No Connection Between NSCLC and COVID-19 Vaccination with Moderna
There is no established connection between non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and COVID-19 vaccination with the Moderna (mRNA-1273) vaccine. In fact, patients with lung cancer should prioritize receiving COVID-19 vaccination due to their increased vulnerability to severe COVID-19 outcomes 1.
Risk of COVID-19 in Cancer Patients
Cancer patients, particularly those with lung cancer, are at higher risk for complications from COVID-19 infection. According to current guidelines:
- Lung cancer is among the most commonly seen malignancies related to severe COVID-19 cases 1
- Cancer patients have a relatively high fatality rate from COVID-19, making them a priority group for vaccination 1
- The efficacy of mRNA vaccines in patients with solid tumors has been reported to be approximately 83% 1
Safety and Efficacy of Moderna Vaccine in Cancer Patients
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has been specifically studied in cancer patients:
- A prospective, multicenter trial (VOICE trial) demonstrated that most patients with cancer develop an adequate antibody response to the mRNA-1273 (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine while receiving treatment 2
- The vaccine was found to be safe in cancer patients, with no new safety signals observed 2
- The SARS-CoV-2-binding antibody response in cancer patients was non-inferior compared to non-cancer controls 2
Vaccination Timing Considerations for Cancer Patients
For optimal immune response in cancer patients:
- For patients planning to start cytotoxic chemotherapy, it's better to administer the first vaccine dose at least two weeks before initiating chemotherapy 1
- For those already on cytotoxic chemotherapy, the vaccine can be administered between chemotherapy cycles 1
- Patients receiving lymphocyte or plasma cell-depleting regimens should delay vaccination for at least 3 months following the end of immunotherapeutic treatment 1
Potential Side Effects and Monitoring
While the vaccine is generally safe for cancer patients, healthcare providers should be aware of:
- The possibility of post-vaccination fever, which should not automatically be attributed to the vaccine as other causes like neutropenic fever, COVID-19 infection, post-surgical complications, or cancer relapse should be considered 1
- Rare cases of cytokine release syndrome have been reported in patients on immunotherapy after COVID-19 vaccination 3, though this is extremely uncommon
Conclusion
The evidence strongly supports that cancer patients, including those with NSCLC, should receive COVID-19 vaccination with the Moderna vaccine when available. There is no evidence suggesting that the Moderna vaccine causes NSCLC or worsens outcomes in NSCLC patients. Instead, vaccination is crucial for these high-risk patients to prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Healthcare providers should encourage NSCLC patients to receive COVID-19 vaccination while considering optimal timing in relation to their cancer treatments to maximize vaccine efficacy.