Would you take the COVID Vaccine?

[Gold Dragon]

If the infection is known to cause GBS then the vaccine that generates a similar immune response is likely to associated as well.

With regards to covid19 and GBS there does not seem to be much of an increase associated compared to the usual levels, making the vaccine unlikely to trigger it. Data is still coming in so we shall see.

Epidemiological and cohort study finds no association between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Always talk to your doctor for specific advice regarding your own medical case as they will have better understanding of your context. I see no concerns for your wife getting the vaccine from what you have stated and she is likely in a higher risk category that would be prioritized for the vaccine.

Specific data on individual drug interactions is not available yet. Here are the drug monographs in Canada for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines from the companies. I didn’t see any concerns except for the note from both that immune suppressed patients may not mount as strong a response to the vaccine. The treatments she is on now should not cause overall immune suppression but your doctor is best positioned to answer this.

https://www.pfizer.ca/sites/default...h_COVID-19_Vaccine_PM_EN_244906_09Dec2020.pdf

https://covid-vaccine.canada.ca/info/pdf/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-pm1.pdf

From a mechanistic perspective, Letrazole and Ibrance should not interfere with how the mRNA vaccines work since they target specific hormone receptors and not general DNA/RNA function like traditional chemo.

Radiation targets a specific area so it will not make the vaccine ineffective which will be all over the body. And the vaccine already would have taken action and degraded before she had her next round unless you did them the same day.

The main risk might be things like potential increase in nausea, fatigue or aches if she already gets those from her other treatments.

My wife checked with her oncologist who indicated they have no data on the effectiveness of the vaccine on cancer patients so we are sitting tight with not taking it. Not until there is substantial data. IE not rolling the dice.

 

[Gold Dragon]

My wife checked with her oncologist who indicated they have no data on the effectiveness of the vaccine on cancer patients so we are sitting tight with not taking it. Not until there is substantial data. IE not rolling the dice.

Fair enough. Every doctor needs to weigh the risks and benefits of action vs inaction for their patient's specific situation with whatever data we have available a that time.

COVID-19 Vaccines in People with Cancer

Many expert medical groups are now recommending that most people with cancer or a history of cancer get the COVID-19 vaccine once it’s available to them. The main concern about getting the vaccine is not whether it’s safe for people with cancer, but about how effective it will be, especially in people with weakened immune systems. Some treatments like chemotherapy (chemo), radiation, or immunotherapy can affect the immune system, which might make the vaccine less effective.

The initial studies testing the COVID-19 vaccines did not include people getting treatment with drugs that suppress the immune system, like chemo, or people who have weakened immune systems for other reasons. This is because the studies needed to see first if the vaccines work in people with healthy immune systems. Because of this, it’s not yet clear how effective the vaccines might be in these groups of people.

Some vaccines for other diseases contain live viruses, which typically are not recommended for cancer patients. However, the COVID-19 vaccines available in the US do not contain live viruses.

Since the situation for every person is different, it is best to discuss the risks and benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine with your cancer doctor. They can advise you and tell you when you should receive it.