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© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Patients with cancer can be immunocompromised because of their disease and/or due to anticancer therapy. In this population, severe influenza virus infections are associated with an elevated risk of morbidity and mortality. Influenza vaccination is therefore highly recommended in cancer patients, including those receiving anticancer therapy. However, vaccination coverage remains far below the recommended target for vulnerable subjects. Six specialists in oncology, hematology, immunology, and public health/vaccinology convened with the objective of developing strategies, based on evidence and clinical experience, for improving influenza vaccination coverage in cancer patients. This viewpoint provides an overview of current influenza vaccination recommendations in cancer patients, discusses barriers to vaccination coverage, and presents strategies for overcoming said barriers. New immunization issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic are also addressed. Future directions include improving public education on influenza vaccination, providing the media with accurate information, improving knowledge among healthcare professionals, improving access to vaccines for cancer patients, co-administration of the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, increased collaboration between oncologists and other health professionals, increased accessibility of digital vaccination registries to specialists, shared information platforms, and promoting immunization campaigns by healthcare systems with the support of scientific societies.

Details

Title
Improving Influenza Vaccination Coverage in Patients with Cancer: A Position Paper from a Multidisciplinary Expert Group
Author
Bonanni, Paolo 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Maio, Michele 2 ; Beretta, Giordano D 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Icardi, Giancarlo 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Rossi, Alessandro 5 ; Cinieri, Saverio 6 

 Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale G.B. Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy; [email protected] 
 Medical Oncology, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy 
 Medical Oncology Unit Pescara Hospital, Via Fonte Romana 8, 65124 Pescara, Italy; [email protected] 
 Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via Pastore 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; [email protected]; Hygiene Unit, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IRCCS Genoa, Largo Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy 
 Giunta Esecutiva SIMG, Via del Sansovino 172, 50142 Florence, Italy; [email protected] 
 Medical Oncology and Breast Unit, Ospedale Perrino, S.S. 7 per Mesagne, 72100 Brindisi, Italy; [email protected] 
First page
420
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
2076393X
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3047093363
Copyright
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.