Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing infections and should be widely promoted, especially in immunocompromised patients, such as older patients with cancer.1-4 Aging-related changes in the immune system (immunosenescence), as well as cancer itself and its treatment, make older adults with cancer highly susceptible to infections, partly due to a less efficient immune response to vaccines.1,2,5 Currently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommend the following inactivated vaccines for all older adults: influenza, Streptococcus pneumoniae, tetanus, diphtheria, Bordetella pertussis, herpes zoster (recombinant), and SARS-CoV-2.6,7 Since adherence to this recommendation is low among older adults with cancer8-11 and older cancer survivors,12 it is essential to promote the development of effective vaccination strategies and emphasize the importance of vaccination in these populations.
