Oncologists and hematologists from Vienna and Meran in South Tyrol have now proven the effect of the “booster” in a study in the European Journal of Cancer. Vaccination appears to be least effective in people receiving certain hematological therapies that eliminate B lymphocytes. “Most of the cancer patients we deal with can be vaccinated against Covid-19. That is also strongly recommended,” said Matthias Preusser, Head of the Clinical Division of Oncology at MedUni Vienna (AKH) to the APA. So far, however, there has been little data on how the third partial vaccination affects protection against SARS-CoV-2 in these patients.
A group of authors from the department at the Vienna General Hospital and scientists from the hemato-oncological day clinic at the Franz Tappeiner Hospital in Meran, Italy, examined the immune response of the patients (26 from Vienna and 413 from Meran) across the three partial vaccinations. There were a total of 439 patients and 41 members of the nursing staff.
14 percent of cancer patients had already had a SARS-CoV-2 infection before the vaccination. This was only the case for five (1.1 percent) after at least one partial vaccination. However, according to the authors: “The accompanying studies showed a drop in antibody titers three to six months after the second vaccination in patients with tumor diseases and in patients with hematological diseases (…).”
The third vaccination again brought an increase in antibodies against the S protein of SARS-CoV-2. Basically, that is also the main reason for recommending the third partial vaccination for people who do not have cancer. The comparison with the control group of members of the nursing staff showed, however, that cancer patients apparently build up a somewhat poorer immune response overall after the vaccination. Local reactions at the vaccination site (47 percent), fatigue (almost 16 percent) and short-term fever reactions (ten percent) were the most common complaints after the third partial vaccination.
However, the study also demonstrated the continuing greatest problem with vaccinations in patients with certain forms of blood cancer: those who receive drug therapy that eliminates malignant B lymphocytes show a particularly poor response to the Covid 19 vaccination. B cells produce antibodies in the form of plasma cells.
Preusser: “It was hoped that these patients could get over this deficiency with the third partial vaccination. But that is not the case. You will have to continue to insist on compliance with hygiene measures. But with the new drugs, monoclonal antibodies or Even in the case of the new oral Covid-19 therapies, there are new possibilities here.”
The extensive exception for cancer patients, which is apparently provided for in the compulsory vaccination regulation, is remarkable for experts. “Especially people with malignant diseases should pay special attention to their vaccination protection,” said Preusser. But most would do it anyway, and as the study clearly shows, vaccination for cancer patients is not only effective but also safe.
Source: Nachrichten
