Uptake and safety of COVID 19 vaccine among female breast and gynecological cancer patients’, A single Egyptian center experience | ||||
| The Egyptian Journal of Community Medicine | ||||
| Article 1, Volume 42, Issue 2, April 2024, Page 75-83 PDF (780.12 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejcm.2023.235782.1271 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Rasha Mahmoud Allam   1; Omnia Mohamed2; Youstina Elamir3; Mohamed Rahouma4; Hala Aziz Shokralla2
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| 1Rasha Mahmoud Allam Lecturer of Cancer Epidemiology&Biostatistics | ||||
| 2Medical Oncology-National Cancer Institute-Cairo University, Egypt | ||||
| 3Radio diagnosis-National Cancer Institute-Cairo University, Egypt | ||||
| 4Department of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Institute-Cairo University, Egypt. Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Weill Cornell Medicine, NY | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Cancer patients, such as those with gynecological and breast malignancies, are at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and severe illness. However, there is limited research on the acceptance and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, specifically in this population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 370 female breast and gynecological cancer patients. Data were collected on comorbidities, cancer diagnosis and stage, treatment modalities, COVID-19 infection history, severity, timing of infection in relation to chemotherapy, COVID-19 vaccination status, and vaccine side effects. Results: Among the study population, 40.3% have been received the COVID-19 vaccine, 52.2% postponed it, and 7.6% were refusing vaccination. Sinovac vaccine was the most commonly received in the chemotherapy group (56%), followed by Pfizer and AstraZeneca (18.7% each), and Sputnik and Johnson (1.3% and 5.3%, respectively). Patients with a higher level of education were more likely to refuse vaccination. Refusal rate to COVID-19 vaccine was higher in gynecological malignancy cases than female breast cancer cases (72.97% vs. 56.42%, p-value = 0.009). Vaccine side effects were reported in varying percentages, with AstraZeneca and Pfizer having the highest rates (41.7% and 33.3%, respectively), while 95.6% of Sinovac receiver reported no side effects (p < 0.001). Cases with Gynecological malignancies had an increased risk of developing side effects post-COVID-19 vaccination (29.2%, p-value = 0.018, Odds Ratio 3.54, 95% CI 1.240-10.147). Conclusion: Our findings highlight a higher vaccination refusal rate between elderly patients with advanced stage gynecological cancers. However no major safety concerns associated with receiving COVID-19 vaccination during chemotherapy treatment. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| uptake; safety; COVID 19 vaccine; female breast; gynecological cancer | ||||
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