TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Patient cancer including groups at high risk of being infected with the corona virus. But, can they be given the Covid-19 vaccine? Chairperson of the Indonesian Association of Internal Medicine Hematology Oncology, Tubagus Djumhana Atmakusuma, explained that cancer patients actually need to be given a corona virus vaccine because of the high risk.
Djumhana explained that so far the Central Management of the Indonesian Hematology and Blood Transfusion Association (PP PHTDI) and the Indonesian Internal Medicine Hematology Oncology Association (Perhompedin) said that patients with hematology, oncology, and blood transfusions were not eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine, especially those with advanced stages, acute leukemia, and in long-term treatment.
However, Djumhana explained that there are cancer patients who deserve to be given the Covid-19 vaccine, namely those who have experienced remission. For example, postoperative solid tumors that are declared in complete remission and cancer patients who receive complete chemotherapy are declared in complete remission.
“Cancer that is in the early stage of surgery and is experiencing remission, may get a vaccine,” he said.
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Apart from complete remission, the patient must also have a good performance status and good immune status. To assess a good immune status, it will be seen from a clinical point of view, which is not experiencing systemic symptoms such as fever or sweating. Then, the leukocytes were recorded as normal.
“Whether or not your immune system is good, you don’t lose weight, don’t you have appetite, or don’t you sweat. Performance the status is whether there are disorders such as heart and kidney disorders, “he said.
Meanwhile, vaccine given to cancer patients are also not arbitrary. Djumhana said cancer patients can only receive a vaccine with a muted viral substance, mRNA, subunit, and viral ventor (non-application competences). Cancer patients should not receive vaccines with live, weakened, or viral vectors (replication competent).
“Sinovac is a vaccine whose virus is inactive, unfortunately the study did not include cancer patients or who received immunotherapy,” said Djumhana.
Vaccinated or not, during this pandemic cancer patients are asked to carry out activities at home, limit contact with people outside the home, apply #jagajarak equipped with a face shield with people around, and of course always #pakaimasker in public places such as hospitals, and avoid touching surfaces.
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