Get Vaccinated with Delay

Dr. CHENG Ghar Yee, Judy

Resident Medical Officer

Specialist in Family Medicine

One of the most common questions I’ve been asked in the past year was “Doc, can I get the COVID vaccine?” There have been some challenging cases for which I’ve had to do research before answering my patients, and some of them are particularly memorable.

In mid-2021, one of my patients Lily (false name) came to see me for this express purpose. She was then on continuous active treatment for stage-IV breast cancer, and told me that she strongly wanted to get vaccinated. But her oncologist in the public sector flatly told her that she was not a suitable candidate. Back then there was a lot of speculation surrounding COVID vaccination in Hong Kong, towards which most people, including a lot of doctors, were adopting a “wait-and-see” approach. I was very curious as to why Lily was putting so much effort into being vaccinated rather than concentrating on her cancer treatment. Lily told me that, in light of the cardiac issues of her husband and the multiple allergies suffered by her daughter (I told her these were not necessarily contraindications for vaccinations), she was in fact the most “suitable” member to get vaccinated in her family. And she wanted to get vaccinated to protect them rather than herself. After some research, I pulled up and showed her some data and statements around the world that showed cancer patients taking the COVID vaccination safely. Lily was very happy to know the she could proceed with the COVID vaccination.

The reason for my telling Lily’s story is not to demonstrate my actions but what Lily taught me. She reminded me not only about altruism but also about hope, for she is planning for the future irrespective of her current disease. As doctors, we are always telling our patients to plan for the worst and hope for the best. But this is not always easy to do so. Throughout my years of practice, I have always found that my patients are my best teachers!

If Lily can get vaccinated, so can a lot of other people. Get vaccinated if you haven’t done it yet and stay safe!