COVID-19 vaccine and cancer – latest updates
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1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. All of us can support the research that will beat it.
Hand holding a COVID-19 vaccine Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels
With the vaccine programme well underway in the UK, we want to make sure everyone has access to information about the COVID-19 vaccine and what it could mean for people with cancer.
We’ll be updating this blog post as new data and information emerges.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that people with severely weakened immune systems should have a third vaccine dose, it was announced last night.
According to the latest advice, this third jab should be offered to anyone over the age of 12 who was severely immunosuppressed at the time of their first or second dose, separately to any potential booster vaccination programme. This includes those with leukaemia, advanced HIV and who have had recent organ transplants. Severe immunosuppression at the time of vaccination is defined using the guidance and timings stated, here.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid accepted the recommendation this morning. He said: “The NHS will contact people as soon as possible to discuss their needs and arrange an appointment for a third dose where clinically appropriate.”
The decision on when this third dose should be given should be made by your specialist. As a general guide, it should be at least 8 weeks after the second jab, but with flexibility to adjust the timing so that, if feasible, immunosuppression is at a minimum when the third vaccine dose is administered.
Javid added: “We know people with specific conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 may have received less protection against the virus from two vaccine doses. I am determined to ensure we are doing all we can to protect people in this group and a third dose will help deliver that.”
Planning for the booster programme – due to begin in September – will continue. We’ll update with more information as soon as we have it.
Further results looking at the immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in people with compromised immune systems, including some people with cancer, went live today at Preprints with The Lancet.
The trial recruited people with a variety of immune-mediated diseases, including 47 people with solid cancer (breast and lung cancer) and 18 people with blood cancer (multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukaemia).
Early data from the trial show that 39% of those with blood cancer and 17% of those with solid cancers had a lower antibody responses after both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, either Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca, compared to the lowest response detected in healthy individuals. The study didn’t however look at how this response translates to COVID-19 protection.
Professor Charlie Swanton, Cancer Research UK’s chief clinician said, “This latest study broadly reflects the evidence we’ve seen so far and includes only a small number of cancer patients, with a limited number of cancer types. So it’s not clear if these results can be generalised or the level of protection given by the antibody response. Questions remain around whether a booster would provide more protection.
“Overall, the majority of cancer patients had an immune response to the vaccine, even if levels of antibodies were lower in some cases than healthy controls, but the study didn’t look at how this response translates to COVID-19 protection.
With a lot to still understand, these results may potentially be concerning for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable. However, anyone undergoing cancer treatment should continue to follow the recommendations of their doctors and specialists, and we encourage all who have been offered the vaccine to take it.
“With restrictions easing, you may wonder if you should be shielding – talk to your doctor, family and friends and ultimately do what’s right for you,” adds Swanton.
OCTAVE is a UK-wide trial led by the University of Glasgow and co-ordinated by the University of Birmingham’s Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit.
Yesterday, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that children and young people under the age of 18 who are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 should be offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This includes children aged 12 to 15 with immunosuppression.
The committee has also recommended that people aged 12 to 17 who live with an immunosuppressed person are offered the vaccine, to help protect their household members.
Following existing advice, young people aged 16 to 17 with underlying health conditions, with a higher risk of contracting serious COVID-19, should have already been offered a COVID-19 vaccination.
Monday 19 July marked so-called ‘freedom day’ across England, as restrictions were lifted. However, for many, including those living with cancer, the lifting of restrictions may feel like a worrying and uncertain time.
Cancer Research UK is among a group of cancer charities who have written an open letter to the public as a ‘message of solidarity’, urging them to help keep vulnerable people safe by continuing to wear masks and maintain social distancing.
You can read the full statement, here.
The Government has updated guidance for those in England who have been identified as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) from the 19 of July, the date that current restrictions will come to an end.
The statement advises those who are CEV to follow the same guidance as everyone else when restrictions are lifted next week.
However, depending on someone’s individual circumstances, the advice suggests that “you may wish to think particularly carefully about additional precautions you might wish to continue to take”. These include taking precautions when meeting others you do not usually meet to reduce the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19, such as meeting outside where possible.
We understand that the change to restrictions may be of concern to cancer patients. In line with government advice we encourage all cancer patients to have both doses of the vaccine when offered, and those considered vulnerable to have the booster jab, if and when it becomes available.
There is different guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable people living in Scotland, living in Wales and living in Northern Ireland.
Last week, Public Health England (PHE) published results from a study which suggests that COVID-19 vaccines may be almost as effective at preventing symptomatic disease in people with underlying health conditions as they are in the rest of the population.
The study, which included 1 million people with underlying health conditions, found that vaccine effectiveness was lower in people who were immunocompromised but was still considered to be high at around 74% after two doses, compared to approximately 85% in people without a compromised immune system. This rises from 4% after a single dose, indicating the importance of a second jab.
Effectiveness of the vaccine will likely vary for different people depending on their individual circumstances and the statement from PHE highlights that some people may not respond as well to the vaccines. Although the study findings are encouraging, more data is needed to understand vaccine effectiveness for different groups.
The NHS has been advised by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that booster vaccines will help maintain protection against COVID-19, and new variants of the virus, for those most at risk.
The interim advice recommends that the first stage of a booster vaccination programme, beginning September 2021, is offered to the following groups:
As far as we are aware, the definitions of these groups have not changed, but we will update if we get any further information on priority groups.
The JCVI says it will publish final plans before September and that the advice “may change substantially” based on data from the next few months.
“The primary objective of any potential COVID-19 booster vaccine programme should be to reduce serious disease, including death,” said Professor Wei Shen Lim, COVID-19 Chair for JCVI. “We will continue to review emerging scientific data over the next few months, including data relating to the duration of immunity from the current vaccines. Our final advice on booster vaccination may change substantially.”
The NHS has been given the green light to begin planning a booster programme in the UK. Wales’ health minister has said the advice “very much aligns with our thinking and our planning assumptions to date”.
New research, awaiting independent review by other scientists but covered in the media, has examined the immune protection of over 8,000 people after both doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. The study included 881 volunteers who had been diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, 74 with blood cancer.
Researchers at University College London and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that a high proportion of volunteers had a positive response to the vaccine after receiving 2 doses, including those who had been diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.
Despite this, the researchers note that in between their first and second dose, fewer cancer patients and those on immunosuppressive treatments – including radiotherapy, chemotherapy or following an organ transplant – showed an immune response and that caution is still required until both doses are given.
The data doesn’t show whether responses were different in people who have cancer now compared with those who had it years ago.If you have any questions about the vaccine, please speak to your specialist or contact your GP.
A new study, published in The Lancet Haematology has found that the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine triggers an immune response in around 70% of patients with myeloma.
Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust tested for antibodies against the COVID-19 virus in 93 people with myeloma. People who took part in the study had either received the Oxford–AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and been given a first dose at least 3 weeks before their antibody test. The study didn’t follow up with the results of a second dose.
These results come a few weeks after findings from a different study were announced. The study, which we covered in the blog post on March 11th, and is in the process of being reviewed by other scientists and published, found that detectable antibody responses at 3 weeks following the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were seen in 13% of the people with blood cancers.
Experts say the differences seen between these studies reflect how complicated this is to understand. Many different factors can affect response to vaccination, including cancer type, treatment type, timing of treatment relative to vaccination, as well as a whole host of non-cancer factors. Both studies have only analysed blood samples from a small number of people with cancer, and we’ll be awaiting more evidence on this before we can start drawing robust conclusions.
There‘s no reason to suspect that one vaccine is better than another and ultimately, any protection provided by a vaccine is better than none. We encourage everyone who can to get the vaccine when offered.
If you have any concerns, please speak to your specialist or contact your GP.
As the country’s vaccination programme enters Phase 2, people in England over the age of 45 are now eligible for their COVID-19 vaccination.
This comes as the programme reached its target of offering a first dose to the 9 most vulnerable groups including the clinically vulnerable and those with other conditions that put them at higher risk.
People in this group can book their appointment online. In addition to this, text messages from local vaccination centres are set to go out.
With over 32 million people in the UK having had their first vaccine dose, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the programme is on track to offer a first dose of a vaccine to all adults in the coming months.
He was quoted as saying “we will now move forward with completing essential second doses and making progress towards out target of offering all adults a vaccine by the end of July.”
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised the government to prioritise vaccinating people who are over 16 and living with adults who have weakened immune systems alongside priority group 6, who are now receiving invites.
This includes (but is not limited to) adults living with people undergoing immunosuppressive treatments (including chemotherapy) and those with blood cancer.
In a letter to the Government, the JCVI stated that adults with weakened immune systems (or who are immunosuppressed) are more likely to have severe COVID-19 symptoms and that the vaccine may be less effective for these groups.
The JCVI’s advice does not currently extend to:
Information on this prioritisation has been sent to GPs, who will contact anyone who’s now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at Public Health England, said that “our surveillance systems and research studies are showing that the COVID-19 vaccines can reduce asymptomatic infection and limit transmission of the virus. By vaccinating those who live with adults who are immunosuppressed, we can further help protect vulnerable people.”
Your GP will be in contact to book a vaccination appointment if you currently live with an adult who is immunosuppressed.
UPDATE: As of April 14th, Wales and England have accepted the JCVI recommendation.
From 1 April, those considered “clinically extremely vulnerable” who have been following shielding advice during the pandemic will no longer be advised to shield.
Anyone affected will receive letters from today with updated guidance on steps they can take to reduce their risk of getting COVID-19, including maintaining strict social distancing and working from home where possible.
Following the Government’s ‘COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021’ roadmap, letters and emails will be sent out to more than 3.79 million people who can begin to follow the national lockdown restrictions.
The update comes alongside the news that more than 9 in 10 people who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable have received a first dose of a vaccine.
Cancer Research UK has joined 17 other health charities to encourage people with underlying health conditions (including cancer), learning disabilities and their carers to book a COVID-19 vaccination.
More than half of priority group 6 have already received a vaccine and it’s hoped that this open letter will increase uptake. GP services are already contacting people in this cohort, but those who have not yet received a letter can get a quick appointment at by using the national booking system or calling 119. The NHS have sent text messages to people in this group with a link so they can book their appointment.
The underlying health conditions included in priority group 6 include:
Additionally, this group includes carers who are eligible for a carer’s allowance, or those who are the sole or primary carer of an elderly or disabled person who’s at increased risk of severe COVID-19.
Minister for Vaccines Nadhim Zahawi said that “the vaccine is our way out of this pandemic and offers the chance to protect yourself and others – that’s why it’s vital that people get their jab. This open letter should help to reassure those with any concerns the vaccine is safe and supported by more than twenty of our most trusted charities. I would like to thank them all for backing this life-saving campaign and offering their expertise and assistance to support the largest medical deployment in British history.”
Awaiting independent review by other scientists, initial data from the world’s first reported trial examining the level of immune protection conferred to cancer patients after the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine has been released today.
The results have been covered by BBC News and others, suggesting that people with cancer may not get the same level of protection after the first dose as people without cancer. While this information may be worrying for people with cancer, there are some things to take into consideration when looking at the results, as our head information nurse explains.
“This is an interesting study and it’s important to assess how cancer patients are responding to the vaccines being rolled out. But at this stage, we are looking at data that hasn’t been peer-reviewed, where other experts in the field would flag errors and limitations within the results,” said Martin Ledwick, head information nurse at Cancer Research UK.
“The numbers of patients looked at in the study are also relatively small, particularly for those with blood cancers. We know that this information could be worrying, but anyone undergoing cancer treatment should continue to follow the advice of their doctors, and we encourage all who can to take up the vaccine.”
Led by researchers at The Francis Crick Institute and Kings College London, the SOAP study involved 205 volunteers – 54 people who didn’t have cancer and 151 people with cancer who were undergoing immunosuppressive treatment (95 with solid cancers, such as breast or lung cancer, and 56 with blood cancers).
Researchers measured the level of antibodies in the volunteers’ blood to examine their immune response to the COVID-19 virus. The study has shown that detectable antibody responses at week 3 following the first dose of the vaccine were found in:
The study found that when the second dose was given at this point (3 weeks after first dose), immune responses were found in 95% of the group with solid cancers 14 days later (5 weeks after the first dose). Not enough participants with blood cancer received a second dose to know if this improved their response.
In contrast, those with cancer who did not get this second dose at 3 weeks saw no real improvement at 5 weeks:
The researchers suggest these results could show that a gap of 12 weeks between doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could leave many cancer patients vulnerable to severe COVID-19. The study does not suggest that people who were treated for cancer some time ago might be less likely to have a positive response to a single dose the vaccine.
When looking at the results, there are some caveats to take into consideration. The study only focused on one of the available vaccines, and many of the participants with solid tumour were in an older age group and had more advanced cancer (meaning that it is difficult at this stage to know if the results will be the same for all cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment).
There are other studies, such as the OCTAVE study, which are also looking into how well the vaccines work in people with cancer.
UPDATE: This paper was published in The Lancet Oncology on 27 April with amended percentages. We have updated the stats to reflect the published figures.
There has been some confusion around what COVID-19 vaccine priority groups have meant for people with cancer. In January, we received communications from NHS England that set out that people with cancer who weren’t prioritised in group 4, such as those treated a long time previously and who were treated surgically, would be covered by priority group 6.
This information was initially published as an update on our blog post on the 28th January (which has since been amended). However, it appears that this guidance has not been communicated in any public setting, and unfortunately we have been unable to get further confirmation from NHSE that this guidance still holds true.
We’re very sorry for the confusion and frustration this has caused at this unsettling time. We encourage people to continue following the advice set out by The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the Green Book as follows:
Those who fall into group 4, and who are considered Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV), include:
According to page 11 of the Green Book, anyone with lowered immunity due to disease or treatment who is not in group 4 will be in group 6, including:
Individuals who are about to receive highly immunosuppressive treatment, or those whose level of immunosuppression is about to increase may be re-prioritised and be able to have vaccination sooner, if therapy can be safely delayed or there is sufficient time before therapy starts. Those who have had cancer, or have cancer, but who are not part of group 4 or 6 will have the vaccine with their age group, depending on their circumstances.
If you have any concerns or questions about when you will be invited for a COVID-19 vaccine, please speak to your GP or cancer specialist.
This week the Government has updated its shielding advice, asking a further 1.7 million people to stay at home at all times and only going out to exercise or attend medical appointments. Of the people recently identified as now needing to shield, only half have been vaccinated. GPs will now urgently prioritise those who haven’t been vaccinated but who do need to shield.
The new shielding advice takes into account someone’s ethnicity, whether they live in a deprived area and their weight. As well as their age, prescribed medications and underlying health conditions. Underlying health conditions taken into consideration include:
All of these measures are taken together to assess someone’s risk of becoming seriously ill if they caught COVID-19.
If you now fall into the extended shield category you will be sent a letter by the NHS informing you of your new status. This status means you are entitled to statutory sick pay, prioritisation for shopping slots online and assistance collecting medication.
A known side effect of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines is lymph node swelling. If someone has lymphoedema in their arm or leg due to cancer treatment, it’s advised they get the vaccine in the opposite arm or thigh to their existing swelling.
The British Lymphology Society has also advised that those who have received cancer treatment that involves treating the lymph nodes directly, for example radiotherapy or surgery to the lymph nodes for breast or skin cancer, should have the vaccine in the opposite arm or leg to where they received their lymph node treatment. If they have received treatment on both sides they should receive their vaccine in the thigh. If you have any concerns, we’d recommend chatting to your vaccinating team, GP or cancer specialist.
The University of Oxford has revealed that the efficacy of a single dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine reaches 76% after 22days, and remains at this level until at least day 90. The Government has stated that leaving longer between doses than the three weeks used in clinical trials, combined with initial prioritisation of the first vaccine dose, would increase vaccine supply in the short term, and allow for more first doses to be delivered to more people earlier.
Researchers at the University of Oxford published an analysis of further data from the ongoing trials of the vaccine, in Preprints with The Lancet.
This draft write-up hasn’t yet been scrutinised by independent scientists, but is currently under review at The Lancet. The report highlights that there might be benefits to increasing the time between doses, with vaccine efficacy increasing from 54.9% with an interval of less than 6 weeks, to 82.4% when spaced 12 or more weeks apart.
The study also looks at the potential for the vaccine to reduce transmission of the virus. Analysis of COVID-19 tests taken weekly by UK participants suggests that the vaccine schedule being used in the UK (two standard doses) can reduce transmission, with a 49.5% reduction in positive tests in people who had the vaccine.
In other news, scientists have found that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine offers “minimal protection” against mild cases caused by a variant of the COVID-19 virus called the South African Variant. Over 100 cases of this variant have been found in the UK. The results came from a recent study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, involving around 2,000 people. Professor Sarah Gilbert, the lead Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine developer, has confirmed that the vaccines should still protect against severe cases of the disease. She added that they were working on a modified version of the vaccine to be ready by the Autumn to increase protection against the South Africa variant.
Data published by the UK’s independent drugs regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has confirmed that both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines are extremely safe.
The MHRA assessed safety reports from nearly 7 million doses of the vaccine given up to 24 January – the majority of which were the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.
Results found that approximately 22,820 suspected reactions were reported, the equivalent to approximately 3 in every 1,000 people vaccinated.
Almost all cases were mild and include sore arms, headaches and chills. These after–effects are not the disease itself, but are caused by the body’s response to the vaccine.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has prioritised the following groups for vaccination:
But there has been a question mark over who would fall into group 4 and group 6. According to communications we received from NHS England, priority group 4 includes people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and will include people having many types of active cancer treatment as well as many in follow-up.
The communications also set out that all other cancer patients such as those treated a long time previously and who were treated surgically would be covered by priority group 6. However, this information has not yet appeared online and we’ve heard from some people with cancer and some GPs that they have not had this information. We understand that this is frustrating and have relayed this to NHS England.
If you have any questions about when you will be invited for a COVID-19 vaccine, please speak to your GP or cancer specialist.
As part of the country-wide vaccination programme, University College London Hospitals have partnered with the Francis Crick Institute to set up a new, large scale vaccination centre set to open by the end of January. Equipment and unused space within the research institute – of which Cancer Research UK is a major funder – is being used to create a vaccination centre that will be administering doses 7 days a week.
At maximum capacity, the centre has been designed to deliver just over 1,000 vaccinations per day (from 8am – 8pm). However, the number of people that can be invited will depend on the level of vaccine stocks received by the centre. Our news report has the details.
From today, those aged 70, and over and those considered “clinically extremely vulnerable”, will begin receiving invitations for a COVID-19 vaccination. People considered “clinically extremely vulnerable” are those who were asked to shield at various points during the pandemic, and include:
The Department of Health and Social Care have acknowledged that those in the top 2 prioritisation groups – care home residents, those over 80 years old and front-line health care workers – will remain as the top priority to receive the vaccine.
The announcement today means that areas that have already vaccinated the majority of people in the top 2 priority groups will now be able to keep up the momentum and start vaccinating additional groups.
The UK Chemotherapy Board has produced a comprehensive document of FAQs on the Pfizer–BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for healthcare professionals treating patients on systemic anti- cancer therapies (SACT) such as chemotherapy, antibody therapy or immunotherapy.
The document outlines that all patients receiving SACT should be considered for a COVID-19 jab.
These FAQs were produced in response to questions by cancer specialists about giving the vaccine to people with cancer receiving SACT. They may be used by cancer specialists, along with any local guidelines, to help decide the best timing for giving the vaccines in people receiving SACT.
You can talk to your GP or cancer specialist when you’re offered the vaccine to discuss timings. We’ve got further information about the different vaccines, summarising the guidance from the UK Chemotherapy Board, here.
The Government has set out its latest vaccine delivery plan to administer at least 2 million vaccinations per week, as part of the ‘largest vaccination programme in British history’.
The plan includes the commitment set out last week by Boris Johnson to offer the first vaccine dose to all those in the top 4 priority groups, as recommended by the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), by 15 February. This includes those considered “clinically extremely vulnerable” including people with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy, people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow, and people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy. You can find a complete definition of clinically vulnerable groups, on the Government website.
A vaccine made by Moderna – a US based biotech company – has become the third vaccine to be approved for mass rollout across the UK, although supplies are yet to arrive in the country and may not do so for several months.
This vaccine is the latest to have been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Similarly to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was approved in December 2020, the Moderna vaccine is not a ‘live’ vaccine, but contains a molecule called mRNA, which contains genetic information that causes the body to produce tiny fragments of a molecule made by the coronavirus.
In trials with more the 30,0000 people, the Moderna vaccine was assessed to see whether it could prevent symptomatic infection and was found to have an efficacy of almost 95%. There were also no cases of severe COVID-19 in the group that had the vaccine. It is unclear at this stage what impact the vaccine might have on infection without symptoms. The Moderna vaccine can be stored at –20°C (normal freezer temperature) for up to 6 months.
The news that 2 COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and are now being rolled out offers hope of a return to normal life in 2021. For people with cancer this could mean less anxiety about attending hospital appointments, fewer changes to treatment and shorter waiting times. At this stage, although we can’t be sure whether the vaccines will work quite as well in people having cancer treatment because of the effect that cancer treatment can have on the immune system, experience with other vaccines suggests that the COVID-19 vaccines should offer protection against COVID-19 for people with cancer.
Studies looking at how people with cancer have responded to the virus that causes COVID-19 may also provide some clues. Results just published from one of these studies – the SOAP study – suggest that patients with solid cancers have a similar immune response to the virus as people without cancer. Those with blood cancers were found to have a more variable response, with some people responding similarly to people with solid cancers, while others didn’t manage to clear the virus or develop antibodies against it. The numbers in this study weren’t big enough to determine whether patients with particular blood cancers or receiving particular treatments had a poorer response.
These findings may have implications for COVID-19 vaccination, for example it may be that some people with cancer would benefit from more frequent boosters or monitoring to check their response. The SOAP study plans to investigate this in the next phase of their project, which will look at the immune response to the vaccine in people with different type of cancer.
It’s important to remember that some protection is better than none and that people with cancer are encouraged to take the vaccine when it is offered. As with other vaccines, the timing of COVID-19 vaccination may depend on the type and timing of cancer treatment.
Are these vaccines safe? And which vaccines are most appropriate for people living with cancer? These are questions we’re frequently being asked, and understandably so.
While we’re not able to comment on individual circumstances, we’ll continue to update this blog post as new findings and information are released.
To get an ‘on the ground’ view, we recently spoke to Dr Neil Smith, a GP based in Lancashire, about how he is advising his cancer patients in his clinic. “My general advice is yes, it is, safe. You’ve got to understand your individual circumstance, but for people with cancer, or for people who have previously had treatment for it, it is safe. For most people, it’s much safer to have it than not have it. And because it’s not a vaccine that uses a ‘live’ virus, it doesn’t pose a threat to somebody’s immunity, instead It helps them to produce their own immunity against the coronavirus.”
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – the organisation which grants licenses to companies to sell their medicines in the UK – have confirmed that both the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, are safe for rollout across the country. Whilst doses of the other vaccines have been purchased, they are yet to be approved by the MHRA.
Similarly, another government body – the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises UK health departments on immunisation – commented that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine “appears to be safe and well-tolerated, and there were no clinically concerning safety observations,” and that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine “appears to have a good safety profile.” These comments apply to the general population – but what about people affected by cancer?
Some people who were asked to shield during the pandemic (and who are considered “clinically extremely vulnerable”), which includes a number of cancer patients (please see the update from 28 November for the complete list), will be prioritised to receive their first dose of vaccine as soon as possible. However, the JCVI thinks that others who are considered “clinically extremely vulnerable” and who also have some degree of immunosuppression, or are immunocompromised, may not respond as strongly to the vaccine – despite this, the vaccines will, they think, still offer these people some protection. So the COVID-19 vaccines are likely to be made available to cancer patients at some point. However, these people, including those on chemotherapy, have been advised to continue to follow Government shielding advice to reduce their risk of infection, even after vaccination.
Whatever their situation, people invited for vaccination will be able to discuss their concerns with a doctor. “When people arrive at a COVID-19 vaccine centre, they’ll go through a normal consent process. And within that consent process, if there’s any specific issues, they’re often advised beforehand to contact the GP, and so a GP will be in contact with several patients wanting a bit more information,” says Smith. “But in my experience of that, it’s been a very positive conversation where I’ve been able to reassure people – ‘Yes, the vaccine for you is safe, and you should go ahead’.”
Smith is extremely hopeful for the vaccine. “It’s one of the best things I’ve seen in my 30 years of the NHS, and the main thing it does, is it makes the world a better place and makes us safer. So what I’m hoping going forwards, it’s safer for me to see patients and it’s safer for patients to feel confident they can see me to talk about cancer again, and to talk about the fears and concerns, it’s safe for me to refer them and to do investigations, and it becomes much safer for people to carry on having the cancer treatments early. The COVID-19 vaccine will help us to continue to diagnose and cure cancer and save people’s lives.”
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for use in the UK. It is the second jab to be approved in the UK after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was given the go-ahead earlier this month.
This vaccine contains a weakened form of a common cold virus (harmless to humans) that has been modified to include the gene for the coronavirus spike protein. Once injected, this primes the immune system to attack without exposure to the full virus. This is then followed by a second dose – up to three months later – for maximum protection.
Speciality vaccine company Valneva is the latest to begin clinical trials of their COVID-19 vaccine, currently being developed in West Lothian in Scotland.
The Valneva trial will begin by testing the safety and efficacy of the vaccine on volunteers at 4 sites across the UK and is currently enrolling 150 healthy participants aged 18 to 55.
The Valneva vaccine is what’s known as an “inactivated whole virus” vaccine. While the vaccine does hold some of the same virus particles that cause COVID-19, they are weakened and made inactive so that they cannot give you the virus. But they are able to prime the immune system to be able to recognise and destroy the virus responsible for COVID-19, which may prevent you from getting sick if you’re exposed to the virus in the future.
Results from the clinical trial of the vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech – currently being rolled out across the country – have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine, showing that the vaccine may provide protection as early as 12 days after the first dose.
The phase 3 trial involved 42,000 people, with around half receiving the vaccine and the others a dummy vaccine (placebo). 170 people developed COVID-19, with 8 cases in the vaccinated group and 162 in the placebo group, demonstrating that the vaccine has an overall efficacy of 95%.
Efficacy looks at whether an intervention (e.g. a drug or a vaccine) works under optimal conditions (such as a clinical trial). As an example, some of the COVID-19 vaccines are being tested in healthy participants or in people who are at higher risk of catching the virus because of their job, rather than being tested in the whole population.
Effectiveness looks at whether an intervention works in the ‘real world’. Vaccines will continue to be monitored after they’ve been rolled out. The data collected helps experts understand how well they work in different groups of people (looking at factors such as age, ethnicity, people with health conditions, etc) and how long the protection given by the vaccine lasts.
The AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine have also been published, this time in The Lancet, with data suggesting that the vaccine is safe and offers protection against COVID-19. The results are a combination of 2 clinical trials in the UK and Brazil. When the interim trial results were released a few weeks ago, the vaccine had an efficacy between 62 and 90% depending on how doses were administered.
This paper shows that the vaccine offers protection against symptomatic COVID-19 when the 2 doses are administered with a 6-week gap between them. This could mean that this vaccine could take longer to roll out than others, with the Pfizer vaccine being given in 2 doses spaced as little as 3 weeks apart. However, it doesn’t need to be stored at –70 degrees, meaning that it might be easier (and perhaps cheaper) to deliver.
The development of multiple COVID-19 vaccines over an extraordinary 10-month period has brought up some questions about why there haven’t been similar transformative leaps in treating cancer.
Cancer is a highly complex disease, with over 200 different types that vary in biology, genetic make-up and behaviour. Not only that, but each person’s cancer is unique with its own set of challenges, so it’s very unlikely there will ever be one single cure that can be applied to everyone.
One of the biggest challenges our researchers face is that cancer can evolve, adapt and diversify and eventually outwit the immune system. For now, COIVD-19 doesn’t appear to rapidly change its make-up like cancer. And with COVID-19, researchers have been able to define specific targets that are found on the virus, which makes it much easier to treat than cancer.
Much of the science behind the development of the recent COVID-19 vaccines have been underpinned by previous research to understand the body’s immune system for other diseases, including cancer. And the extraordinary progress of the COVID-19 vaccine is in part because scientists, governments, industry and academic institutes around the world turned their focus to this one goal. To further accelerate development, different phases of vaccine trials and production have overlapped.
Copy this link and share our graphic. Credit: Cancer Research UK.
Although progress against cancer might not look as quick or dramatic as that against COVID-19, we have made great strides. Thanks to our research, we’ve helped cancer survival double over the last 40 years.
But there’s still more to do, and the technologies and insights that have come from the COVID-19 vaccine work could help us with future advancements in cancer research. We are relentless in our ambition to beat cancer and will continue to fund ground-breaking research to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
90-year-old Margaret Keenan has become the first person to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, as mass rollout begins across the UK. BBC News has the latest.
50 hospitals in England have been selected to receive the first doses of the vaccine and deliver the first rounds of the vaccination programme. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are also set to begin their vaccination programmes from hospitals today.
With the first 800,000 doses arriving this week, limited quantities will be available until further doses arrive. To begin, elderly people who are hospital outpatients, as well as those who are being discharged after a stay in hospital, will be among the first to be offered the vaccine. Each individual will require two jabs, administered within 21 days of each other, so the initial 800,000 doses will vaccinate 400,000 people.
Prioritisation groups are based on who has the greatest risk of becoming seriously ill or dying from the virus.
The UK has become the first country to approve the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine for widespread use, after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed that the vaccine is safe for rollout across the country.
The mRNA vaccine, which trials suggest offers up to 95% protection against COVID-19, should be available to those who need it most, including elderly and care home patients and staff, within the week. Protection from the vaccine should stop people from becoming ill with the virus. So far, the UK has ordered 40 million doses, enough to vaccinate 20 million people, with the first 800,000 doses arriving early next week.
The vaccine will be distributed from Pfizer centres in Germany, Belgium and the USA. Approximately 50 hospitals across the country have been prepared to deliver the first of the vaccination programme. Specialist vaccination units in spaces such as conference centres are also being set up and some GPs and pharmacists may have access to vaccines, if they have the available cold storage facilities required to store the jab.
To find out more, head to BBC News.
The final results from Moderna’s vaccine trials have confirmed that their vaccine showed 94% efficacy against COVID-19, and nobody who received the vaccination developed a severe case of the virus. The latest news has initiated an approval process with regulators around the world who will study the trial data for the vaccine and decide if the data on its safety and effectiveness are robust enough to be recommend for roll out.
The UK has now bought 7 million doses of the vaccine, which are expected to arrive in the UK in March. On top of that, the UK has pre-ordered 40 million of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and 100 million of the AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine. Full trial data has not yet been released but you can read more about the Moderna vaccine at BBC News and The Guardian.
The provisional priority list published by Public Health England has listed people aged 18 years and over who are deemed “clinically extremely vulnerable” as the same priority as the over-70s to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
People considered “clinically extremely vulnerable” are those who were asked to shield during the pandemic, and include:
Although this prioritisation list is subject to further potential changes as the vaccine is still waiting approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), those considered “clinically extremely vulnerable” have now been placed in priority group 4 of 9. Based on these changes, the interim guidance, advised by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), says the order of priority should be:
The day’s big news was of results from clinical trials in Britain and Brazil of the vaccine led by drug company AstraZeneca and researchers in Oxford. The trials involved over 20,000 individuals and showed differing levels of protectivity depending on how the doses were administered (between 62 and 90%). Like all the recent results, these findings were announced in a press release and have not yet been independently verified.
There are more than 300 vaccines in developments, many in the final stages of testing. The vaccines are all aiming to protect people against developing COVID-19, but they’re produced in different ways.
The main vaccines that have reported results so far are:
The trials explicitly excluded people with a history of cancer apart from a few exceptions; those with localised prostate cancer (where the cancer is contained in the prostate and has not spread to anywhere else), non-melanoma skin cancer that has been treated, cervical carcinoma in situ (pre-cancer) that has been treated, or those with a low risk of either their cancer coming back, or spreading to other parts of the body.
So far, we haven’t seen any data about how effective the vaccine was in these people, nor how many were on the trials – we’ll be looking out for this information as it emerges.
The UK government has already pre-ordered 100 million doses of this vaccine.
In addition to vaccine development, AstraZeneca have started large-scale trials of an “antibody cocktail” aimed at providing short-term protection to people with a weakened immune system, who would be unlikely to develop immunity after a vaccine. Antibodies form a key part of the immune system’s response to infection and it’s hoped that these antibodies developed in the lab will help the immune system to fight off the virus. AstraZeneca have described it as “almost like a passive vaccination.”
5,000 people around the world will be taking part in the trial of this treatment that scientists hope could give individuals immediate protection lasting up to 1 year. If successful, this may make up part of the UK’s wider COVID-19 treatment portfolio and be available to people whose immune systems are compromised.
Like most of us, Cancer Research UK-funded experts have been following the news closely and have called the progress ‘exceptional’.
News of an effective COVID vaccine is great to hear. Having a vaccine will make the world safer, which means it will be safer for people with cancer too and it will become much easier for cancer treatments to continue.
We look forward to getting a better understanding of the best time to give the vaccine to cancer patients to give them the best level of protection.
– Martin Ledwick, Cancer Research UK’s head information nurse
Normal drug or vaccine development would take in the range of 5-10 years, sometimes much longer, so these developments have been extraordinary.
But experts have been keen to emphasise that the rapid turnaround of the COVID-19 vaccines isn’t because standards have dropped. In fact, the COVID-19 trials have involved more people than standard vaccine trials and have been able to draw on cutting-edge developments in technology and data analysis.
The extraordinary progress is in part because scientists, governments, industry and academic institutes around the world have turned their focus to this one goal. And to further accelerate development, different phases of vaccine trials and production have overlapped.
Copy this link and share our graphic. Credit: Cancer Research UK.
Finally, while the initial results are extremely promising, it’s early days yet. Preliminary data from one vaccine trial led by Pfizer suggested the vaccine offered 90% protection against developing COVID-19, whilst more recent data revealed the vaccine was 94% effective in over-65s. Initial reports from a second vaccine trial made by Moderna disclosed similar figures.
Experts expect more results – including important safety data – to materialise in the next 4 to 6 weeks. Vaccination will only be approved once it has passed the usual high standards set by the Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK.
You can read more about the various COVID-19 vaccines in this piece by journalist Tom Chivers, who’s taking part in the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine trial.
We don’t have information on how many people living with cancer, or with a history of cancer, have been involved in COVID-19 vaccine trials so far. But some people with cancer have been able to take part in these trials, although who can take part varies from trial to trial.
For example, the earliest phase of the Pfizer trial involved healthy people aged 18 to 55 or 65 to 85. People with pre-existing conditions were able to take part as long as they didn’t require a significant change in therapy or hospitalisation for worsening disease in the 6 weeks prior to enrolment.
In later phases of the trial (phases 2 and 3) the lower age limit was reduced to 16 years old and individuals identified as being in a ‘high-risk’ group based on their use of public transport, being a frontline essential worker or other factors were included. Although people with cancer weren’t explicitly excluded from this list, those who are immunocompromised or receiving immunosuppressive therapy were not able to take part, and anyone taking part needed to have stable disease prior to enrolment.
For the late phase trials of the Oxford vaccine, anyone over the age of 18 who’s considered to be ‘medically stable’ – someone who’s not expected to be hospitalised or change their therapy less than 3 months before enrolment – could enrol in the trial. The criteria for the Oxford trial explicitly excludes anyone with a history of cancer, apart from a few cancer types, or those with a low risk of either their cancer coming back following curative treatment or spreading to other parts of the body.
Another vaccine that’s hit the news recently is the Moderna vaccine. Similar to the Oxford vaccine trial, medically stable people aged 18 or over were able to take part in the Moderna vaccine trials. However, those who are immunocompromised or have taken immunosuppressive treatments in the 6 months before the trial were not able to enrol.
Beyond vaccine trials, studies looking at how people with cancer’s immune systems respond to COVID-19 may also provide useful information on if the vaccine will be effective for people with specific types of cancer.
Lilly, Katie, Angs and Lyndsy
Rukhsana Faiz August 31, 2021
Dear Lilly
I am patient of breast cancer (ER/PR positive ) and diabetic type 2, what do you suggest should I have covid vaccine or not. I am too much scared of vaccine because I have seen many healthy people become covid positive after vaccine. I have read your reserch that immune system does not response to vaccine and antibodies not developed. I am from Pakistan, our doctors are not use to read research paper and not very interested in to collect data for reseach or trials. In these circumstances I am very much confused regarding covid vaccinstion. Please answer me, I am on cancer treatment tab femara and inj zometa as well as on diabetes treatment. Thanks and regards
Lilly Matson September 2, 2021
Dear Rukhsana,
Thank you for your comment.
There are still some questions about the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients. However, getting the COVID-19 vaccine will not give you COVID-19 or increase your risk of developing it. It may not always give full protection from the virus, and may be a little less effective in some cancer patients, but COVID-19 vaccines can still help keep you from getting seriously ill if you do get COVID-19. We’d encourage people with cancer to take both doses of the vaccine when they are offered. Please contact your specialist if you have concerns as they may be able to give you additional recommendations based on your individual circumstances.
Best wishes,
Lilly, Cancer Research UK
Anita August 6, 2021
I requested an antibody test from my GP, as I received both doses of the AZ vaccine while I was undergoing chemo. The results show no detectable covid antibodies. Nobody is quite sure what this means in terms of my resistance to infection, so am still shielding and being as careful as possible. I hope to be offered a booster, and that my immune system is recovered enough by then to produce antibodies. Keeping fingers crossed, as it is now more difficult to be out and about because people no longer seem to be worried about keeping socially distant or wearing masks, which makes me feel very vulnerable.
Pam H July 2, 2021
Can Cancer patients currently receiving immunotherapy have a Covid Antibody test to check their level of protection
Lilly Matson July 5, 2021
Dear Pam,
Thank you for your question.
Antibody tests are not currently widely available, so you would have to pay for one. We would advise you to speak to your specialist to see if they felt a COVID-19 antibody test would be useful, and if in your circumstances a test would be likely to give you an accurate picture of whether the vaccine had given you protection.
Best wishes,
Lilly, Cancer Research UK
Ralph Brocklehurst July 1, 2021
I am trying to understand my possible need to self isolate as I have metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer and currently on my second round of chemotherapy. I have had both injections but does the chemotherapy reduce the efficacy of the Covid immunisation thus putting me at risk?. I know everyone is different etc etc but I would like to understand my potential risks.
Lilly Matson July 1, 2021
Dear Ralph,
Thanks for your question.
There is still a lot that we don’t know about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines in people with cancer. Early data suggests that after both doses of the vaccine people with cancer have a good level of protection, but there are lots of different factors that are likely to affect an individual’s risk from COVID-19 and the level of protection they have from the vaccine. We’d advise all people with cancer to continue to follow current government guidelines on social distancing and self-isolation. Please contact your specialist if you have concerns as they may be able to give you additional recommendations based on your individual circumstances.
Best wishes,
Lilly, Cancer Research UK
Jennifer Johnstone June 19, 2021
Well I’m shocked to see I’m probably not protected after 2 Astra Venica vaccine I have CCL been in remission four and half yrs ,but this month my white blood cells are slightly risen. I will be ringing my Dr and consultant who checks my blood every 6 months.
Vydehi Cancer Center June 7, 2021
It is great to see vaccine for the cancer patients. So many people are suffering with cancer and most probably vaccine save their lives. Great days for cancer survivors.
Ian April 9, 2021
As a patient with follicular lymphoma I am left with more questions than answers. I received the 1st vaccination in February, 12 weeks later for the 2nd will be May. How much protection am I likely to have now (8 weeks later)? The reports and guidance state “vaccination” but not which one (1st or 2nd) and make no reference to the 3 or 12 week gap between the two. Should I be chasing my GP for vaccination 2 now or wait another month? 2 – 3 weeks after the 2nd vaccination what is the likely level of protection I will enjoy? Should I arrange for an antibody test to find out? All simple questions, but with an employer wanting a return to office working (not home) there is much uncertainty what is the best way forwards!
Lilly Matson April 14, 2021
Dear Ian,
Thank you for your comment.
There is a lot that is still not fully understood about COVID-19, its impact on cancer patients and the COVID-19 vaccines in relation to people who have had cancer in the past or who are going through treatment now.
In people with cancer, some evidence suggests that a single dose of the vaccines might not work as well as both doses. However, this research is at an early stage and the numbers of people involved are still quite small, particularly people with blood cancers. So it is still difficult to say what level of protection people with cancer will have when they’ve had the first dose or both doses. We’d encourage people with cancer, and their loved ones, to take both doses of the vaccine when they are offered, and to continue to work from home where possible until national guidance changes. Talk to your specialist if you have concerns as they may be able to give you additional recommendations based on your individual circumstances.
Best wishes,
Lilly, Cancer Research UK
Johan Wilson March 25, 2021
I have metastatic breast cancer. I have had 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 12 weeks apart😥. I live in Scotland wherecshielding lufts on 26th April and was about to start planning for return to work – I work in the pre-assessment unit of my local hospital. My role is very hands on with unwell patients. I was quite upset to read the results of this survey? What advise would you have r.e returning to this environment? Many thanks for any comments
Kelly Graham March 24, 2021
I want to know if this covid vaccine can cause you to have or make you more susceptible to cancer in the future ? My Dad had lymphoma. He also had a auto immune disease rheumatoid arthritis. I have a autoimmune disease with my thyroid. So I want to know if this vaccine can cause you to be more susceptible ?
Val Gargan March 19, 2021
Hi I have Chronic myeloid Leukemia.. I’ve had my first Astra Zeneca vaccine dose how well am I protected?? I’m in complete remission from C. M. L.
Kevin foran March 13, 2021
I have MDS .? I have recd. first vaccine injection .how serious is this type of cancer
Alex Lathbridge March 16, 2021
Hi Kevin,
You can find out more about MDS on our information page.
If you’d like to talk to someone, our nurses are available Monday to Friday 9-5pm on freephone 0808 800 4040.
– Alex
John Denton March 11, 2021
Does the SOAP study distinguish outcomes between the forms of cancer treatment? I have locally advanced prostate cancer and completed 20 Radical Radiotherapy sessions about 3 weeks ago, in conjunction with hormone therapy which continues protemps. I had my first astra zeneca jab 4 weeks ago and my second is due on 30th April. Whilst the study is in relation to the Pfizer vaccine the current information, or more particularly lack of it, does give cause for concern. Any worries may be alleviated if there were more clarity of information on the specifics of the criteria for the patients studied.
Alex Lathbridge March 12, 2021
Hi John,
We understand that the results of this study will have caused some patients to worry. But as yet the study has not been peer reviewed or published. Also the study was small. For these reasons, we don’t know whether it applies more broadly to the majority of cancer patients undergoing treatment.
Our understanding is that the patients taking part were having (or had recently had) some kind of immunosuppressive treatments, such as immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
So again, it may not apply to people in your situation. We do not have any further detail on the characteristics of the patients involved at this time.
As you stated, it only looked at the Pfizer vaccine, so patients having other vaccines may have a different response.
So at the moment, it is unclear if cancer patients should have their second dose (of any vaccine) brought forward. We would still recommend that anyone who is advised to shield continues to do so (regardless of whether they have had the vaccine) until government guidance changes on shielding and to their medical team if they have other concerns.
Best wishes,
Alex, Cancer Research UK
Chris March 5, 2021
Agree with others below about whether or not all cancer patients/survivors are in group six. I’ve really struggled to find good information on this other than on this page. Even more confusing for Wales, where the rollout might differ from England.
Would love clarity on this as rollout is ongoing now and I am still not sure whether I should or should not be on the vaccine priority list.
If I am not, as a young cancer patient it could otherwise be a very long time before I am vaccinated – would feel a little gutted if the information on here has given me false hope on how soon I might be vaccinated.
NHS England had told Cancer Research UK that all Cancer sufferers, past and present, would be in cohort 6 if not earlier. Sadly it seems that this information has not been published by NHS England and only a selection of NHS areas are carrying this out. This now seems like a postcode lottery which is very sad indeed and has lead to alot of anxiety. All we can do now is sit and wait.
Marcus Elwes March 1, 2021
What is the latest position with regard to previous cancer patients being included in Group 6 for vaccinations please?
Jules February 25, 2021
Hi Just following up on my last post. This is a quote from my GP practice which I hope helps peoples’ understanding: “I have checked with the JCVI and other practices. Unfortunately, past cancer is not in Cohort 6, the info is not correct on the Cancer Research website.”
Katie February 24, 2021
Re the comments from Jules and others below, I feel that urgent clarification is required on this point for GPs and for the public. The lack of clarity is resulting in unequal treatment across the country. I know some former cancer patients dating back 10 years or more and with no other underlying conditions have already been called for a vaccine, yet in my local area I’m being told I’m not in group 6, despite being a much more recent patient, with a more serious treatment profile and still taking medication.
Jules February 23, 2021
I contacted my doctors yesterday to ask for clarification regarding past cancer patients being in Group 6 (as I am currently in Group 9). They are saying they know nothing about the guidance Cancer Research are referring to and are working from the Green Book dated 12/2 which does not include past cancer patients in Group 6. They said they would look into it but as far as they are concerned my group is 9. I had breast cancer in 2013.
I am 67 years young male and had my Astra Zeneca Covid vaccine 3 days ago. I had covid infection last year. My arm and body has reacted strongly to the vaccine and I presume its because of my pre existing circulating antibodies. Is it mandatory or preferable to have the second dose or should I get my antibody levels before my 2nd dose.. ? I really would like to avoid this ‘strong reaction’ ..
Pippa Arrow February 16, 2021
Can we have an update please on whether people who have previously had cancer are being included in group 6 please. Still cannot find any other information regarding this. Have NHS England responded, its been days?!
Bernice Edgar February 15, 2021
I am a 58 year old lady who is shielding . Was diagnosed with cancer in October 2020 had surgery and radiotherapy when am I likely to receive my COVID vaccination
Suzanne February 12, 2021
My sisters partner has bowel cancer and has been waiting since last October to start his third course of radiotherapy (I think it’s this, I know it will be his third lot of this treatment so he can not have anymore?). He is under BUPA who won’t do the treatment until he has had a vaccine and he is in absolute agony all day every day. When is it likely that he will get the vaccine?
Julie February 9, 2021
As per other comments regarding people who have had cancer many years ago being included in group 6.
There is no information on any other site, nor on the link that is provided by yourselves to verify what you are saying. People have enough to worry about without being informed of ‘updates’ that cannot be found anywhere else. Please could you provide the correct information and advise accordingly?
Katie Roberts February 10, 2021
Hi Julie,
Thank you for your comment and sorry if our update has caused confusion. NHS England sent information on priority groups for people with cancer to clinicians, cancer services and other organisations, including Cancer Research UK. We’re clarifying with NHS England whether this information will be updated online.
Best wishes,
Katie, Cancer Research UK
Chris prestidge February 5, 2021
My daughter has Net Cancer which group is she in She is 35 .Doctors at surgery think she should be in under 50s
Rick February 2, 2021
Dear Lilli,
With all due respect the article regarding Green Book update requres review.
Nowhere can it be found that patients in non-surgical follow up are now in category 4.
Your responses to date do not address the questions posed on this and by stating it’s based on ‘what you’ve been told by NHS England will not buy a loaf of bread at any surgery.
Please clearly demonstrate how you have come to offer this article as valid information to concerned individuals.
Thank you.
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