Covid-19 vaccines for patients with haematological malignancies

Patients with haematological malignancies have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A pooled meta-analysis of 3377 predominantly hospitalized patients with haematological malignancies and COVID-19 reported a mortality rate of 34% (95% CI 28-39%). Advanced age (≥60 years) and non-white race were identified as risk factors for death. Mortality rate varied on the basis of the type of malignancy: 53% of patients with acquired bone marrow failure syndromes, 41% of patients with acute leukaemias, 32% of patients with lymphomas, 31% of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and 34% of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.11 Given the high case fatality rate among these patients prioritization of COVID-19 vaccines for this group might appear straight forward.12