Refusal of vaccination against influenza and COVID-19 in patients with solid cancers: from bio-ethical issues to solutions

Stoeklé, Henri‐Corto; Sekkate, Sakina; Vallée, Alexandre; Beuzeboc, Philippe; Hervé, Christian

doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2023.01.028

Cited by 2 publications

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References 7 publications

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“…In this context, it is crucial that organizational and protective measures adopted to contain the infection do not worsen patients' mental well-being and that related information is conveyed in a way that reassures patients and elicits their convinced and spontaneous adherence [17]. While the reasons for vaccination refusal have been extensively investigated [18][19][20], the psychological impact of COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients who, more or less reluctantly, accepted vaccination has been explored to a much lesser extent [21]. The aim of our study was indeed to investigate the levels of anxiety, depression, and distress, on the one hand, and the subjective perception of the protective effects of the vaccination and its potential interference with anticancer treatment and overall health status, on the other, in cancer patients undergoing COVID-19 vaccination in the context of the campaign promoted by the Veneto Oncology Network (Rete Oncologica Veneta-ROV) between March and May 2021 (the VACCINATE study); here we report the results obtained in two independent cohorts of patients with active cancer vaccinated at a larger academic hub (Verona University and Hospital Trust) and at a smaller local spoke (Camposampiero Hospital).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-sectional survey evaluating the psychological impact of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in patients with cancer: The VACCINATE study

Tregnago,

Avancini,

Belluomini

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted on cancer patients’ psychological well-being and clinical status. We assessed the levels of anxiety, depression, and distress and the attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients, accepting vaccination at the Verona University Hospital and Camposampiero Hospital in the Veneto region. Self-reported questionnaires were administered to patients undergoing COVID-19 vaccination between March and May 2021 (first and second dose). Twenty-seven items were investigated: i) demographics/clinical characteristics; ii) anxiety, depression, and distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale—HADS—and Distress Thermometer—DT); iii) four specific items regarding awareness about infection risks, interference with anticancer treatments, and vaccine side effects. Sixty-two and 57% of the patients who accepted to be vaccinated responded to the survey in the two participating Hospitals, respectively. Mean age was 63 years (SD: 12 years; range 19–94 years), women were slightly more prevalent (57.6%), most participants were married (70%), and either worker or retired (60%). Borderline and clinical levels of anxiety were recorded in 14% and 10% of respondents; borderline and clinical levels of depression in 14% and 8%; and moderate and severe distress levels in 33% and 9%. Overall, there was high confidence that vaccination would reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 (70%), which would make patients feel less worried about contracting the infection (60%). Fear that vaccine-related side effects would interfere with anticancer treatment and/or global health status was low (10% and 9% for items 3 and 4, respectively) and significantly associated with baseline levels of anxiety, depression, and distress at multivariate analysis. Results did not differ between the Verona and Camposampiero cohorts. During the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, adult cancer patients demonstrated high levels of confidence towards vaccination; baseline levels of anxiety, depression, and distress were the only significant predictors of reduced confidence.

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