Cancer patients must take their COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots in time, UAE oncologist advises

Cancer patients must take their COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots in time, UAE oncologist advises

Dubai: As the world observes Cancer Day today, immunocompromised patients suffering from a variety of cancers are being advised to go ahead and take their COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots, in close consultation with their treating physician. In an interaction with , to mark World Cancer Day, Dr Wessam Ahmed, Department Chair for Haematology, Medical Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD), highlighted the challenges that cancer patients faced during the peak of the pandemic. Citing the reasons, Dr Ahmed said: “A cancer patient undergoing treatment has a compromised or weak immune system. Besides, when a cancer patient contracts COVID-19, we cannot go ahead with the treatment protocol for cancer and have to halt all sessions unless he or she recovers. That can result in loss of crucial time for the patient. We, at CCAD, follow strict COVID-19 protocols and guidelines issued by the Department of Health — Abu Dhabi, while treating all our cancer patients.” Dr Ahmed said it was important for all cancer patients to get their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters as per protocol. “Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy might have suppressed immune systems and may have to delay their vaccination by a couple of