What vaccines are appropriate or not appropriate for cancer patients?

Understandably, many cancer patients are worried about what vaccines they should or should not receive. Although the CDC recommends a flu shot annually for everyone older than 50 years and pneumococcal vaccination for those older than 65 years every 5 years, cancer patients, given their diminished immunity, should receive these vaccinations regardless of age. In addition, cancer patients should be immunized against tetanus every 10 years. Live-virus vaccines to be avoided include those for polio (oral type), measles, mumps, rubella, and yellow fever. — Rosemarie A. Tucci, RN, MSN