Under Phase 1B of the Australian COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, patients with cancer are now eligible for priority vaccination. In reality, a number of practical and psychological barriers remain, which may impact take-up of this critical vaccination program.
Calls to Cancer Council’s 131120 Information and Support line, combined with anecdotal evidence from clinical cancer staff, indicate significant levels of concern and confusion about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for patients who may be immune-compromised or on active treatment.
Speaking to the Herald-Sun last week, Executive Director of the VCCC alliance, Prof Grant McArthur - himself a cancer survivor who also has a history of recurrent deep vein thrombosis - said, “[The vaccine] is safe, it is effective and the community needs it to get over the pandemic.”
Grant received his first dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital vaccination hub last Thursday with no ill effects, joining tens of thousands of Australians in categories 1A and 1B who have received the jab.
“I particularly want to see patients with cancer get vaccinated because if patients with cancer get COVID-19 they can have much worse outcomes,” he said.
To address misinformation and misgivings held by some groups in the cancer community, the Victorian COVID-19 and Cancer Network (VCCN) hosted a special webinar on 31 March. Featuring experts from infection control, government, and haematology as well as a patient with cancer's experience of COVID-19, the panel explored the vaccination issue and set out the evidence, with the aim of putting uncertainty to rest.
The event, The answer is yes. Clinical notes on COVID-19 Vaccinations for Patients with Cancer was facilitated by Associate Professor Sue-Anne McLachlan, Director of Oncology and Cancer Services at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, and co-chair of the VCCN. The recording is available on the VCCC’s Open Learning Hub.
Cancer Council Victoria and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre have co-produced a special vaccination fact sheet specifically for people affected by cancer. The information provided is the current safety and efficacy information regarding vaccination for patients with cancer. The fact sheet is endorsed by the VCCN and freely available to download, print, and share with patients in all Victorian cancer services.
