Cancer patients and the COVID-19 vaccines
Clinicians, cancer patients and coronavirus researchers weigh in on vaccination safety, timing, allergy concerns and more January 14, 2021 • By Diane Mapes / Fred Hutch News Service Metastatic breast cancer patient and family doctor Dr. Carla Kakuta of Winters, California, receives her first COVID-19 shot, before heading off to cancer treatment. I went straight from vaccination to the infusion center because I’m awesome like that, she wrote on Twitter. “I ve been seeing patients in person through the pandemic. Since Thanksgiving the % positive rate of the people I test has been 15 to 20%. Grateful I’ve been able to avoid bringing it home to my family.
Cancer patients and the COVID-19 vaccines
Clinicians, cancer patients and coronavirus researchers weigh in on vaccination safety, timing, allergy concerns and more January 14, 2021 • By Diane Mapes / Fred Hutch News Service Metastatic breast cancer patient and family doctor Dr. Carla Kakuta of Winters, California, receives her first COVID-19 shot, before heading off to cancer treatment. I went straight from vaccination to the infusion center because I’m awesome like that, she wrote on Twitter. “I ve been seeing patients in person through the pandemic. Since Thanksgiving the % positive rate of the people I test has been 15 to 20%. Grateful I’ve been able to avoid bringing it home to my family.
Fred Hutch researchers are racing to find out whether the new COVID-19 vaccines, which are proven to stop disease symptoms, also block transmission of the virus. If the vaccines are only "symptom-reducing," those who take it might still become infected and possibly contagious. New studies may be needed to find the answers quickly.