Cancer patients, such as those with gynecological and breast malignancies, are at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and severe illness. However, there is limited research on the acceptance and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, specifically in this population.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 370 female breast and gynecological cancer patients. Data were collected on comorbidities, cancer diagnosis and stage, treatment modalities, COVID-19 infection history, severity, timing of infection in relation to chemotherapy, COVID-19 vaccination status, and vaccine side effects.
Results: Among the study population, 40.3% have been received the COVID-19 vaccine, 52.2% postponed it, and 7.6% were refusing vaccination. Sinovac vaccine was the most commonly received in the chemotherapy group (56%), followed by Pfizer and AstraZeneca (18.7% each), and Sputnik and Johnson (1.3% and 5.3%, respectively). Patients with a higher level of education were more likely to refuse vaccination. Refusal rate to COVID-19 vaccine was higher in gynecological malignancy cases than female breast cancer cases (72.97% vs. 56.42%, p-value = 0.009). Vaccine side effects were reported in varying percentages, with AstraZeneca and Pfizer having the highest rates (41.7% and 33.3%, respectively), while 95.6% of Sinovac receiver reported no side effects (p < 0.001). Cases with Gynecological malignancies had an increased risk of developing side effects post-COVID-19 vaccination (29.2%, p-value = 0.018, Odds Ratio 3.54, 95% CI 1.240-10.147).
Conclusion: Our findings highlight a higher vaccination refusal rate between elderly patients with advanced stage gynecological cancers. However no major safety concerns associated with receiving COVID-19 vaccination during chemotherapy treatment.