COVID-19 vaccine and cancer patients
Icon Cancer Centre ( Singapore ) CEO Serena Wee asks a leading medical oncologist for advice on vaccinating patients with cancer
At this current stage , local recommendations suggest cancer patients who are on active anti-cancer treatment , such as chemotherapy , should not receive the COVID-19 vaccination .
The world has been turned upside down by an unimaginable pandemic . The past 13 months have been a time of unprecedented change , unrest , and uncertainty . As a leader of a healthcare organisation , I , together with my entire team at Icon Cancer Centre , have witnessed the effects COVID-19 has had on our services and , most importantly , on the vital care we continue to safely deliver to cancer patients . It ’ s not been lost on everyone how much this pandemic has affected people mentally , physically , and emotionally .
Particularly for cancer patients , it has brought added stress to an already difficult time in their lives . For immunocompromised individuals , the risks and severity of this virus have been heightened . Now with the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations , we are slowly seeing the light at the end of the tunnel , but the big questions remain – How effective is it ? What are the short and long-term effects ? Is it safe , and most importantly , is it safe for people with pre-existing medical conditions , such as cancer ?
At Icon , we are fortunate to have a team of experienced oncologists , many of whom have been actively involved in clinical trials and the introduction of new drugs , and who have also held prominent positions within Singapore ’ s Ministry of Health . I had the opportunity to sit down with Icon Cancer Centre ( Singapore ) Medical Director and Medical Oncologist ,
Serena Wee
Dr Karmen Wong , to learn more about the vaccines and their appropriate use in cancer patients .
Q : COVID-19 vaccines have been developed quickly . Have they been rushed through Health Sciences Authority ( HSA ) reviews ? Are the vaccines safe ? A : It ’ s important to remember that , like any vaccine , the COVID-19 vaccines ( Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines secured by the Ministry of Health ) have been thoroughly assessed and have met HSA safety and efficacy standards . The development and approval process has been able to be accelerated due to significant international investments and resources from vaccine manufacturers , strong global government and research partnerships , and acceleration of global controlled clinical trials with no scientific or ethical integrity being compromised .
These vaccines have similar profiles to widely used vaccines and have been developed using a variety of tried and tested technologies , including traditional approaches such as genetic engineering techniques .
Q : Should patients undergoing cancer treatment receive a COVID-19 vaccination ? A : At this current stage , local recommendations suggest cancer patients who are on active anti-cancer treatment , such as chemotherapy , should not receive the COVID-19 vaccination . The clinical trials of the current COVID-19 vaccines have not included patients diagnosed with immunocompromised conditions such as cancer , or patients doing immunosuppressive therapies . At present , it ’ s unclear whether patients on active treatment who are immunocompromised will be able to mount an antibody immune response . But cancer patients in countries such as the UK have been advised to receive the vaccine . The Singapore medical community will continue to watch developments in other parts of the world closely and monitor the safety of the vaccine in immunocompromised people . Patients should discuss the vaccine with their treating doctor who will advise if it ’ s appropriate for their individual case and treatment regime .
Q : What are some of the potential side effects of the vaccine ?
56 APRIL 2021 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com