Medical experts urge seasonal vaccinations for cancer patients

Marton Széll, head of the infectious disease outpatient clinic at Vienna's Klinik Donaustadt (WIGEV), is highlighting the critical importance of seasonal vaccinations for cancer patients. He notes that many high-risk patients remain unvaccinated against respiratory infections such as influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and pneumococcus.

Because cancer treatments often leave patients immunosuppressed, they are more susceptible to severe complications from otherwise common infections. Széll warns that contracting an illness like influenza can force a patient to interrupt chemotherapy for several weeks, which can negatively impact the treatment of the cancer itself.

Széll also addressed the misconception that vaccinations might overwhelm a patient's immune system during cancer treatment, stating this is not the case. He noted that while specific national vaccination rates for oncological patients in Austria are not currently available, clinical observations show significant gaps. He suggests that the focus on a cancer diagnosis often causes patients to overlook preventative measures, necessitating increased attention from both patients and medical professionals.