Klin Onkol 2009; 22(6): 264-267.
Summary
Seasonal influenza causes annual epidemics with significant morbidity in the general population
and important mortality in high‑risk groups. Opinions on the suitability of patients with solid
tumours in different phases of antineoplastic therapy to receive influenza vaccination vary considerably
among oncologists, sometimes even within one center. Consequently, a large number
of cancer patients fail to receive influenza vaccination. Recently, the situation has become even
more complicated due to the emergence of the new pandemic A/ H1N1 („swine“ or „Mexican“)
influenza. We review current knowledge on the epidemiology of influenza, vaccination recommendations,
and the efficacy and toxicity of available influenza vaccines in the population of
adult patients with solid malignancies.
