Vaccination against influenza useful for cancer patients



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Person Receiving a Vaccine

At a time when the flu is on the rise again, Miriam Wumkes, an internist-oncologist at Jeroen Bosch Hospital, was promoted on Tuesday, November 20, on an appropriate topic. She investigated whether influenza vaccination was useful for people with cancer with solid tumors on chemotherapy and what was the optimal timing of vaccination: before or after chemotherapy. His research shows that patients with breast cancer and / or colorectal cancer respond well to influenza vaccine and can be vaccinated safely.

Different aspects measured

In the study, Wumkes examined different aspects of influenza and the effects of influenza vaccination in people with cancer and treated with chemotherapy. She studied how to prevent flu and colds. She also sought to see if there was a possible increase in flu mortality. In addition, she measured the influenza vaccine response in people with cancer and what happens when they are vaccinated or not

During the influenza period, according to Wumkes, the number of people who died slightly increased . However, this number is not significantly higher in people receiving chemotherapy. Patients who participated in the study and received the influenza vaccine had higher resistance. In addition, Wumkes discovered that only 59% of cancer patients are vaccinated against influenza. She advocates for better information from oncologists, among others: it is now proven that the flu vaccine is safe for people with cancer.

Additional Protection

Wumkes believes the influenza vaccine contributes to the well-being of this group of patients. "It's about prevention, extra protection from not getting sick in addition to the illness that these people already have."

Promotion

Miriam Wumkes did her research in several hospitals in the Netherlands and obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Utrecht. . The co-promoter was Dr. Ankie van der Velden, internist Tergooi. The promoters were Prof. dr. Ger Rijkers (Head of the University of Science Rooseveld College Middelburg) and Prof. dr. Douwe Biesma, Chairman of the Board of St. Antonius Hospital

Source: JBZ

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