COVID-19 Vaccines and Immunosuppressed Patients With Cancer: Critical Considerations.
Naomi Cazeau, Meighan Palazzo, Malvi Savani and 1 others
PMID 35939727WHAT IT FOUND
Oncology nurses should plan COVID-19 vaccination around cancer therapy, screen for contraindications, use the modified mRNA schedule for immunocompromised patients, and counsel that vaccine response varies with disease and treatment.
Key findings
01CDC recommends a modified mRNA vaccination schedule for people 12 years and older with moderate to severe immune compromise, including 3 primary doses and up to 2 booster doses.
02In multiple myeloma, median 1-month antibody titers were 198.8 AU/ml with immunomodulatory therapy, 12.3 AU/ml with anti-CD38 therapy, and 9.6 AU/ml with anti-BCMA therapy.
03The article's nursing considerations include screening for contraindications, injecting the deltoid at a 90° angle, separating simultaneous injections by at least one inch, and timing vaccination 1 to 2 weeks before or after cytotoxic chemotherapy when possible.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This is a narrative review, not a systematic review, so it does not describe a search strategy, study selection, or quality appraisal. The article summarizes observational studies, small cohorts, and CDC guidance rather than testing a nursing intervention in patients. Vaccine response data are heterogeneous and may not apply to every patient with cancer. The article reflects evidence and recommendations available in 2022, so current guidance may have changed.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. No funding source is reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that vaccination gives equal protection to every patient with cancer. The article reports variable antibody responses by cancer type and treatment and is a review, not a trial that tested a nursing intervention.