Influenza Vaccination Rates Among Patients With a History of Cancer: Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey

Abstract

Background Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all patients with cancer but vaccine uptake data by cancer type and time since diagnosis is limited. We sought to estimate the vaccination rates across different cancer types in the United States and determine whether rates vary over time since diagnosis. Methods Vaccination rates in individuals with solid tumor and hematological malignancies were estimated using data from 59,917 individuals obtained by the 2016 and 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results An average of 64% of the 5,053 individuals with self-reported cancer received the influenza vaccine. Vaccination rates in men and women with solid tumors (66.6% and 60.3%) and hematological malignancies (58.1% and 59.2%) were significantly higher compared to those without cancer (38.9% and 46.8%). Lower rates were seen in uninsured, those younger than 45 years of age, and in African Americans with hematological malignancies but not with solid tumors. Vaccine uptake was similar regardless of time since cancer diagnosis. Conclusions Influenza vaccination rates are higher in men and women with cancer but remain suboptimal, highlighting the need for additional measures to improve vaccine compliance and prevent complications from influenza across all cancer types.

Impact of a pharmaceutical intervention on influenza vaccination in patients receiving treatment with biological medicines

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“…Diabetic participants with self-reported cancer also showed higher vaccine uptake. Influenza vaccination is recommended for cancer patients, cancer survivors and those who are not receiving cancer treatment, since influenza vaccination is proven to provide protective immunity against severe infections at similar rates to healthy individuals, reducing morbidity and mortality [ 57 , 58 , 59 ].…”

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“…132 However, other studies show that certain cancer survivor populations have higher rates of influenza vaccination than the general population or noncancer controls. [133][134][135] Vaccines represent a unique challenge in cancer and transplant survivors, because they may or may not trigger the desired protective immune responses due to possible residual immune deficits. [136][137][138] In addition, certain vaccines, such as those that are live attenuated (ie, MMR, oral typhoid, yellow fever, rotavirus, intranasal influenza, and varicella), are contraindicated in actively immunosuppressed survivors because of an increased risk of developing the disease and/or prolonged shedding of the live organism given in the vaccine.…”