Hematologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Vaccination during blood cancer treatment | CION Cancer Clinics
Most non-live vaccines, such as the flu injection and the pneumonia vaccine, are usually safe during blood cancer treatment and often advised. Live vaccines, such as MMR, chickenpox, yellow fever and oral polio drops, are generally avoided until your haematologist agrees. This page explains which is which, when to time a vaccine, what changes after a transplant, and what your family can do to protect you. At CION Cancer Clinics, our haematology team supports patients and families through treatment, cost questions and life at home.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Basudev PokhrelConsultant Haematologist · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Can you have vaccines during blood cancer treatment?
- Which vaccines are usually allowed, and which are not?
- When is the right time to have a vaccine?
- How are live and non-live vaccines different for you?
- Should your family be vaccinated too?
- What do families often believe about vaccines and blood cancer?
- What do the vaccine terms mean?
- Common questions about vaccines during treatment
The short answer
Can you have vaccines during blood cancer treatment?
Yes, most non-live vaccines, such as the yearly flu jab and the pneumonia vaccine, are usually safe and often recommended. Live vaccines are different: they are generally avoided during treatment and for a long time after, unless your haematologist says otherwise.
Why vaccines matter more now
Blood cancer and its treatment both weaken your defences against infection. An illness like flu or pneumonia that a healthy person shakes off can put you in hospital. A vaccine gives your body a head start against the infections most likely to cause harm.
Why your body may respond less well
A vaccine works by teaching your immune system to recognise a germ. If treatment has lowered the cells that do that learning, the vaccine may give weaker protection than usual. It still usually gives some protection, which is why timing matters so much.
Why live vaccines are a problem
A live vaccine contains a weakened form of the germ. A healthy immune system controls it easily. A weakened one may not, and the vaccine itself can cause a serious infection.
Always tell the person giving any vaccine that you are being treated for a blood cancer, even at a government camp or a local clinic.Safe or not
Which vaccines are usually allowed, and which are not?
This is a general guide. Your haematologist decides what suits your diagnosis and your treatment.
Usually allowed: non-live
These contain no living germ, so they cannot cause the infection they protect against. They are the ones most often advised.
Examples
- Flu (injection, not nasal spray)
- Pneumococcal, for pneumonia
- COVID-19
- Hepatitis B and tetanus
Usually avoided: live
These contain a weakened living germ. They are generally not given while your immune system is weakened, and only later with your team's clear approval.
Examples
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- Chickenpox and the older shingles vaccine
- Yellow fever and BCG
- Oral polio drops and oral typhoid
Shingles: check which one
There is a non-live shingles vaccine that may be offered to some people with blood cancer. The older live version is not suitable. Ask which type is being offered before you agree.
Travel vaccines
Some travel vaccines are live. If you are planning a pilgrimage or a trip abroad, speak to your team well before you book, not the week you leave.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistGetting the timing right
When is the right time to have a vaccine?
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Before treatment starts, if there is time
Your immune system responds more strongly now than it will once treatment begins. If treatment is urgent, it should not be delayed for a vaccine. Your team will judge the balance.
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During treatment
Non-live vaccines such as the flu jab can often still be given. Your team may time them away from the days your counts are lowest, so your body has a better chance to respond.
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After antibody treatments
Medicines such as rituximab lower the cells that make antibodies. Vaccines given soon afterwards may work poorly, so your team may suggest waiting or repeating them later.
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After treatment ends
As your immune system rebuilds, vaccines work better again. Your team will say when a missed flu or pneumonia vaccine can be given, and whether any live vaccine is ever suitable.
-
After a stem cell transplant
A transplant wipes out the protection from your childhood vaccines. They are given again, from the start, on a schedule set by the transplant team over the following months and years.
Side by side
How are live and non-live vaccines different for you?
Non-live vaccines
Live vaccines
Contain no living germ, only a part of it or an inactivated form
Contain a weakened living germ
Cannot cause the infection they protect against
Can cause serious infection when immunity is low
Often advised during treatment, with timing set by your team
Generally avoided during treatment and for a long time after
May give weaker protection, so may be repeated later
Only given later with your haematologist's clear approval
At home
Should your family be vaccinated too?
Yes. When the people around you are protected, they are less likely to bring an infection home. This is one of the most useful things a family can do.
The yearly flu jab
Everyone who lives with you, and anyone helping with your care, should consider a flu vaccine each season. It protects them, and it protects you through them.
Children in the house
Children can usually carry on with their normal vaccine schedule. The one to discuss is oral polio drops, often given at pulse polio camps. The weakened virus passes out in a child's stool for some time. Tell your team before a child at home has the drops, so they can advise on hand washing and nappy changing, or another option.
If you are the parent of a child with blood cancer
Your child's own routine vaccines are usually paused during treatment. Keep their vaccination card safe and bring it to every appointment. The team will plan which vaccines to give again once treatment ends, and brothers and sisters can usually stay on schedule.
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Commonly believed
What do families often believe about vaccines and blood cancer?
"With a weak immune system, every vaccine is
dangerous."
Only live vaccines carry that risk. Non-live vaccines such as the flu jab cannot cause the infection, and skipping them leaves you open to illnesses that are far more dangerous for you than for others.
"If the vaccine will not work fully, there is no
point."
Partial protection is still protection. It can mean a milder illness, or staying out of hospital. Your team may also repeat the vaccine later, when your body can respond better.
"The vaccines I had as a child still protect
me."
After some treatments, and always after a stem cell transplant, that protection fades or is lost. Your team will tell you which vaccines need to be given again, and when.
"A nurse at the camp will know whether it is
safe."
They may not know your treatment. Say clearly that you are having blood cancer treatment, and check with your team before any vaccine, including one offered free in a campaign.
Words you may hear
What do the vaccine terms mean?
- Inactivated or non-live
- A vaccine made from a killed germ or just a part of it. It cannot cause the infection.
- Live attenuated
- A vaccine made from a weakened living germ. Usually avoided while your immune system is weakened.
- Booster
- An extra dose that tops up protection from an earlier vaccine.
- Revaccination
- Giving vaccines again after a transplant or strong treatment has removed the protection they gave.
- Immunosuppressed
- Having a weakened immune system, from the disease or from its treatment.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about vaccines during treatment
Can I get the flu vaccine during chemotherapy?
Usually yes, as the injection rather than the nasal spray, which is live. Your team may suggest a day away from when your counts are lowest. Even if the protection is weaker than normal, it can make a flu illness milder. Check with your haematologist before each season's dose.
Is the COVID vaccine safe with blood cancer?
COVID vaccines used in India are not live, so they cannot give you COVID. They are generally considered safe with blood cancer, though protection may be weaker. Ask your team whether a further dose makes sense for you, and keep up other precautions in crowded places.
My grandchild is due for polio drops. Is that a problem?
The child should usually still be protected. Oral polio drops contain a weakened virus that passes out in stool for a while. Tell your team first. They may advise careful hand washing, someone else changing nappies, or asking about the injected polio vaccine instead.
Do I need all my childhood vaccines again after a transplant?
Usually yes. A stem cell transplant resets the immune system, and the old protection is lost. The transplant team sets a schedule that restarts non-live vaccines first. Live vaccines, if given at all, come much later and only when your immune system has recovered enough.
I had a vaccine before I knew I had cancer. Should I worry?
For most non-live vaccines, no. If it was a live vaccine given close to the start of treatment, tell your haematologist now, including the name and date if you have them. They can decide whether anything needs watching. Do not change your treatment plan on your own.
Can I take a travel vaccine for a trip or pilgrimage?
It depends on the vaccine. Some, such as yellow fever and oral typhoid, are live and usually not suitable. Speak to your team several weeks before you plan to travel. They may suggest a non-live option, a letter explaining why a vaccine was not given, or a change of plan.
Will a vaccine lower my blood counts?
Non-live vaccines do not usually affect blood counts in any lasting way. You may have a sore arm, a mild fever or tiredness for a day. With low counts, any fever still needs the same urgent care your team has told you about, so do not assume it is only the vaccine.
Are these vaccines covered by government schemes?
Some routine vaccines are free under the national programme, and cover for others varies between Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS and private insurance. Scheme rules change, so check the current position. Our team can help you understand what is advised before you look into the cost.
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Dr. Basudev Pokhrel reviews blood counts, transfusion needs and blood disorders, and works with the CION tumour board on blood cancers.
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Sources
- NHS — Vaccinations
- National Cancer Institute — Infection and cancer treatment
- Blood Cancer UK — Blood cancer information and support
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Cancer information and support
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Blood count recovery after treatment endsHow long your counts and immune system take to rebuildNeutropenic fever: the emergency to knowWhat to do if a fever starts with low countsFood safety with low white cell countsOther everyday ways to lower infection riskCounts, fever and infection in haematologyThe full guide to staying safe with low counts
Talk to us
Not sure whether a vaccine is safe for you?
Call the helpline before you have it. The haematology team will check it against your treatment and tell you what to do. One helpline serves every CION centre.