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| |  Oncologists Fail to Recommend Flu, Pneumonia Vaccines for At-Risk Patients: Presented at ASTRO By Ed Susman LOS ANGELES, CA -- October 31, 2007 -- Patients undergoing cancer treatments are often susceptible to common infections -- yet oncologists appear to be failing to tell these patients they need vaccines that can be protective against diseases such as influenza and pneumonia. That's according to a poster presented October 30, 2007 at the 49th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO). While CDC guidelines and the Joint Commission recommend an annual flu vaccine for cancer patients aged 50 years or older, 25% of patients 50 years or older reported never having received the flu vaccine. Similarly, the pneumonia (pneumococcus) vaccine is recommended to all cancer patients 65 year or older. However, over 36% of cancer patients in this age range reported never having received the vaccine. "This is a classic case of failure of doctors to communicate with each other and with their patients," said presenter Neha Vapiwala, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States. She said that oncologists possibly think that primary care physicians are handling the patients' vaccination needs, but the primary care physician may think that is something the oncologist has done. Dr. Vapiwala said that a dismal 7% of patients in a survey said their oncologist recommended the vaccines which can prevent the potentially-lethal infections. Dr. Vapiwala surveyed cancer patients receiving radiation therapy to determine compliance with national vaccination guidelines. The anonymous study asked 207 patients from August 2006 to January 2007 about whether they received the flu and pneumonia vaccines. Those who reported receiving neither vaccine were asked further questions about the reasons why they didn't receive them. Three reasons accounted for almost 80% of why patients didn't receive either vaccine: Patients either believed they didn't need the vaccines, they didn't know about the recommended vaccination guidelines, or their physicians didn't recommend the vaccines. While 44% of patients who received either vaccine reported that they were asked or informed about these vaccines by their family physicians or internists, only 7% reported being asked or informed by their oncologists. "People undergoing cancer treatment and their loved ones should ask their oncologists about these vaccines. They are a very simple, yet very effective, way for people living with cancer to extend their lives," said Dr. Vapiwala. "Oncologists have the opportunity to talk to patients about recommended vaccines during their frequent interactions with patients, whether it be before, during, or after cancer therapy. This discussion could result in better cancer care and ultimately save lives."
[Presentation title: Compliance With National Vaccination Guidelines in Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy. Abstract 2641]
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