Cancer Care at COVID-19 Red

CANCER TREATMENT IS ESSENTIAL AND WILL CONTINUE AT ALL LEVELS OF THE COVID-19 PROTECTION FRAMEWORK.

PLEASE BOOK YOUR COVID-19 VACCINATION TO KEEP OUR WHĀNAU WITH CANCER SAFE (scroll down this page to see our Frequently Asked Questions about cancer and the COVID-19 vaccine). Access your 'My Vaccine Pass' here.

We understand you and your whānau may feel unsettled as we move between different levels of the framework to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. It is OK to be worried, but please know that cancer centres around the country are prepared to continue delivering essential cancer services at all levels.

At Red cancer centres must follow the physical distancing guidelines which may impact how treatment is delivered. It is extremely important that we protect people living with cancer from the risk of catching COVID-19.

You will notice:

• hospitals will be looking to run outpatient appointments virtually where possible (eg, phone conversation or video call). Hospitals may also require a COVID-19 test prior to in-person appointments - you will be contacted by your cancer centre with the details.

• if you have treatment or a scan scheduled, please attend this as normal

• if you have concerns about travelling or coming to hospital because of your health, please contact your cancer centre before your appointment or treatment

• if you are unwell, please phone your cancer centre to let them know

• if you are unwell with COVID-19 symptoms, please contact your doctor to discuss being tested for COVID-19.

  
  

It is safe to come to the hospital. If you are sick the hospital is still the safest place to be.

Cancer Care at COVID-19 Orange

CANCER TREATMENT IS ESSENTIAL AND WILL CONTINUE AT ALL LEVELS OF THE COVID-19 PROTECTION FRAMEWORK.

PLEASE BOOK YOUR COVID-19 VACCINATION TO KEEP OUR WHĀNAU WITH CANCER SAFE (scroll down this page to see our Frequently Asked Questions about cancer and the COVID-19 vaccine). Access your 'My Vaccine Pass' here.

At Orange cancer centres must follow the physical distancing guidelines which may impact how treatment is delivered. It is extremely important that we protect people living with cancer from the risk of catching COVID-19.

You will notice:

• physical distancing guidelines will be in place

• outpatient appointments may be in person or virtual (eg, phone conversation or video call) and hospitals may also require a COVID-19 test prior to in-person appointments - you will be contacted by your cancer centre with the details

• if you have treatment or a scan scheduled, please attend this as normal (unless you have been contacted by your cancer centre with alternative arrangements)

• if you have concerns about travelling or coming to hospital because of your health, please contact your cancer centre before your appointment or treatment

• if you are unwell, please phone your cancer centre to let them know.

  
  

It is safe to come to hospital. If you are sick the hospital is still the safest place to be.

Cancer Care at COVID-19 Green

You will notice:

• outpatient appointments may be in person or could still be virtual (e.g., phone conversation or video call) and hospitals may also require a COVID-19 test prior to in-person appointments - you will be contacted by your cancer centre with the details

• if you have a scan or treatment scheduled, please attend this as normal

• if you have concerns about travelling or coming to the hospital because of your health, please contact your cancer centre before your appointment or treatment

• if you are unwell, please phone your cancer centre to let them know.

  
  

It is safe to come to hospital. If you are sick the hospital is still the safest place to be.

Travelling between COVID-19 Protection Framework levels for cancer treatment

You can travel anywhere between regions under the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic lights). If you are travelling into a different setting area, you will need to follow the guidance for that area when you are there. Further information can be found on the Ministry of Health website. https://covid19.govt.nz/traffic-lights/life-at-red/travel-and-accommodation-at-red/travel-at-red/

You can travel anywhere between regions under the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic lights). If you are travelling into a different setting area, you will need to follow the guidance for that area when you are there. Further information can be found on the COVID-19 website in the Life at Red section.

People with cancer are at an increased risk of getting COVID-19 and have a greater risk of serious infection if they do get COVID-19.

People with cancer are in Group 3. Group 3 includes:

• people over the age of 65 years
• people under the age of 65 years who have any cancer, excluding basal and squamous skin cancers if not invasive

Information on the timing of the roll out is on the Ministry of Health website.

The general information on side-effects from the COVID-19 vaccine can be found here. There is no evidence that people with cancer experience different or worse side effects than the general population.

Yes. Talk to your cancer doctor, as depending on what treatment you are on, they may want to time the vaccine to be delivered at a certain point in your treatment cycle.

There is not currently any evidence to suggest that the COVID-19 vaccine interacts with cancer treatments. Decisions around timing of the vaccine are about maximising how effective the vaccine is, rather than concerns around how it will interact with cancer treatments.

If you have finished your cancer treatment and have been discharged from your hospital specialist, you should get the vaccine when it is offered to you. If you have any concerns you can discuss these with your GP.

We recommend that you talk to your cancer doctor if you have questions or concerns. If you have been discharged from hospital services, we recommend you talk to your GP if you have questions or concerns.

These can be downloaded here: Frequently Asked Questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and cancer (Word 53 KB)

Frequently Asked Questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and cancer (PDF 98 KB)

The Ministry of Health has recommended that individuals aged 12 years and older who are severely immunocompromised receive a third primary dose of Pfizer/BioNTech or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Not all cancer patients are recommended to have a third dose, as only some will be severely immunocompromised. Your cancer doctor or your primary care practitioner will use the Ministry of Health criteria to help you find out if you are eligible.

Criteria can be found here.

Yes. The third dose is not considered a booster dose. This means that if you have a third primary dose, you are also eligible for a booster dose after three months.

More information on booster doses can be found here.

A third primary dose is only recommended for people with cancer who are severely immunocompromised. This is to give your immune system a better chance of building protection to COVID-19. Your cancer doctor or primary care practitioner can help you work out if you need a third primary dose.

A booster dose is available to the general population three months after your primary vaccine doses. This is because it is likely that the immunity from the vaccine will slowly reduce over time. Those who have a third primary dose are also eligible for a booster.