Revaccination following CAR-T therapy: a needs assessment

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Immunology
• Oncology

Background:

• Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy offers significant remission rates for relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma.
• CAR-T therapy increases infectious risks, making revaccination crucial for patient protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess revaccination uptake and identify barriers in CAR-T recipients.
• To develop an educational handout based on qualitative insights to improve revaccination adherence.

Main Methods:

• A single-center quality improvement study involving 22 CAR-T recipients.
• Utilized interviews, focus groups, and surveys to gather data on revaccination experiences and barriers.
• Developed and reviewed a patient-facing educational handout.

Main Results:

• Only 50% of patients proceeded with revaccination.
• Identified key barriers: limited primary care provider (PCP) awareness, poor inter-provider communication, and logistical challenges.
• Focus group revealed understanding gaps in post-CAR-T immunization needs and supported educational handout development.

Conclusions:

• Improved communication between care providers and accessible patient education are essential for successful post-CAR-T revaccination.
• Targeted educational tools are needed to enhance vaccine uptake in this vulnerable patient population.