To support multicultural communities with evidence- based information about COVID-19 vaccines and cancer, Cancer Australia has today released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) translated into 10 languages specifically for people affected by cancer.
“The current COVID-19 outbreak in Australia highlights the need for accessible information about vaccines for people with cancer who are more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 and are at an increased risk of more severe infection,” said Professor Dorothy Keefe, CEO Cancer Australia.
“The latest international evidence reassuringly shows that for many people affected by cancer, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect themselves, their family and their community against COVID-19.”
Based on input and queries from the cancer community, FAQs have been developed by Cancer Australia. These have now been translated into the 10 most commonly-spoken languages, Arabic, Chinese – Simplified, Chinese – Traditional, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
The FAQs address when and where people with cancer can get vaccinated: the safety, efficacy and any risks of the vaccines; if the vaccine may impact their cancer treatment; and how information will be collected about the vaccines in people affected by cancer.
People with cancer aged 16 and over fit into the priority group “People with an underlying medical condition” and are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine free as part of the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccine national roll-out strategy.
The decision about whether and when to receive a COVID-19 vaccine should be made on an individual basis by the person affected by cancer, in consultation with their healthcare team.
Even after receiving the vaccine, it is still important for people affected by cancer, and their close contacts, to continue taking other protective measures against COVID-19, including wearing a mask, washing hands and maintaining physical distancing.
This information is intended to supplement the broader information provided by the Australian Government for clinicians and the Australian community about COVID-19 vaccines in Australia.
To view the translated FAQs, visit www.canceraustralia.gov.au/CALD.