Cancer Organizations Urge Priority Access to COVID-19 Vaccine for Cancer Patients, Survivors

Today the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) joined 130 cancer centers and other institutions in sending a letter to President Joseph R. Biden, key members of his administration, and leading state public health officials to strongly encourage prioritizing patients with cancer and survivors of cancer when administering lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines.

Research has shown that patients with cancer are at increased risk of severe illness and death if they are infected with the virus. Patients with cancer often receive frequent in-person care, which increases their risk of exposure to COVID-19. Some survivors of cancer also have a higher likelihood of COVID-19 infection and death compared to the general population.

Signatories on the letter represent laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; other health care professionals; millions of patients with cancer and survivors of cancer; and patient advocates from across the United States. The letter notes that while widespread, rapid vaccination is a worthy goal, the current, limited supply of vaccines means that many who are at high risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19—including patients with active cancer and cancer survivors—may continue to wait for many months if they are not provided with priority access.

Read the letter.

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AACI’s mission is to accelerate progress against cancer by enhancing the impact of North America’s leading academic cancer centers. For more information, please visit aaci-cancer.org