At first the recent reports of increased risk of cancer in the fully vaccinated were somewhat surprising to me given that the first dose of the mRNA vaccines produces about 60-70% heterologous protection against non-COVID-19 mortality which is largely unchanged by the administration of the second dose [Xu S et al., MMWR 2021, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7043e2]. However, this protection is effectively abrogated upon subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection. We have seen that the omicron based variants are much more highly infectious meaning that in most fully vaccinated (2 doses or more) by now the heterologous protection against tumors has been extinguished related to infection with omicron variants. As well, the heterologous protection by trained immunity involving HERV-K102 is temporary, and may only last up to one year [Kaul R et al, J Clin Investigation, 2001]. Accordingly, for many of us vaccinated with two doses, it is now over 1 year since the second dose. Thus, if cancer rates for 2021 are compared with 2022 (especially in the vaccinated), one would expect to see an increase in 2022.
At first the recent reports of increased risk of cancer in the fully vaccinated were somewhat surprising to me given that the first dose of the mRNA vaccines produces about 60-70% heterologous protection against non-COVID-19 mortality which is largely unchanged by the administration of the second dose [Xu S et al., MMWR 2021, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7043e2]. However, this protection is effectively abrogated upon subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection. We have seen that the omicron based variants are much more highly infectious meaning that in most fully vaccinated (2 doses or more) by now the heterologous protection against tumors has been extinguished related to infection with omicron variants. As well, the heterologous protection by trained immunity involving HERV-K102 is temporary, and may only last up to one year [Kaul R et al, J Clin Investigation, 2001]. Accordingly, for many of us vaccinated with two doses, it is now over 1 year since the second dose. Thus, if cancer rates for 2021 are compared with 2022 (especially in the vaccinated), one would expect to see an increase in 2022.
Marian, would you be willing to present your findings to Stephen Frost’s group?
Carol, please provide more details to hervk102@videotron.ca . Thank you.