Can't seem to find a definitive answer. Does anyone know if the vaccine is affected by chemo? Hubby received first vaccine 2 weeks after chemo and 2nd vaccine 3 weeks after that. He's had a break from chemo for a couple of months but is back on it as of last week. With this new surge of covid, and with restarting chemo, I'm wondering if we need to use extra caution. We were so hoping to be able to have a little bit of normal again after so much isolation, but not if it puts him at risk. Google mentions chemo and decreased vaccine efficiency with chemo used for leukemias. I don't have a lot of faith in google and my googling abilities. I also realize that this is pretty new stuff and there's a lot of guessing at this point. Does anyone have a link or any info on this?
Thanking you!!
Marie
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Yadifan
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Thank you TA. I will ask about adding neulasta with his next treatment.
Chemo makes you more vulnerable to infections, including Covid. At my last visit I asked my doctor if I should still wear a mask and he said yes. He told me he recently had 3 patients get Covid. All were vaccinated and at least 2 of them were on chemo.
So I would say, be extra careful. I would expect that since he is vaccinated he'll be fine.
How long has it been since his last shot? If it's been 6 months or more I would talk with my doctor about the booster.
Our last appointment with his doctor, he had mentioned 8 months. But I'm hearing more and more about a booster at 6 months. He received his second shot the middle of May.
Sounds like he's fine for now. I do think the standard is 8 months, but if you are doing chemo I think you could make an argument for getting it sooner.
my dad is currently getting chemo and his oncologist recommended the booster for him, he will be getting it soon. he is about 6 months out from the first 2.
Gregg, I would not put much faith in the booster. It is the same formulation as the original vaccine, which is declining in efficacy after 6 months. The new (and original) vaccine don't protect aginst the Delta variant.
You said: "The new (and original) vaccine don't protect aginst the Delta variant." If that's true, why is it that almost 100% of people dying in hospitals are unvaccinated? It sure protects well enough to keep people alive. I hope you are getting are have gotten the vaccine.
Precautions are necessary even if you are not immune compromised. There are many breakthrough infections with the delta variant and about 1% of those infections require hospitalization. In one of the local hospital 25% of the admitted patients because of covid are fully vaccinated breakthrough infections.
He can get a 3rd dose which in 10 days will increase the neutralizing antibodies around 4 times .You could request to measure his neutralizing antibody levels against covid and then decide if he should have a 3er dose. If he has cancer and chemo I believe he qualifies for the 3er dose right now.
I would bet the booster, my original covid shot was in April but since I have cancer I had no problem getting the booster , I did have limited side effects on this third shot.
During chemo, a person is immune compromised anyway. Masking, social distancing etc. is a good idea not only because of covid but also other air borne illnesses like the cold, flu etc. So yes, continue to be cautious during chemo.
Maybe you should do your research the vaccine spikes your lymph nodes so they swell up and then kills your T cells which fight cancer.I’ve had two friends both on their deathbed Told me after takings the second dose they never recovered and we’re dead in two weeks. So I will be band so from here for telling the truth.
I am getting chemo and my MO said that I should get the booster shot. I received it a week ago without any reaction.
MikeP
Pre-COVID years...... 2004 and chemotherapy..... research medical oncologist says your immune system is compromised, stay away from sick people and wash your hands.....
those on chemo are considered immunosuppressed and usually told to get the vaccines, I went thru chemo six years ago and no longer suppressed but still on immunotherapy treatments..ibam 6 months out from #2 Vaccine and my Oncologist tells me to wait 8 months for #3 booster As he feels some essential tweeking Will be done to Pfizers Vaccine to handle the new mutational strains by November..getting booster now is same As 1 and 2.., but if suppressed?, get it now or As Tall Alan mentioned...Neulasta Will start reharvesting WBC and immune fighters lost in suppression.
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