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Around half of the patients with infections in blood-producing organ venoms developed detectable antibodies after the first Covid-19 vaccination. However, 56% of cancer patients developed antibodies after getting a Covid-19 booster dose. The research findings were published in the journal The Cancer. MD of Brown University Thomas Ollila and his colleagues conducted a research study.

The study analyzed antibody responses related to first and booster Covid-19 vaccination in 378 blood cancer patients. Anti-SARS.CoV2 antibodies were found in the blood of 48% or 181 patients with initial Covid-19 vaccination. Moreover, the examination used one of the three US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved Covid-19 vaccines.

The analysis found patients with active cancer or who recently received an immune cell-depleting therapy weren’t powerful to generate antibodies. These responses were observed after around 56% of patients involved in the examination received a booster dose. Most patients were among those who didn’t generate an antibody response after their initial vaccination.

Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab are Approved Antibody Therapies

Around 8.9% or 34 patients developed a Covid-19 infection with 3 infection-related deaths at the end of February 2022. However, the study didn’t find a significant connection between post-vaccination antibody response and the occurrence of Covid-19 infection. It is noteworthy that no patient died from Covid-19 with produced antibody responses.

Moreover, no patient was diagnosed with a Covid-19 infection after receiving tixagevimab and cilgavimab. Tixagevimab and cilgavimab are approved antibody therapies to combine non-overlapping elements of the SARS-CoV2 spike protein. Both can prevent the virus from restraining and infecting cells. The FDA approved the therapy combination during the pandemic for just emergency use.

Covid-19-Related Deaths with Undetectable Antibodies

This approved therapy offered a mechanism to help prevent Covid-19 infection in specific individuals. Dr. Ollila said they discovered that patients with blood-producing organs venoms have an exceptional response to Covid-19 vaccination. She added that most of these patients who were initially unresponsive will otherwise have responded to booster vaccination.

Dr. Ollila added that they discovered deaths from Covid-19 in the reviewed patients happened with undetectable antibodies. However, no patient was diagnosed with Covid-19 infection after getting prophylactic antibody therapy. It enabled researchers to check antibody levels in all these patients and perform prophylactic antibody therapy.

Covid-19 Vaccine is Recommended for Cancer Patients

Meanwhile, a blog on cancer.net provided more useful information regarding the safety of people with cancer. The blog says experts believe that the Covid-19 vaccine is now recommended for people with cancer. It also includes cancer survivors and those who are currently receiving cancer treatment such as immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

However, experiencing critical conditions from Covid-19 is 2 times higher for people having cancer than without cancer complications. People with harmful reactions such as anaphylaxis aren’t allowed to get the vaccine. They should consult their doctor or cancer care team to get approval for a Covid-19 vaccine. It is because the vaccine approval depends on their medical history.

The Initial Covid-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials without Cancer Patients

The original Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials didn’t include people with cancer complications. These clinical trials used the pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine and the flu vaccine. However, some vaccines are allowed during cancer treatment after finding a weaker immune system. But some vaccines aren’t approved for cancer treatment such as live virus vaccines.

Keep in mind that the Covid-19 vaccines aren’t live virus vaccines and are allowed during or after the cancer treatment. The CDC recommended that fully vaccinated people can resume their activities without wearing a mask or social distancing. These recommendations aren’t applicable in areas with the spread of various variants such as Delta or Omicron.