ABSTRACT
Over the last two decades, the number of patients who are survivors after treatment for malignancy has increased rapidly. This has been achieved not only through increased intensity of therapy for malignancies but also through manipulations of the immune system including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Vaccinations of oncology patients or patients who have been previously treated for malignancy are important from two points of view. Obviously, the most important is the need to protect the patient against serious infections developing either during cancer therapy or as a late consequence of the given treatment. In addition, from a public health point of view, it is important not to have an increasing number of individuals vulnerable to significant infectious agents (e.g. poliovirus). Both perspectives require analysis of risks and benefits for the individual patient.
