COVID-19 vaccines and people with cancer
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January 28, 2021
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect many Canadians, two mRNA vaccines are becoming available to protect against the coronavirus. But are these vaccines safe and effective for people with cancer?
Safety of the vaccines
Initial studies on the vaccines did not include people receiving treatments that can suppress the immune system, such as chemotherapy. However, many experts and organizations are endorsing the vaccines’ safety for people with cancer.
Effectiveness of the vaccines
Because the vaccines essentially train the immune system to recognize and protect against COVID-19, their effectiveness depends on the ability of a person’s immune system to mount a specific response. A range of other factors may also impact the vaccines’ effectiveness for people with cancer.
People who are living with cancer are at increased risk of serious illness resulting from COVID-19. As such, there is growing consensus among health authorities that benefits of vaccination likely outweigh the risks for people with cancer. Even when the potential for decreased effectiveness of the vaccine within this population is taken into consideration.
Research continues to evolve as more people are vaccinated.
Next steps
If you are living with ovarian cancer, Ovarian Cancer Canada recommends that you consult your oncologist before proceeding with vaccinations for COVID-19. This ensures you receive personalized, expert advice based on your unique circumstances.
The supply of vaccines will likely be limited for some time. Early rollout began in December 2020 with residents of long-term care homes, adults 70 years of age and older, health care workers, and adults in Indigenous communities.
Provinces and territories have shared detailed plans at canada.ca. To learn what’s happening in your region, scroll to ‘Local vaccination rollout plans,’ and make your selection from the dropdown list.
As always, Ovarian Cancer Canada is informed by the best available evidence and information from health experts and authorities. Our team is closely monitoring developments as they occur and will be updating ovariancanada.org with further details.