[PODCAST] Ep 66: CLL, COVID-19, and Why Patient Registries Matter

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During the summer months of 2021, community transmission rates of COVID-19 have again surged across the U.S. People with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other blood cancers, who are immunocompromised, face added risk from COVID-19 and need more information on vaccine and booster shot efficacy.

In this episode, Gwen Nichols, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, explains how patients are helping researchers discover these answers through participation in the LLS National Patient Registry and the far-reaching effects their participation will have on improving care for patients with blood cancer.

“What we published in Cancer Cell was that a full 25% of blood cancer patients do not make any antibody after full vaccination using either of the mRNA vaccines so that they still may be at significant risk for breakthrough infection.”

Gwen Nichols, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

This podcast is part of the “Returning to Practice in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Resources for Treating Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia” education program. Funding & support provided by AbbVie.

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• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)

• LLS National Patient Registry

• A study from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society shows COVID-19 vaccine is safe but 25% of blood cancer patients do not produce detectable antibodies. Read the full paper published in Cancer Cell here.

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