Influenza A: how to vaccinate patients treated for cancer

The Inca strongly recommends Vaccination for people with cancer because of their weakened immune system. People following a chemotherapy are particularly susceptible to infection influenza virus and the complications it can cause.

Protocol Vaccination patients following chemotherapy

The Inca recommends performing the Vaccination patients receiving chemotherapy as follows:

- Vaccination should take place 15 days before or at least 7 days after a course of chemotherapy;

- The use of a vaccine with adjuvant is recommended, with administration of one or two doses by the immune status of the patient;

- When two doses are required, an interval of 21 days must elapse between the two injections.

However, the doctor will adjust the Vaccination case by case depending on the situation of the patient.

Terms of Vaccination patients treated with chemotherapy

The Inca recommends that Vaccination patients treated for cancer is carried out by teams who are responsible for treating their disease. Where this is not possible, two solutions are possible:

- The patient goes to the center VaccinationIf possible with a letter from the medical oncology department in charge of the center VaccinationSo that it is aware of his situation;

- If the patient does not allow him to visit a center VaccinationIt is possible to use the mobile teams Vaccination.

Specific recommendations

The Inca made specific recommendations in two situations:

- Patients who have undergone intensive chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation must be vaccinated under the authority of doctors who performed the transplant;

- Children with cancer should be vaccinated under the teams of pediatric hematology-oncology who follow them.

The Inca also stresses the importance of Vaccination relatives of patients and health personnel who support them.