COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Guidelines for Cancer Patients, Survivors, and Caregivers

As we embrace the fall season, it’s important to remember that this time of year presents a stressful set of challenges for cancer patients, survivors, and their immediate and extended communities. With flu and high COVID season in full swing, the question of how best to protect patients and survivors with weakened immune systems looms large. To vaccinate or not to vaccinate: that is the annual question. 

Cancer Sherpa has collected the latest CDC, NCI, and American Cancer Society guidelines for flu and COVID-19 vaccination for cancer patients, survivors, caretakers, and those friends and family in close contact. 

Flu

• Cancer Patients 

  •  Weakened Immune System
    • YES (6 months or above)
      • Cancer care team will tell you the best time to get the vaccine depending on your cancer type and treatment protocol
      • DO get the flu shot/injectable vaccine with inactivated virus
      • DO NOT get the nasal mist version, as it is a weakened version of the live virus
  • Severely Weakened Immune System 
    • Ask your cancer care team if and when the best time to get a flu shot is depending on your cancer type, treatment protocol, and flu risk

• Cancer Survivors

  • YES (6 months or above)

• Caretakers and Those Living or In Regular Contact with Cancer Patients

  • Healthy
    • YES (6 months or above)
      • Everyone caring for, living with, or regularly coming into contact with a cancer patient(s) should be vaccinated
      • DO NOT get the nasal mist version, as it is a weakened version of the live virus IF the cancer patient has a severely weakened immune system and/or is being cared for in a germ-protected area (stem cell or bone marrow transplant recipients)
  • Weakened Immune System
    • YES (6 months or above)
      • DO get the flu shot/injectable vaccine with inactivated virus
      • DO NOT get the nasal mist version, as it is a weakened version of the live virus
  • Severely Weakened Immune System
    • ASK both the cancer patient’s cancer care team and the your care team of the other high-risk individual’s care team living with or regularly coming into contact with the cancer patient

COVID-19

• Cancer Patients 

  • Weakened and Severely Weakened Immune System
    • YES (6 months or above)
      • Cancer care team will tell you the best time to get the vaccine depending on your cancer type and treatment protocol
      • DO get either the messenger RNA (MRNA) or the protein from the virus, inactivated, injectable vaccine
      • Everyone 6 months and above who is moderately or severely immunocompromised needs at least one dose of a 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccine
      • Studies show 
        • From 2018 to 2021more people with cancer died from COVID-19 than other diseases
        • In 2021, a higher percentage of cancer deaths with COVID-19 as the underlying cause occurred among 
          • Hispanic and Latino people
          • Non-Hispanic Black people 
          • Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people
        • Of cancer deaths with COVID-19 as the underlying cause in 2022, a higher percentage occurred among people with blood cancer compared with other types of cancer

• Survivors

  • YES (6 months or above)
    • DO get either the messenger RNA (MRNA) or the protein from the virus, inactivated, injectable vaccine
    • Studies show that having a history of cancer may also increase risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19
      • 1 in 50 cancer survivors who died between January 2018 and July 2022 died of COVID-19

• Caretakers and Those Living or In Regular Contact with Cancer Patients

  • YES (6 months or above)
    • Everyone 6 months and above, even if moderately or severely immunocompromised, needs at least one dose of a 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccine
    • It is EXTREMELY important to take care of yourself before you care for others, as even caretakers with the best intentions can get run down and sick, spreading that illness to the cancer patient they are caring for

*Ask your cancer care team regarding type of vaccine and timing

Flu and COVID-19 shots should be low to no cost and available at your local pharmacy. Please contact us or your cancer care team if you have any questions or concerns regarding the above information. We would be happy to help you protect yourself against these serious seasonal viruses. If you want to read up on the flu, COVID-19, or their respective vaccines, please revisit our blogs below. 

Flu Virus and Vaccine Information

COVID-19 Adult Booster Vaccine*

*Please note that as of May 2022, FDA restricted the use of the J&J vaccine due to several reports of a rare and severe type of blood clot

How to Know If It’s Allergies, A Cold, or COVID-19