Over the years, vaccination has proven to be the safest way to get protection against a wide range of infections.
These include well-known illnesses such as influenza and chickenpox and other less common but very serious illnesses, such as meningitis.
“In addition to the benefit of protection against these diseases, those who are vaccinated are able to protect others through what we call herd immunity: when many people are protected against a disease, it has difficulty spreading,” highlights clinical oncologist and researcher Gustavo Gosling.
“So when we get vaccinated, we also protect those who live with us, including our family members who have cancer,” he adds.
The expert points out that with the help of immunization agents, many diseases that caused major public health problems in the past are now under control, including measles, whooping cough, rubella, and even Covid-19 and influenza.
“It is also a vaccine that will help us greatly reduce the incidence of cervical cancer: the HPV vaccine,” he comments.
Gosling highlights that during the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference, in June, in Chicago (USA), new data were presented, which strengthens the certainty about the ability of this vaccine to prevent cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV).
The study showed that the vaccine is also effective, especially in men, in preventing head and neck tumors. The research analyzed data from about 5.5 million people, about 950,000 of whom received the HPV vaccine between 2006 and 2008. Vaccinated men were 56% less likely to develop this type of tumor.
“This means that by adhering to our vaccination schedule, we will see a decrease in these cancers in the future, especially in the generation of our children and grandchildren, who are vaccinated between the ages of nine and fourteen,” highlights the oncologist.
The HPV vaccine is also available through the SUS (Unified Health System) for girls and boys aged 9 to 14. For specific groups, such as people living with HIV/AIDS, people undergoing solid organ/bone marrow transplants, and cancer patients, the age range is wider (from nine to 45 years for women, from nine to 26 years for men).
In cases of immunodeficiency, a prescription is necessary.
cancer patients
Gosling notes that cancer patients are at high risk for vaccine-preventable infections, and therefore, it is highly recommended that they update their vaccination schedule.
“But it is important to pay attention to the moment when these vaccines will be manufactured,” he adds. Vaccinations with inactivated microorganisms that are seasonally updated, such as for Covid-19 and influenza, can be given even during treatment.
Those that use inactivated microorganisms that do not require updating, such as the pneumococcal vaccine, can also be applied while the person is undergoing treatment, but when it is possible to plan the best time, it should be done up to two weeks before this stage.
However, vaccines containing live attenuated microorganisms should not be given during treatment. This includes vaccinations against yellow fever, MMR vaccine, and dengue vaccine, for example.
“For these people, it is important to get vaccinated four weeks or more before starting treatment, or at least three months after it ends,” he advises.
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