Adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination among cancer patients: Results from an Internet-based survey.

Abstract

Background: The rapid development of safe and effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 may stem the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, since individuals with cancer were under-represented during clinical vaccine trials, experience with COVID-19 vaccines among cancer patients is limited. Methods: An internet-based survey was conducted January 15 -February 10, 2021 among members of the Inspire online health community. The 63-item survey was emailed to members of the Inspire community who had opted-in for research. Results: Out of 19,152 respondents, 4895 (25%) self-reported a cancer diagnosis. Of these, 1337 (27%) were receiving active therapy. Cancer respondents were 66% female, 77% white, 44% college educated, with a median age range 55-65 years. 88% had solid tumors and 12% hematologic malignancies. 241 (5%) had prior COVID-19 and 148 (3%) thought they had had it but were not tested. Among cancer patients with COVID-19 approximately 30% reported ongoing late symptoms. At the time of survey, 1335 (27%) cancer patients had received a COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna 51% Pfizer-BioNTech 46%, Astra-Zeneca 3%, Other/unknown >1%). Following the first injection, 63% had local adverse events (AEs): injection site pain (51%), swelling (8%), redness (6%), and itching (4%). 34% reported systemic AEs including myalgia (32%), fatigue (18%), headache (12%), joint pain (5%), and chills (5%). 199 (15%) had received the second (booster) vaccination. 76% reported local AEs including pain (69%), swelling (14%), itching (8%), and redness (7%). 67% reported systemic AEs including fatigue (49%), myalgia (30%), headache (29%), chills (23%), fever (16%), joint pain (15%), and nausea (12%). AEs were comparable to the clinical trial results obtained from the general population (fda.gov/media/144245/download &144434/download). Conclusions: In this internet-based survey drawn from the Inspire online health community 1335 cancer patients reported receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. Byself-report the vaccines were well tolerated with AEs patterns mimicking clinical trial results conducted in the general population. These safety results should be reassuring to cancer patients although attention to COVID-19 vaccine efficacy is required (and will be studied during follow-up surveys).