Aim: Patients with solid organ malignancies experience an immunocompromised state putting them at risk of vaccine preventable infections. In patients with solid organ malignancies this study aimed to identify: 1) awareness of vaccination schedules, 2) if patients were up to date with their vaccinations, 3) the incidence of vaccine preventable infections and, 4) how much education they have received regarding the same.
Methods: This is a prospective audit conducted at a single institution, St Vincent's hospital, between July 2025 and October 2025. Consenting patients were provided with a questionnaire in the outpatient oncology clinic that identified 1) if patients have received education about vaccinations, 2) which vaccinations they have received and 3) which vaccine preventable infections they have had.
Results: In this single institution, 63 patients consented to participate. Twenty-two of these patients were aware of the vaccination schedule. Seven patients had received vaccine education with their GP and oncologist, three with their oncologist alone and twenty-four with their GP alone. Forty-four percent of patients had no education. Overall, vaccination uptake was low. Eleven patients received a Hepatitis B vaccination. In those over 60 years-old (n=44) and 65 years-old (n=36), two patients had received the age specific RSV vaccination and fourteen had received the shingles vaccination, respectively. Finally, eight of twenty-two patients over 70 years-old had received pneumococcal vaccinations. Influenza and COVID 19 vaccination uptake were higher with 68% and 89% of patients having received these vaccinations, respectively.
Conclusions: Vaccination awareness remains low in this vulnerable and immunocompromised population. Potential barriers to this include patient education, system barriers and time constraints. Vaccine preventable infections have the potential to delay oncological treatments, lead to hospitalisations/costs to the healthcare system, as well as morbidity and mortality to patients. This study highlights the need for vaccination guidelines for patients with solid organ malignancies.