Blood cancer and COVID-19
This page has the latest information and advice about COVID-19 for people living with blood cancer, including lymphoma, leukaemia, myeloma and related blood disorders.
With COVID-19 infections currently increasing all over Australia, we understand you have questions. We encourage you to complete an action plan and to discuss any concerns with your treatment team.
Page last updated: Nov 9, 2022
About coronavirus (COVID-19)
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a virus. The virus can spread from person to person, but good hygiene and social distancing can prevent infection. If vaccinated, most people infected with the virus will experience a mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.
Symptoms include:
- fever
- coughing
- sore throat
- shortness of breath.
Serious symptoms that you should call 000 for:
- difficulty breathing
- blue lips or face
- pain or pressure in the chest
- cold and clammy, or pale and mottled, skin
- fainting or collapsing
- being confused
- becoming difficult to wake up
- little or no urine output
- coughing up blood
The virus can spread from person to person, but good hygiene and social distancing can prevent infection. Most people infected with the virus will experience a mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.
Testing for COVID-19
There are 2 types of test that can detect if you have the COVID-19 virus:
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR, or RT-PCR)
Rapid antigen self-tests (RATs)
More information about testing positive is here
Are people with blood cancer more at risk?
You are at greater risk of severe illness if you have blood cancer. You are also at greater risk of severe illness if you are undertaking:
- immune suppressive therapy
- chemotherapy
- radiotherapy
- immunotherapy
- targeted anti-cancer therapy
- bone marrow transplant.
What is the best way to protect myself?
Everyone should practice good hygiene and social distancing to protect against infection:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, including before and after eating and after going to the toilet.
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces and objects such as mobile phones.
- Stay 1.5 metres away from other people. This is called social distancing.
- Wearing a mask is an important protective measure – it is important to wear it properly
- do not reuse single use masks, wash and dry reusable masks after use and store in a clean dry place.
- make sure the mask covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly under your chin, over the bridge of your nose and against the sides of your face
What about vaccination?
Immunocompromised people aged 5 years and over require a third primary dose of a COVID-19 vaccine from 2 months (and no later than 6 months) after dose 2 to remain up to date. People aged 16 years and over are recommended a booster (fourth) dose, 3 months after dose 3 of their primary vaccination course.
From July 10, an additional booster, or fourth dose, is recommended for people at increased risk of severe illness, to be given 3 months after their first booster dose.
This additional booster will be a fifth dose for people who are immunocompromised
- None of the COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Australia use the live or whole virus that causes COVID-19.
- The COVID-19 vaccines cannot give you COVID-19.
Book here for your COVID-19 vaccine.
Current treatments for COVID-19
From November 1, the eligibility criteria have been updated. More information can be found here.
We strongly encourage you to access the COVID Action Plan and discuss your options with your GP and/or treatment team.
The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce provides guidance for immunosuppressed patients, including blood cancer patients:
Evusheld – Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab
Sotrovimab –Xevudy
Paxlovid – Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir
Lagevrio – Molnupiravir
To access these medications, you need a prescription from an authorised prescriber e.g. general practitioner or a haematologist.
Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine are disease-modifying treatments that are not recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 outside of randomised trials with appropriate ethical approval.
What other support is available?
Call 1800 620 420 If you need to talk to speak to a Blood Cancer Support Coordinator Cancer Australia Guidance for the management of patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond Blue Beyond Blue has dedicated support for your mental wellbeing Head to Health Head to Health is an Australian Government initiative that can help you find digital mental health services from some of Australia’s most trusted mental health organisations.Top 3 questions – Oral Treatments for COVID-19 with Dr Lucas de Toca
(Part 1) Hear from Dr Lucas de Toca PSM on COVID-19 oral treatments, how the various medicines differ from each other, and who is eligible to receive them. (Part 2) In this video Dr Lucas de Toca talks about COVID-19 oral treatments, including who is eligible, when to take them, and how to access them in rural or remote areas.COVID-19: Winter 2022 update with Dr Nada Hamad and Dr Krispin Hajkowicz
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and we enter the winter flu season, you may be wondering how to best avoid infection and manage your health. It can be hard to keep on top of the new variants and ATAGI guidelines around vaccination, treatment, testing and isolation.
