), which is genetic material used to tell the cells in the body to make copies of the “spike” protein of the virus. The “spike” protein is the part of the virus that helps infect human cells.
It’s important to know that this “spike” protein is not the COVID-19 virus and cannot cause disease, but it can trigger an immune response allowing the body to learn to act against this protein should it see it again in the future.
Side Effects of Vaccines
It is common for vaccines to cause pain and tenderness at the injection site, as well as, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, fever, and chills. These are all expected immune system responses that typically go away within a few days.
Additional immune responses may include swollen/painful lymph nodes under the arm (lymphadenopathy) and should be evaluated by your cancer team.
It’s important to know that the long-term effects of these vaccines have not been studied as they are fairly new. At this time, serious and long-term side effects to these vaccines are rare and include possible allergic reactions by person’s who have had allergic reactions in the past.
Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe for Cancer Patients?
There are a few things cancer-people should know prior to considering getting either of the COVID-19 vaccines.
- Initial studies that tested the COVID-19 vaccine didn’t include persons receiving treatment with immune-suppressive drugs (like chemo), or persons with weak immune systems. This is because the studies needed to test people with healthy immune systems first to check the effectiveness of the vaccine. So, it’s not clear how effective the vaccine is for these groups.
- Live virus vaccines are typically not recommended for cancer patients. However, the COVID-19 vaccines being used in the US right now do not contain live viruses. Therefore, several cancer and vaccine experts recommend that most people with cancer or a history of cancer receive this vaccine. This is based on the possibility that, for cancer patients, the risks associated with contracting COVID-19 (the disease) are much higher than the risks of getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Since every cancer patient’s health needs are unique, it is best to talk to your cancer team about the specific-to-you benefits and risks of getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Although many expert medical groups are recommending that most patients with cancer or a history of cancer should get a COVID-19 vaccine, the situation for every person is different. It is best to discuss the risks and benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine with your cancer doctor, who can advise you.” — American Cancer Society
If you found this article helpful, I accept hugs in the form of
— Generous highlighting and applause
— Copious comments spilling with gratitude and deep-thoughts
— Scads of followers Julie Nyhus MSN, FNP-BC
— Positive thoughts directed my way
In peace and hope,
Joolz
