Post by Odysseus on Oct 7, 2023 8:01:19 GMT
Can the COVID-19 vaccine cause cancer?
No. None of the vaccines interact with or alter your DNA in any way. They cannot cause cancer. There is no truth to the myth that somehow the COVID-19 vaccine could inactivate the genes that suppress tumors.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is not the same as DNA and cannot be combined with DNA to change your genetic code. The mRNA vaccines use a tiny piece of the virus’ genetic code to teach your immune system how to make a protein that will trigger an immune response if you get infected. The mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell (the part that contains your DNA).
No. None of the vaccines interact with or alter your DNA in any way. They cannot cause cancer. There is no truth to the myth that somehow the COVID-19 vaccine could inactivate the genes that suppress tumors.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is not the same as DNA and cannot be combined with DNA to change your genetic code. The mRNA vaccines use a tiny piece of the virus’ genetic code to teach your immune system how to make a protein that will trigger an immune response if you get infected. The mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell (the part that contains your DNA).
Should cancer patients and survivors get the COVID-19 vaccine?
The CDC and other expert groups generally recommend that all people, including people with cancer and cancer survivors, stay up to date with the most recent COVID-19 vaccines.
Even if you've already had COVID-19, it’s still important to be vaccinated. While being infected with COVID-19 offers some immunity, people can still be infected again. What’s more, a person’s immunity to COVID-19 can weaken over time, and it might not be as helpful against newer variants of the virus that continue to emerge. This is why staying up to date with the latest COVID-19 vaccines is important.
While the COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people with cancer, they might not be as protective as they are in people without cancer, especially for those with weakened immune systems. Some cancer treatments like chemotherapy (chemo), radiation, stem cell or bone marrow transplant, or immunotherapy can affect the immune system, which might make the vaccine less effective. People with certain types of cancers, like leukemias or lymphomas, can also have weakened immune systems, which might make the vaccine less effective.
Because of this, there are different vaccine recommendations for people with weakened immune systems. To learn more, see “Recommendations for getting the COVID-19 vaccines.”
The CDC and other expert groups generally recommend that all people, including people with cancer and cancer survivors, stay up to date with the most recent COVID-19 vaccines.
Even if you've already had COVID-19, it’s still important to be vaccinated. While being infected with COVID-19 offers some immunity, people can still be infected again. What’s more, a person’s immunity to COVID-19 can weaken over time, and it might not be as helpful against newer variants of the virus that continue to emerge. This is why staying up to date with the latest COVID-19 vaccines is important.
While the COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people with cancer, they might not be as protective as they are in people without cancer, especially for those with weakened immune systems. Some cancer treatments like chemotherapy (chemo), radiation, stem cell or bone marrow transplant, or immunotherapy can affect the immune system, which might make the vaccine less effective. People with certain types of cancers, like leukemias or lymphomas, can also have weakened immune systems, which might make the vaccine less effective.
Because of this, there are different vaccine recommendations for people with weakened immune systems. To learn more, see “Recommendations for getting the COVID-19 vaccines.”
www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/coronavirus-covid-19-and-cancer/covid-19-vaccines-in-people-with-cancer.html