ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Seasonal Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates Among Patients with Cancer in COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
Received Date : 14 Mar 2021
Accepted Date : 04 Jul 2021
Available Online : 16 Aug 2021
Emre YEKEDÜZa b, Elif Berna KÖKSOYa b, Satı Coşkun YAZGANc, Ilgın AKBIYIKa b, Sevinç BALLIa b, Engin Eren KAVAKa b, Ender KALACIa b, Bengü DURSUNa b, Pınar KUBİLAY TOLUNAYab, Mustafa GÜRBÜZa b, Hakan AKBULUTa b, Ahmet DEMİRKAZIKa b, Filiz ÇAY ŞENLERa b, Güngör UTKANa b, Yüksel ÜRÜNa b,
aDepartment of Medical Oncology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TURKEY
bAnkara University Cancer Research Institute, Ankara, TURKEY
cDepartment of Internal Medicine, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TURKEY
Doi: 10.37047/jos.2021-83087 - Article's Language: EN
J Oncol Sci. 2021;7(2):64-70
ABSTRACT
Objective: Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates were not in the expected levels before the coronavirus disease-2019
(COVID-19) pandemic among patients with cancer. However, pandemic conditions may have changed the attitude of patients. In this study,
we aimed to assess current influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates of patients with cancer and changing attitudes toward vaccination
in these patients. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary cancer center in Turkey. A self-administered
questionnaire consisting of 20 items was used. Results: A total of 309 patients completed the questionnaires. Most patients did not get a flu
shot and pneumococcal vaccine before the COVID-19 pandemic (74.1% for flu shot and 84.1% for pneumococcal vaccine). Moreover, 144
patients (46.6%) stated that they were considering to get a flu shot, and 133 (43%) were considering to get a pneumococcal vaccine because
of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only 35 patients (11.3%) got a flu shot, and 56 (18.1%) got a pneumococcal vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion: Vaccination rates for seasonal influenza and pneumococcal infections were low in patients with cancer before the COVID-
19 pandemic. Although the number of patients who want to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza and pneumococcal infections increased
in the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients vaccinated with these vaccines is still low.
Keywords: Influenza; pneumococcal infection; vaccination; cancer patients; COVID-19
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