Position Statements
Patients with Cancer at Risk if Second Vaccine Dose is Delayed- Canadian Oncology Pharmacists
April 7, 2021: Information from a new UK study has shown that delaying the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine greatly reduces the effectiveness of protection from COVID-19. The Canadian Association of Pharmacy in Oncology (CAPhO) is concerned about the emerging data and calls upon the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) to adjust COVID-19 vaccination schedules to protect the wellbeing of Canadians with cancer.
“The study shows that three weeks after one dose of the vaccine an immune response was found in 39% of people with a solid cancer and just 13% of people with blood cancer. An antibody response was found in 97% of the healthy volunteers tested,” says Tina Crosbie, President of CAPhO. “This demonstrates the urgent need for the NACI to factor in people with solid cancer and blood cancer earlier into phase 2 rollout of the vaccination strategy. Further, this study identifies that delaying the second dose for these vulnerable individuals puts them at a greater risk for suboptimal protection.”