Ollila TA, Lu S, Masel R, et al. - Researchers aimed at determining the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with hematologic malignant disease who have an impaired humoral immunity from both treatment and disease.

• A total of 160 patients with hematologic malignant disease who were vaccinated with 1 of 3 COVID-19 vaccines were retrospectively studied.

• Prior studies in healthy participants receiving mRNA or adenovirus-based vaccines against COVID-19 demonstrate a nearly 100% rate of seroconversion.

• The retrospective design and the possibility of selection bias of patients who underwent clinical testing for postvaccination seroconversion were the limitations of this work.

• Information concerning T-cell–based immunity could not be gained using the qualitative test for anti–COVID-19 antibodies and the test did not show correlation with clinical outcomes related to potential COVID-19 infection.

• Vaccination may not generate adequate protection in patients with hematologic cancers, particularly those receiving B-cell–depleting immunotherapy, and as observed in the cohort, these patients may still develop a potentially fatal infection.

• Ongoing protective measures, including masks, social distancing, and screening, may be beneficial for these patients.

• Based on findings, they recommend prioritizing vaccination for family members and caregivers to protect the patients themselves.

• Testing and treatment with COVID-19–specific monoclonal antibody therapy are recommended in cases with possible infection regardless of vaccination status.