Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCOVID-19 VaccineVaccine OptionsSafetyContraindicationsSide EffectsCOVID-19 & Lung CancerRecommendationsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
COVID-19 Vaccine
Vaccine Options
Safety
Contraindications
Side Effects
COVID-19 & Lung Cancer
Recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions
The SARS-CoV-2 infection leads toCOVID-19, a disease that primarily includes respiratory symptoms.Though hundreds of millions of people have contracted the virus, the majority of people recover without problems. However, people with underlying medical issues, includinglung canceror aweakened immune system, are at risk for severe disease.Vaccinationis an essential tool to protect against COVID-19. It has proven to be safe and effective in people with lung cancer, who are already at an increased risk of death from the virus due to its respiratory factors.This article discusses why people with lung cancer need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.Karl Tapales / Getty ImagesCOVID-19 VaccinesThe development of the COVID-19 vaccine was one of the most critical advances in the course of the pandemic. Certain populations can particularly benefit from vaccination, such as those at higher risk for severe disease or death from the virus.One study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that unvaccinated adults were 12 times more likely to be hospitalized than fully vaccinated people. It also shows that unvaccinated adults over age 50 are 46 times more likely to be hospitalized than people who have been fully vaccinated and received an additional booster dose.How to Encourage COVID-19 VaccinationCOVID-19 Vaccine OptionsA few different COVID-19 vaccine options are approved for use in the United States, but the most widely used are themRNA vaccines. Although the mRNA vaccine technology seems new to the general population, it has been improved over decades and is proven to be safe and effective.For most people, you are considered up-to-date with your vaccination if you’ve received one dose of the most recently updated vaccine formulation. However, as variants such as Omicron have emerged, updated vaccines are necessary to help restore protection that has decreased.Pfizer-BioNTechThePfizer-BioNTech vaccineis an mRNA vaccine that is given as one dose for everyone six years and older. Younger children and adults over 65 may receive additional doses of the vaccine.Initially, the vaccine was found to be 95% effective against the original variant in preventing infections in people ages 16 years and older who receive two shots.ModernaTheModerna vaccineis an mRNA vaccine that, like the Pfizer vaccine, is given as a single dose for ages six years and older. When the original strain was dominant, it was found to be 94% effective in preventing infections in people who received two doses.The Moderna vaccine is recommended for people ages 6 months and older. Younger children and older adults may receive additional doses of the vaccine.NovavaxTheNovavax vaccineis a protein-based vaccine that uses a custom-made spike protein that mimics the natural spike protein in the SARS-CoV-2 virus.The vaccine was initially found to be 90% effective in preventing infections in people who receive two doses. The Novavax vaccine is authorized for people ages 12 years and older and is given as a two-dose series.Janssen/Johnson & Johnson VaccineThe Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was previously authorized in the U.S., but is no longer available after the remaining supply of the vaccine expired in May 2023.This vaccine is a viral vector vaccine that uses a modified, harmless version of another virus engineered to hold genetic material from SARS-CoV-2.Is Vaccination Safe for People With Lung Cancer?The COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective in initial safety studies, clinical trials, and real-world practice. Hundreds of millions of people have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and most have not experienced problems with it.Severe complications after vaccination are rare, and were more common in people who received J&J’s Janssen vaccine, which is no longer available. Some people have developedmyocarditisorpericarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle or the sac that lines the outside of the heart, after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. However, most responded well to treatment and did not develop further complications.The initial clinical trials that evaluated the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines did not include people with cancer. However, since the release of the initial vaccines, researchers have spent time assessing vaccination in people with cancer.Now, after further study, experts agree that COVID-19 vaccination is just as safe for people with cancer as for the general population.Research has also confirmed that the vaccine is safe in people with lung cancer.COVID-19 Rates in People With CancerApproximately 1%-8% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 have a history of cancer. The likelihood that someone with cancer will die from COVID-19 is about 30%, much higher than the general population’s 1%–2% mortality rate.Moreover, among all people with cancer, people with lung cancer or blood cancer appear to be at the highest risk of death from COVID-19.Contraindications for the COVID-19 VaccineThe only contraindication (reason for harm) to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is a history of a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine itself or its ingredients.Polyethylene glycolis a preservative ingredient in mRNA vaccines, and polysorbate is in the Novavax vaccine. If a person is allergic to these ingredients, they should not receive the vaccine.No Dangerous IngredientsThese vaccines do not contain:Food allergy proteins, like eggs or glutenMetalsLatexCOVID-19 Vaccine Side EffectsSide effectsfrom COVID-19 vaccination are similar to those of other vaccines. People can experience:Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection siteFatigueHeadacheMuscle achesChillsFeverNauseaTheresa Chiechi / Verywell HealthThe side effects are the same in people with cancer, the most common being injection site pain, tiredness, fever, chills, and muscle aches.The side effects typically go away within three days.Severe problems with vaccination are rare, and if they do occur, they usually happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose.Swollen Lymph NodesSome people might also develop tender, swollen areas in the armpit on the side of the injection. These are swollenlymph nodes, the body’s normal immune response. These swollen lymph nodes should not cause alarm that cancer has worsened.COVID-19 in People With Lung CancerCOVID-19 infection damages the lungs, which is particularly concerning for people with lung issues like lung cancer.People with lung cancer have a 30% mortality rate from COVID-19, which is significantly higher than the general population.Researchers suspect this increased risk of death is because these people already have severe lung injury.Scientists have already determined that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe, even in people with lung cancer. Instead, their primary concern is whether the vaccines are effective in people with cancer.Antibodiesare the proteins responsible for helping to prevent and fight infection. People with lung cancer often take medications that weaken the immune system, including corticosteroids, targeted therapy,chemotherapy, andimmunotherapy.Cancer treatments strain the body’s ability to develop an appropriate antibody response after any vaccination. This means that the vaccines may not be as effective in people with lung cancer and a weakened immune system.However, researchers have demonstrated that people with lung cancer vaccinated with two doses of an mRNA vaccine develop good immunity to SARS-CoV-2.Despite this, they stress the need for extra vaccine doses to help improve immunity.Vaccination Recommendations in People With Lung CancerMost experts and professional societies recommend vaccination in people with cancer, including:American Cancer Society (ACS)American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)In addition to initial vaccination, people who are immunocompromised can receive additional updated doses at least two months after their most recent dose, no matter the type of vaccine initially received.Research does not suggest that vaccination will interfere withcancer treatment. However, people with cancer are advised to speak with theironcologistor another healthcare provider if they have questions about vaccine interference with cancer treatment.SummaryCOVID-19 is a severe respiratory illness that can be more serious and even fatal in people with lung cancer. Vaccination is safe and effective for people with lung cancer and is encouraged to prevent severe disease and death.Three different COVID-19 vaccines are available to help prevent infection. The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax vaccines are effective and recommended for people with lung cancer.Side effects from the vaccine are the same in people with lung cancer as without. They commonly include fever, chills, fatigue, nausea, and muscle aches. Allergic reactions are rare, but possible.Since people with lung cancer usually have a weakened immune system, the CDC recommends three vaccine doses plus an additional updated shot.A Word From VerywellCOVID-19 is dangerous for everyone, but it can be especially so for people with an underlying disease like lung cancer. People with cancer need all the protection they can get to prevent severe illness and death from COVID-19.The COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be safe and effective, and all people with lung cancer are advised to be fully vaccinated. Though evidence does not suggest that vaccination interferes with cancer therapy, speak to your healthcare provider if you have concerns.Frequently Asked QuestionsPeople with COVID-19 develop lung damage from the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself, and from the widespread inflammatory reaction that the body produces to fight the infection. The lungs fill up with fluid, leading to breathing problems. Most of the time, lung damage is contained, but some people develop severe disease that affects many parts of the lung.As of the writing of this article, the only people who are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccination are children younger than 6 months old. COVID-19 vaccines can be administered to most people with underlying medical conditions, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, HIV infection, or an immunocompromised state.Yes, the COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Rare side effects and allergic reactions can occur. Guillain-Barré syndrome and a blood clotting disorder have been associated with the J&J vaccine, but these cases have been rare.The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
The SARS-CoV-2 infection leads toCOVID-19, a disease that primarily includes respiratory symptoms.Though hundreds of millions of people have contracted the virus, the majority of people recover without problems. However, people with underlying medical issues, includinglung canceror aweakened immune system, are at risk for severe disease.
Vaccinationis an essential tool to protect against COVID-19. It has proven to be safe and effective in people with lung cancer, who are already at an increased risk of death from the virus due to its respiratory factors.
This article discusses why people with lung cancer need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Karl Tapales / Getty Images
COVID-19 Vaccines
The development of the COVID-19 vaccine was one of the most critical advances in the course of the pandemic. Certain populations can particularly benefit from vaccination, such as those at higher risk for severe disease or death from the virus.
One study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that unvaccinated adults were 12 times more likely to be hospitalized than fully vaccinated people. It also shows that unvaccinated adults over age 50 are 46 times more likely to be hospitalized than people who have been fully vaccinated and received an additional booster dose.
How to Encourage COVID-19 Vaccination
COVID-19 Vaccine Options
A few different COVID-19 vaccine options are approved for use in the United States, but the most widely used are themRNA vaccines. Although the mRNA vaccine technology seems new to the general population, it has been improved over decades and is proven to be safe and effective.
For most people, you are considered up-to-date with your vaccination if you’ve received one dose of the most recently updated vaccine formulation. However, as variants such as Omicron have emerged, updated vaccines are necessary to help restore protection that has decreased.
Pfizer-BioNTech
ThePfizer-BioNTech vaccineis an mRNA vaccine that is given as one dose for everyone six years and older. Younger children and adults over 65 may receive additional doses of the vaccine.
Initially, the vaccine was found to be 95% effective against the original variant in preventing infections in people ages 16 years and older who receive two shots.
Moderna
TheModerna vaccineis an mRNA vaccine that, like the Pfizer vaccine, is given as a single dose for ages six years and older. When the original strain was dominant, it was found to be 94% effective in preventing infections in people who received two doses.
The Moderna vaccine is recommended for people ages 6 months and older. Younger children and older adults may receive additional doses of the vaccine.
Novavax
TheNovavax vaccineis a protein-based vaccine that uses a custom-made spike protein that mimics the natural spike protein in the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The vaccine was initially found to be 90% effective in preventing infections in people who receive two doses. The Novavax vaccine is authorized for people ages 12 years and older and is given as a two-dose series.
Janssen/Johnson & Johnson VaccineThe Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was previously authorized in the U.S., but is no longer available after the remaining supply of the vaccine expired in May 2023.This vaccine is a viral vector vaccine that uses a modified, harmless version of another virus engineered to hold genetic material from SARS-CoV-2.
Janssen/Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
The Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was previously authorized in the U.S., but is no longer available after the remaining supply of the vaccine expired in May 2023.This vaccine is a viral vector vaccine that uses a modified, harmless version of another virus engineered to hold genetic material from SARS-CoV-2.
Is Vaccination Safe for People With Lung Cancer?
The COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective in initial safety studies, clinical trials, and real-world practice. Hundreds of millions of people have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and most have not experienced problems with it.
Severe complications after vaccination are rare, and were more common in people who received J&J’s Janssen vaccine, which is no longer available. Some people have developedmyocarditisorpericarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle or the sac that lines the outside of the heart, after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. However, most responded well to treatment and did not develop further complications.
The initial clinical trials that evaluated the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines did not include people with cancer. However, since the release of the initial vaccines, researchers have spent time assessing vaccination in people with cancer.
Now, after further study, experts agree that COVID-19 vaccination is just as safe for people with cancer as for the general population.
Research has also confirmed that the vaccine is safe in people with lung cancer.
COVID-19 Rates in People With CancerApproximately 1%-8% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 have a history of cancer. The likelihood that someone with cancer will die from COVID-19 is about 30%, much higher than the general population’s 1%–2% mortality rate.Moreover, among all people with cancer, people with lung cancer or blood cancer appear to be at the highest risk of death from COVID-19.
COVID-19 Rates in People With Cancer
Approximately 1%-8% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 have a history of cancer. The likelihood that someone with cancer will die from COVID-19 is about 30%, much higher than the general population’s 1%–2% mortality rate.Moreover, among all people with cancer, people with lung cancer or blood cancer appear to be at the highest risk of death from COVID-19.
Contraindications for the COVID-19 Vaccine
The only contraindication (reason for harm) to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is a history of a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine itself or its ingredients.
Polyethylene glycolis a preservative ingredient in mRNA vaccines, and polysorbate is in the Novavax vaccine. If a person is allergic to these ingredients, they should not receive the vaccine.
No Dangerous IngredientsThese vaccines do not contain:Food allergy proteins, like eggs or glutenMetalsLatex
No Dangerous Ingredients
These vaccines do not contain:Food allergy proteins, like eggs or glutenMetalsLatex
These vaccines do not contain:
COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects
Side effectsfrom COVID-19 vaccination are similar to those of other vaccines. People can experience:
Theresa Chiechi / Verywell Health
The side effects are the same in people with cancer, the most common being injection site pain, tiredness, fever, chills, and muscle aches.The side effects typically go away within three days.
Severe problems with vaccination are rare, and if they do occur, they usually happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose.
Swollen Lymph NodesSome people might also develop tender, swollen areas in the armpit on the side of the injection. These are swollenlymph nodes, the body’s normal immune response. These swollen lymph nodes should not cause alarm that cancer has worsened.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Some people might also develop tender, swollen areas in the armpit on the side of the injection. These are swollenlymph nodes, the body’s normal immune response. These swollen lymph nodes should not cause alarm that cancer has worsened.
COVID-19 in People With Lung Cancer
COVID-19 infection damages the lungs, which is particularly concerning for people with lung issues like lung cancer.
People with lung cancer have a 30% mortality rate from COVID-19, which is significantly higher than the general population.Researchers suspect this increased risk of death is because these people already have severe lung injury.
Scientists have already determined that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe, even in people with lung cancer. Instead, their primary concern is whether the vaccines are effective in people with cancer.
Antibodiesare the proteins responsible for helping to prevent and fight infection. People with lung cancer often take medications that weaken the immune system, including corticosteroids, targeted therapy,chemotherapy, andimmunotherapy.
Cancer treatments strain the body’s ability to develop an appropriate antibody response after any vaccination. This means that the vaccines may not be as effective in people with lung cancer and a weakened immune system.
However, researchers have demonstrated that people with lung cancer vaccinated with two doses of an mRNA vaccine develop good immunity to SARS-CoV-2.Despite this, they stress the need for extra vaccine doses to help improve immunity.
Vaccination Recommendations in People With Lung Cancer
Most experts and professional societies recommend vaccination in people with cancer, including:
In addition to initial vaccination, people who are immunocompromised can receive additional updated doses at least two months after their most recent dose, no matter the type of vaccine initially received.
Research does not suggest that vaccination will interfere withcancer treatment. However, people with cancer are advised to speak with theironcologistor another healthcare provider if they have questions about vaccine interference with cancer treatment.
Summary
COVID-19 is a severe respiratory illness that can be more serious and even fatal in people with lung cancer. Vaccination is safe and effective for people with lung cancer and is encouraged to prevent severe disease and death.
Three different COVID-19 vaccines are available to help prevent infection. The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax vaccines are effective and recommended for people with lung cancer.
Side effects from the vaccine are the same in people with lung cancer as without. They commonly include fever, chills, fatigue, nausea, and muscle aches. Allergic reactions are rare, but possible.
Since people with lung cancer usually have a weakened immune system, the CDC recommends three vaccine doses plus an additional updated shot.
A Word From Verywell
COVID-19 is dangerous for everyone, but it can be especially so for people with an underlying disease like lung cancer. People with cancer need all the protection they can get to prevent severe illness and death from COVID-19.
The COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be safe and effective, and all people with lung cancer are advised to be fully vaccinated. Though evidence does not suggest that vaccination interferes with cancer therapy, speak to your healthcare provider if you have concerns.
Frequently Asked QuestionsPeople with COVID-19 develop lung damage from the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself, and from the widespread inflammatory reaction that the body produces to fight the infection. The lungs fill up with fluid, leading to breathing problems. Most of the time, lung damage is contained, but some people develop severe disease that affects many parts of the lung.As of the writing of this article, the only people who are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccination are children younger than 6 months old. COVID-19 vaccines can be administered to most people with underlying medical conditions, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, HIV infection, or an immunocompromised state.Yes, the COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Rare side effects and allergic reactions can occur. Guillain-Barré syndrome and a blood clotting disorder have been associated with the J&J vaccine, but these cases have been rare.
People with COVID-19 develop lung damage from the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself, and from the widespread inflammatory reaction that the body produces to fight the infection. The lungs fill up with fluid, leading to breathing problems. Most of the time, lung damage is contained, but some people develop severe disease that affects many parts of the lung.
As of the writing of this article, the only people who are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccination are children younger than 6 months old. COVID-19 vaccines can be administered to most people with underlying medical conditions, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, HIV infection, or an immunocompromised state.
Yes, the COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Rare side effects and allergic reactions can occur. Guillain-Barré syndrome and a blood clotting disorder have been associated with the J&J vaccine, but these cases have been rare.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.COVID-19: what people with cancer should know.Gounant V, Ferré VM, Soussi G, et al.Efficacy of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 vaccine in patients with thoracic cancer: a prospective study supporting a third dose in patients with minimal serologic response after two vaccine doses.J Thorac Oncol. 2022;17(2):239-251. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2021.10.015Passaro A, Bestvina C, Velez Velez M, et al.Severity of COVID-19 in patients with lung cancer: evidence and challenges.J Immunother Cancer. 2021;9(3):e002266. doi:10.1136/jitc-2020-002266Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 vaccine basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.Oliver SE, Gargano JW, Marin M, et al.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ interim recommendation for use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine—United States, December 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(50):1922-1924. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6950e2Oliver SE, Gargano JW, Marin M, et al.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ interim recommendation for use of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine—United States, December 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;69(5152):1653-1656. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm695152e1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.U.S. COVID-19 vaccine product information.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Safety of COVID-19 vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Selected adverse events reported after COVID-19 vaccination.European Society for Medical Oncology.The evidence is in: COVID vaccines do protect patients with cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines currently approved or authorized in the United States.Picard M, Drolet JP, Masse MS, et al.Safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with polyethylene glycol allergy: a case series.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10(2):620-625.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.021Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting your COVID-19 vaccine.American Cancer Society.COVID-19 vaccines in people with cancer.American Association for Cancer Research.Letter to President Biden and leaders of state public health departments: prioritizing COVID-19 vaccines for patients with cancer and survivors of cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 vaccines for moderately or severely immunocompromised people.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.COVID-19: what people with cancer should know.Gounant V, Ferré VM, Soussi G, et al.Efficacy of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 vaccine in patients with thoracic cancer: a prospective study supporting a third dose in patients with minimal serologic response after two vaccine doses.J Thorac Oncol. 2022;17(2):239-251. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2021.10.015Passaro A, Bestvina C, Velez Velez M, et al.Severity of COVID-19 in patients with lung cancer: evidence and challenges.J Immunother Cancer. 2021;9(3):e002266. doi:10.1136/jitc-2020-002266Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 vaccine basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.Oliver SE, Gargano JW, Marin M, et al.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ interim recommendation for use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine—United States, December 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(50):1922-1924. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6950e2Oliver SE, Gargano JW, Marin M, et al.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ interim recommendation for use of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine—United States, December 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;69(5152):1653-1656. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm695152e1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.U.S. COVID-19 vaccine product information.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Safety of COVID-19 vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Selected adverse events reported after COVID-19 vaccination.European Society for Medical Oncology.The evidence is in: COVID vaccines do protect patients with cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines currently approved or authorized in the United States.Picard M, Drolet JP, Masse MS, et al.Safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with polyethylene glycol allergy: a case series.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10(2):620-625.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.021Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting your COVID-19 vaccine.American Cancer Society.COVID-19 vaccines in people with cancer.American Association for Cancer Research.Letter to President Biden and leaders of state public health departments: prioritizing COVID-19 vaccines for patients with cancer and survivors of cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 vaccines for moderately or severely immunocompromised people.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.COVID-19: what people with cancer should know.Gounant V, Ferré VM, Soussi G, et al.Efficacy of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 vaccine in patients with thoracic cancer: a prospective study supporting a third dose in patients with minimal serologic response after two vaccine doses.J Thorac Oncol. 2022;17(2):239-251. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2021.10.015Passaro A, Bestvina C, Velez Velez M, et al.Severity of COVID-19 in patients with lung cancer: evidence and challenges.J Immunother Cancer. 2021;9(3):e002266. doi:10.1136/jitc-2020-002266Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 vaccine basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.Oliver SE, Gargano JW, Marin M, et al.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ interim recommendation for use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine—United States, December 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(50):1922-1924. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6950e2Oliver SE, Gargano JW, Marin M, et al.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ interim recommendation for use of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine—United States, December 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;69(5152):1653-1656. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm695152e1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.U.S. COVID-19 vaccine product information.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Safety of COVID-19 vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Selected adverse events reported after COVID-19 vaccination.European Society for Medical Oncology.The evidence is in: COVID vaccines do protect patients with cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines currently approved or authorized in the United States.Picard M, Drolet JP, Masse MS, et al.Safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with polyethylene glycol allergy: a case series.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10(2):620-625.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.021Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting your COVID-19 vaccine.American Cancer Society.COVID-19 vaccines in people with cancer.American Association for Cancer Research.Letter to President Biden and leaders of state public health departments: prioritizing COVID-19 vaccines for patients with cancer and survivors of cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 vaccines for moderately or severely immunocompromised people.
National Cancer Institute.COVID-19: what people with cancer should know.
Gounant V, Ferré VM, Soussi G, et al.Efficacy of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 vaccine in patients with thoracic cancer: a prospective study supporting a third dose in patients with minimal serologic response after two vaccine doses.J Thorac Oncol. 2022;17(2):239-251. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2021.10.015
Passaro A, Bestvina C, Velez Velez M, et al.Severity of COVID-19 in patients with lung cancer: evidence and challenges.J Immunother Cancer. 2021;9(3):e002266. doi:10.1136/jitc-2020-002266
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 vaccine basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
Oliver SE, Gargano JW, Marin M, et al.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ interim recommendation for use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine—United States, December 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(50):1922-1924. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6950e2
Oliver SE, Gargano JW, Marin M, et al.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ interim recommendation for use of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine—United States, December 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;69(5152):1653-1656. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm695152e1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.U.S. COVID-19 vaccine product information.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Selected adverse events reported after COVID-19 vaccination.
European Society for Medical Oncology.The evidence is in: COVID vaccines do protect patients with cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines currently approved or authorized in the United States.
Picard M, Drolet JP, Masse MS, et al.Safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with polyethylene glycol allergy: a case series.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10(2):620-625.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.021
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting your COVID-19 vaccine.
American Cancer Society.COVID-19 vaccines in people with cancer.
American Association for Cancer Research.Letter to President Biden and leaders of state public health departments: prioritizing COVID-19 vaccines for patients with cancer and survivors of cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 vaccines for moderately or severely immunocompromised people.
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