Cancer and the Flu Vaccine – What to Know
Every American over the age of six months is encouraged to get the flu vaccine annually. That includes cancer patients, their caregivers, and those living with them. This is agreed upon by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and all leading cancer treatment centers.
Long story short, if you have cancer, you should get the flu shot.
The flu season in the United States starts in October and ends in May, with peak transmissions occurring between December through February. The ideal time to get the flu vaccine is in September or October, but if that window has been missed, it can still be administered even late in the flu season. Experts advise against getting vaccinated too early (July or August), as it will increase vulnerability later in the season, when transmission rates can still be running high.
Because cancer treatments tend to weaken the immune system, cancer patients or those who have recently completed treatments are at an increased risk of developing more serious complications if the flu is contracted. While most everyone who is infected with the flu virus will recover within a few days or up to a couple of weeks, some will not.
For a few, the flu can pose much more serious risks that can be moderate to life threatening. Those complications can include anything from sinus and ear infections or pneumonia to inflammation of the heart or brain or even multi-organ failure. People living with chronic health conditions like asthma or diabetes are more vulnerable and at greater risk of flu complications.
Age is another factor that puts otherwise healthy individuals at greater risk for flu complications. If older than age 65, the body may have a weaker response to the flu vaccine. There are two specific vaccines developed for this age group that can increase protection. One is a high-dose vaccine that contains four times the amount of antigens. The other contains an additive that works with the body to create a stronger response to the virus in the immune system.
The results of a clinical trial published with the National Institutes of Health in November 2020 provide good news for cancer patients during flu season. Their results showed that cancer patients receiving chemotherapy for solid tumors receive the same rate of protection from the flu vaccine as the general population.
Like other cancer treatment professionals, Srilata Gundala, MD, a hematologist/oncologist and founder of the Hope & Healing Care Center in Hinsdale, Illinois, encourages her patients to get the flu vaccine each year, “There is a long-established safety record for use of the flu shot with cancer patients. It is so important, especially during the months that my patients are most vulnerable while in treatment, for them to do everything to protect themselves from highly transmissible illnesses like the flu. An annual flu shot can help.”
Written By: Sheila Quirke, MSW
Reviewed By: Srilata Gundala, MD
