Lymphoma and COVID-19 videos
Below you will find several videos created during the COVID-19 pandemic covering shielding, commonly asked questions, the impact of COVID, and tips on using masks.
Videos on this page:
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Living with the psychological impact of lymphoma and leukaemia in the COVID-19 era
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Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia (WM) and COVID-19 webinar, June 2020
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Looking after your mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic
We also have a number of wellbeing videos available, including on emotional wellbeing.
COVID-19 vaccines - your questions answered
This video was recorded from a live webinar on 15 January 2021.
Expert panel
We are very grateful to our expert panel of experts for giving up their time to attend the webinar:
Dr Graham Collins, Haematology Consultant, Oxford University Hospitals
Dr Wendy Osborne, Consultant Haematologist, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne
Dr Robert Marcus, Consultant Haematologist, HCA Healthcare, London
Dr Shirley Hopper, Medical Assessor, MHRA
Watch the webinar
During the webinar we received some additional questions, which the guest panel have answered here.
Can having the vaccine ‘re-awaken’ or stimulate other medical conditions (such as pre-existing medical conditions) or blood cancers?
There is no evidence from the clinical trials that pre-existing medical conditions can be ‘re-awakened’. It is not expected that blood cancer would be re-awaken or stimulate by the vaccine either, and it is not something that is seen with any other vaccine (for example, the annual flu vaccine). However, the MHRA is continually monitoring the safety of the vaccines during the roll-out. If there is any evidence that certain conditions can be re-awakened, this will be added to the Information for UK Recipients which can be found here: https://coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/productinformation
Can I have the COVID vaccine if I have had another vaccination recently (for example, the flu vaccine)?
You can still have the COVID vaccine, but it is important to wait between the vaccinations. For the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the clinical trials suggest the flu vaccine can be given 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after the COVID-19 vaccine. For the AstraZeneca (Oxford) vaccine, the trials suggest that the flu and pneumococcal vaccines can be given 7 days before or 7 days after the COVID-19 vaccine.
What sort of allergies would be a contraindication for the vaccines?
The only contraindication to any of the 3 approved COVID-19 vaccines is an allergy to the active substance or any of the other ingredients of the vaccine you are going to receive. The Green Book (a publication from the Department of Health and Public Health England that has information and guidance on immunisations against infectious diseases for the UK) says that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines should not be given to those who have had a previous systemic allergic reaction (including immediate-onset anaphylaxis) to:
- a previous dose of the same COVID-19 vaccine; or
- any component (excipient or inactive ingredient) of the COVID-19 vaccine.
It also says that individuals who have a systemic allergic reaction to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine should not be given a dose of the Moderna vaccine, and vice versa.
This means that people with other types of allergies can receive the vaccines.
However, you should talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before you are given the vaccine if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction or breathing problems after any other vaccine injection, or if you have any other allergies. And this will also be part of the screening process when you arrive for your vaccine.
Will the MHRA be able to access information and data from other countries for research purposes?
The MHRA has agreements with drug regulators in some countries that means they can share information and data, such as evaluations of confidential clinical trial data, as well as data on adverse event reports once vaccines are being rolled out. The drug companies that conduct COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials has a duty to share all the clinical trial data and pharmacovigilance data (where the effects of drugs are monitored after being licensed) from anywhere in the world, with all the countries that are in the process of approving or that have approved the vaccine. In addition, clinical trial results are published in international clinical trial registers (for example the EU Clinical Trials Register and the US ClinicalTrials.gov. ) However, not all data will be available to the general public.
COVID-19 vaccines - personal experiences from people with blood cancer
This video was recorded on 14 January 2021, and shares the experiences of three people with blood cancer who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Use of face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic - June 2020
This video discusses the use of face coverings (such as face masks) and disposable gloves during the pandemic. It also includes guidance on how to use face masks safely, including putting them on and taking them off, storage and cleaning.
The video is presented by Martin Evans, Practice Development Nurse for the Haematology department, University Hospital of Wales.
Living with the psychological impact of lymphoma and leukaemia in the COVID-19 era - August 2020
On 27 August we held a joint webinar with Leukaemia Care on the impact of COVID on people living with lymphoma and leukaemia.
Expert panel
We are very grateful to our expert panel for contributing to this video:
Dr Raj M. Gupta, Clinical Psychologist, Birmingham and Solihull NHS Trust
Dr Pauline Aiston, Health Psychologist University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
Anne Crook, Counsellor / Psychotherapist, Psycho-oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Angela Watts, CNS and Leukaemia Care Nurse Adviser
Watch the webinar
COVID-19 and skin lymphoma - August 2020
On 5 August we recorded a video on skin lymphoma and issues related to COVID-19 with a panel of experts. The video also covers topics such as treatment for skin lymphoma.
Expert panel
We are very grateful to our expert panel for contributing to this video:
Professor Julia Scarisbrick, Consultant Dermatologist and Head of the Cutaneous Lymphoma Service, University Hospital Birmingham
Professor Richard Cowan, Consultant in Clinical Oncology and Director of The Christie School of Oncology, Manchester
Ashley Medicks, founder of Skinship (UK) and living with skin lymphoma
Watch the webinar
Please note: due to internet connection problems at the time of recording, you may notice some disruption to the sound or image quality of this video.
See our information about skin lymphoma.
Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia (WM) and COVID-19 webinar - June 2020
On 19 June 2020 we jointly hosted a webinar on Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia (WM) and COVID-19 with WMUK. Our expert panel answered some of your most commonly asked questions.
Expert panel
We are very grateful to our expert panel for giving up their time to attend the webinar:
Dr Shirley D’Sa, Consultant Haematologist, UCLH and WMUK trustee
Helen DeMarco, Consultant Clinical & Health Psychologist, Haematology Psychology Service & Team Lead at UCLH
Watch the webinar
Additional videos
Our experts kindly allowed us to continue to record their answers to additional questions, following the end of the webinar.
What do we know about COVID-19 vaccines?
Should I tell my doctors if I get COVID-19?
What are your hopes for the future of service delivery?
How do we sill look after our health and wellbeing?
How do we balance supporting our mental health and keeping well?
Looking after your mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic
This video focuses on using coping strategies to look after your mental wellbeing during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Recorded as part of our live webinar on WM and COVID-19 on 19 June 2020, the information is this video is relevant to anyone with lymphoma, as well as family, friends and carers.
Lymphoma and COVID-19 webinar - May 2020
On 5 May 2020 we hosted a webinar on lymphoma and COVID-19. Our expert panel answered some of your most commonly asked questions on this topic.
Expert panel
We are very grateful to our expert panel of lymphoma specialists for giving up their time to attend the webinar:
Dr Graham Collins, Haematology Consultant, Oxford University Hospitals
Dr Wendy Osborne, Consultant Haematologist, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne
Dr Robert Marcus, Consultant Haematologist, HCA Healthcare, London
The webinar was hosted by Stephen Scowcroft, Lymphoma Action's Director of Operations and External Affairs.
Watch the webinar
Read the transcript of the webinar
Additional videos
Our experts kindly allowed us to continue to record their answers to additional questions, following the end of the webinar.
Who should be shielding?
How long will shielding last for people with lymphoma?
What will lifting of restrictions mean for those still shielding?
What would a COVID-19 infection mean for someone with lymphoma?
Are people with lymphoma recovering from COVID-19 infections?
How can people keep well during shielding for people with lymphoma?
Services are being delivered differently now. Are there any lessons we have learnt that might continue in the future?
Important notes
These videos were recorded on Tuesday 5 May 2020, and the information they contain is relevant to the situation in the UK on this date (and information may change in the future).
The information is these videos is specific to the situation in the UK. If you are viewing these videos from outside the UK, please be aware that some of the information may not apply in your home country.
The views contained in these videos are those of the expert panel of lymphoma specialists.
For up to date information on lymphoma and COVID-19 in the UK visit our COVID-19 pages.
Blood Cancer Alliance webinar - May 2020
The Blood Cancer Alliance hosted a webinar on 12 May, focusing on the COVID-19, shielding and top tips for keeping well with blood cancer during this time.
Cancer52 video - July 2020
Cancer52 has created a video where individuals with cancer talk about their hospital care during the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging others to attend their appointments and treatment.
We are grateful to the following companies for supporting our Lymphoma Action COVID-19 video and webinar series. They have had no input into the programmes or their content.
Celgene
Takeda