A retrospective single-centre study depicted that the use of the BNT162b2 mRNA coronavirus vaccine is safe in people diagnosed with cancer and undergoing cancer therapy. Waleed Kian et al. aimed to determine the occurrence of adverse effects in oncologic patients following COVID-19 vaccination. Notably, 210 subjects with active cancer who were given both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were recruited.

Hospitalizations, development of adverse effects from vaccine, or aggravations from oncologic therapy were recorded. The type of cancer therapy (biologic, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, mixed or hormonal) was recorded to determine if the adverse effects were associated with the treatment type. For identification of any relationships, the vaccine administration time with respect to the onset of treatment (before therapy, within 1 month of therapy or on long term therapy) was recorded too.

A total of 65 subjects (31%) reported mostly mild to moderate adverse effects from the BNT162b2 mRNA coronavirus vaccine. The protocol of the treatment and immunotherapy was not related to the development of vaccine-linked adverse effects. The vaccine administration time concerning the onset of treatment was also not associated with vaccine-associated side effects.

Notably, 6 subjects were hospitalized and 4 subjects died. The occurrence of the adverse effects in cancer people was comparable to what has been stated for the normal public. Hence, the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is safe in cancer patients receiving cancer therapies.