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EMN 2021 | EMN vaccine recommendations for patients with myeloma

Heinz Ludwig, MD, Wilhelminen Cancer Research Institute, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria, discusses the latest vaccine recommendations from European Myeloma Network (EMN) for patients with multiple myeloma. Prof. Ludwig outlines the importance of offering vaccinations to multiple myeloma patients due to an increased risk of infection because of disease-inherent immunosuppression and the immunosuppressive effects of some therapies. For example, treatment with proteasome inhibitors and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies is associated with increased infection risk. Patients with myeloma often have less vigorous responses to vaccination than other members of the general population. Therefore, patients with myeloma require monitoring of post-vaccination antibody titers and may need to repeat vaccinations. In particular, Prof. Ludwig discusses vaccination against influenza, pneumococci, haemophilus influenzae, meningococci, papillomavirus and hepatitis. Finally, Prof. Ludwig discusses recommendations for vaccinating patients with multiple myeloma against COVID-19. This interview took place during the 2021 EMN congress.