Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the two main types of lung cancer, along with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC accounts for about 10 to 15 percent of all lung cancers and usually grows and spreads at a faster rate than NSCLC.
It is important to take care of your overall health while undergoing treatment for any type of cancer, including SCLC. One aspect of this involves keeping up to date on any recommended vaccine, especially the COVID-19 vaccine.
It may seem daunting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine while undergoing treatment for SCLC. However, it is a vital step in preventing serious illness or death due to COVID-19.
Read on for the current COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for people with SCLC, why it is important to get vaccinated, and what potential side effects to expect.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with cancer have a higher risk of developing serious illnesses due to COVID-19. This may be due to the effects of the cancer itself or the side effects of the cancer treatment.
A 2021 study looked at 13 studies of different cancers and COVID-19 results. Outside of China, joint mortality from COVID-19 was significantly higher in people with lung cancer than in people with other cancers (42 percent versus 24 percent, respectively).
Because of the risk that COVID-19 poses to people with cancer, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends that all people with cancer receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they can. The American Cancer Society supports this recommendation.
Because of its greater effectiveness and better safety profile, the CDC notes that mRNA vaccines are preferred to adenoviral vector vaccines such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. MRNA vaccines are Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.
The following table shows current COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for most adults.
Immunocompromised adult vaccines
COVID-19 vaccine recommendations differ slightly if you have moderate to severe immunosuppression, which can happen with some types of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy.
Due to the weakened immune system of this population, these individuals may produce a lower immune response to the vaccine. Therefore, an additional dose of vaccine is added to the primary series.
The following table shows the current COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for adults with moderate to severe immunosuppression.
A 2022 study of 306 people with breast cancer, including SCLC, found that most people produced protective antibodies after two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
In the 30 participants with low antibody levels after 2 doses, a third additional dose resulted in an improvement in antibody levels in all but 3 people.
Who should delay or abstain from vaccination against COVID-19?
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), vaccination against COVID-19 should be delayed for at least 3 months after completing some cancer treatments. This includes:
There are only a few circumstances in which a person should not receive a vaccine against COVID-19. This includes:
- history of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of a vaccine against COVID-19
- a known allergy to an ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine
- history of thrombosis with a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) after receiving a COVID-19 adenoviral vector vaccine (contraindication for adenoviral vector vaccines only)
SCLC treatment often focuses on the use of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both. In some situations, immunotherapy may be recommended.
According to the NCI, there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines make cancer treatments, such as those used for SCLC, less effective.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people with cancer. Although people with cancer should not receive live vaccines, they can get other types of vaccines after consulting a doctor. These include both mRNA and adenoviral vector vaccines.
However, it is still possible to experience some side effects after vaccination. The most common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines include:
A 2021 study surveyed people with cancer about the side effects they had after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The most common types of side effects reported include injection site pain, fatigue, and muscle aches.
A 2022 study looked at the safety of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in 210 people with cancer, some of whom had SCLC. He found that the incidence of vaccine side effects in people with cancer was similar to that of the general public.
The study also included people undergoing various types of cancer treatment. The researchers did not find that the type of cancer treatment the participants received was related to the incidence of vaccine side effects.
The side effects of COVID-19 vaccines go away on their own after a few days. However, if you find that your side effects last for more than a few days or are starting to get worse, it is important that you contact a doctor.
Are people with lung cancer more likely to get SARS-CoV-2?
People with cancer are generally more vulnerable to infections such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This may be due to the effects of the cancer itself or certain cancer treatments such as chemotherapy on your body’s defenses against infections.
Do People with Lung Cancer Have a Higher Risk of Serious COVID-19?
A 2021 study found that, compared to people without cancer, having a cancer diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. This effect was greater in people with active cancer.
People with lung cancer, including SCLC, also face some additional COVID-19 challenges. This is because they often already have reduced lung function due to factors such as:
- have a history of smoking
- undergoing surgery for lung cancer
- suffering from lung damage due to the cancer itself
- have other health conditions that affect lung and heart function
Can the symptoms of COVID-19 be confused with those of SCLC?
The symptoms of COVID-19 and SCLC do overlap. Some examples of symptoms that can occur with any of the conditions are:
However, COVID-19 and SCLC also have unique symptoms. For COVID-19, these may include nasal discharge or congestion, sore throat, or loss of smell or taste. For SCLC, they may include chest pain, hoarseness, or unexplained weight loss.
Are there any medications you should not take before a COVID-19 vaccine?
The CDC recommends that you do not take anti-inflammatory drugs or to reduce over-the-counter fever before a COVID-19 vaccine, as they may affect the way your immune system responds to the vaccine. This includes:
If you are taking medicines that suppress your immune system, talk to a doctor about the impact that your medicines may have on the effectiveness of the vaccine. They can give you more information about this and the best time for your vaccination.
Do I need to be vaccinated against the flu and do I have SCLC?
People with cancer also have a higher risk of getting more serious illnesses due to the flu. That’s why people with cancer, including SCLC, should get a flu shot every year.
The type of flu shot is important. People with cancer should get the flu vaccine, which contains an inactivated form of the virus, and not the flu nasal spray vaccine (FluMist), which contains a weakened but living form of the virus.
If you have any questions about the type of flu shot you need to get or the timing of your flu shot, be sure to talk to a doctor.
People with cancer, including SCLC, are at increased risk for serious illness due to COVID-19. Therefore, it is important that they receive their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for people with SCLC. If you have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine in general, the possible side effects, or the vaccination schedule that you should follow, be sure to consult a doctor.