Canadian Oncology Pharmacists say patients with cancer are at risk if a second COVID vaccine dose is delayed. The Saskatchewan government announced it would follow the National Advisory Committee’s recommendation that a second dose can be delayed up to four months.

However, a new UK study shows, that delay greatly reduces the effectiveness of protection from COVID-19. The Canadian Association of Pharmacy in Oncology is calling upon the National Advisory Committee) to adjust COVID-19 vaccination schedules to protect the wellbeing of Canadians with cancer.
Association President Tina Crosbie says, “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.” She says this demonstrates the urgent need for the advisory committee to factor in people with solid cancer and blood cancer earlier into phase 2 rollout of the vaccination strategy.

Crosbie says cancer patients should have to wait no longer than three weeks for the second dose.

The American Society of Hematology recommends that when possible, patients with blood cancer should vaccinate prior to initiation of immunosuppressive therapy.