Covid-19 Vaccinations Update for Cancer Patients:
The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme follows Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance in terms of vaccine prioritisation.
The Government announced on Monday 18 January that the Covid-19 vaccination programme will be extended to people in JCVI Priority group 4. This includes people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and will include people having active cancer treatment as well as many in follow-up. All other cancer patients such as those treated a long time previously and who were treated surgically will be covered by priority group 6.
Latest updates mean that people who are planned to start or are undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments will now be included in priority group 4. These patients can now be recommended for Covid-19 vaccination prior to their treatment where it is deemed clinically safe to do so. People whose level of risk is about to increase – such as those waiting for planned cancer surgery – may also be offered the vaccine alongside the CEV group. Clinicians may advise their patients that they should be vaccinated - ideally at least two weeks before they start treatment - however decisions will always be taken based on the case of the individual patient, taking into account their current health, their likelihood of exposure to the virus and the risk to their health from Covid-19.
How vaccinations are delivered will vary. Vaccinations may be delivered in hospital hubs or through other routes such as primary care vaccination services.
