Covid Breakthrough
According to a new study published in JAMA Oncology, vaccinated cancer patients are more likely than those who have not been vaccinated to get a breakthrough COVID-19 infection, putting them at a substantially higher risk of hospitalization and death.
Patients with particular cancers and those who had cancer therapy within the previous year were at the highest risk.
“These findings highlight the importance of maintaining mitigation practice for cancer patients, especially in light of the advent of new virus types and the diminishing protection of vaccines,” the study authors said.
Case Western Reserve University researchers looked at electronic health record data for over 636,000 vaccinated patients, including over 45,000 cancer patients. Between December 2020 and November 2021, they investigated for time patterns, risks, and outcomes of breakthrough COVID-19 infections in vaccinated cancer patients in the United States.
Patients with breast cancer, blood cancers, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and pancreatic cancer who had medical interactions for their disease in the previous year had a greater risk of breakthrough infection.
