If you are immunocompromised (an organ transplant recipient or receiving cancer treatment), will getting vaccinated protect you? Recently, the effectiveness of the vaccine has been increasingly questioned, especially by immunocompromised patients. The widespread use of vaccines and the growing number of newly developed vaccines continue to give hope to humanity and deliver successful results.
So, if you are currently being treated for cancer or are immunocompromised for any other reason, how well do vaccines protect you? You may be a little confused about this.
I am immunocompromised but I have had all my vaccines. Am I protected from COVID-19?
Not completely. We know that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in the healthy population. However, because immunocompromised patients do not mount a good and sufficient immune response, those who are severely immunocompromised in particular may not develop an adequate protective response. If you belong to either of these two patient groups, it means you can still get a COVID-19 infection, even if you have been vaccinated.
Have new studies changed much for people with weakened immune systems?
Have new studies changed much for people with weakened immune systems?
Not much has changed for now. Since you are still at risk of catching many infectious diseases, you need to take the same precautions that immunocompromised patients took before the pandemic. Wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently and staying away from crowds are some of these.
An important exception to this is when everyone in the community has been vaccinated. Considering that even a vaccinated person can transmit COVID-19, the chance of COVID-19 transmission cannot be said to be zero. Still, this transmission rate is very low for people with a healthy immune system. If you are not sure about the vaccination status of the community you are in, the safest approach is to assume that no one around you is vaccinated and act accordingly.
When might this change for immunocompromised people?
The increase in vaccination rates suggests that conditions will be less restrictive in the future. Of course, COVID-19 is not the only infection immunocompromised patients need to protect themselves from, so it is best for them to wear a mask to also protect themselves from conditions such as the common cold, flu and pneumonia.
The information on our website is not intended to direct individuals to any treatment. Do not take any diagnostic or treatment steps without consulting your doctor. The content does not contain information about İzmir Can Hastanesi's therapeutic healthcare services.
