Patients with
lung cancer are especially vulnerable to
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a greater than sevenfold higher rate of becoming infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
COVID-19, a greater than threefold higher hospitalization rate with high complication rates, and an estimated case fatality rate of more than 30%. The reasons for the increased vulnerability are not known. In addition, beyond the direct impact of the pandemic on morbidity and mortality among patients with
lung cancer,
COVID-19, with its disruption of patient care, has also resulted in substantial impact on
lung cancer screening and treatment/management.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in people with
lung cancer. On the basis of the available data, patients with
lung cancer should continue their course of
cancer treatment and get vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For unknown reasons, some patients with
lung cancer mount poor antibody responses to vaccination. Thus, boosting vaccination seems urgently indicated in this subgroup of vulnerable patients with
lung cancer. Nevertheless, many unanswered questions regarding vaccination in this population remain, including the magnitude, quality, and duration of antibody response and the role of innate and acquired cellular immunities for clinical protection. Additional important knowledge gaps also remain, including the following: how can we best protect patients with
lung cancer from developing
COVID-19, including managing care in patient with
lung cancer and the home environment of patients with
lung cancer; are there clinical/treatment demographics and
tumor molecular demographics that affect severity of
COVID-19 disease in patients with
lung cancer; does anticancer treatment affect antibody production and protection; does
SARS-CoV-2 infection affect the development/progression of
lung cancer; and are special measures and
vaccine strategies needed for patients with
lung cancer as viral variants of concern emerge.