Anti-infective vaccination strategies in patients with haematological malignancies or solid tumours: updated guideline of the Infectious Diseases Working Party of the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology.

Abstract

Vaccine-preventable infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. The updated guideline for anti-infective vaccination strategies in patients with cancer of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology Infectious Diseases Working Group was developed by a guideline panel of experts in internal medicine, haematology, medical oncology, and infectious diseases. For previously covered vaccinations, we included all publications in patients with cancer starting from 2017, as this was the data cutoff for the previous guideline, and for newly included vaccines all publications were reviewed. After data extraction and critical discussion, the recommendations were graded following a standardised international grading system. This update introduces general recommendations, optimal vaccination timing, potential use of live vaccines, and immunisation of close contacts and household members of patients. Moreover, specific sections for patients with solid tumours and patients with haematological malignancies have been introduced. Guidance has been added for patients receiving novel therapies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor T cells. This guideline addresses the urgent medical need to reduce vaccine-preventable diseases and aims to improve vaccination uptake among patients with cancer and their caregivers.