If a patient is undergoing treatment for cancer, is it safe to vaccinate her or him against influenza?

People with cancer need to be protected from influenza, and they can and should receive inactivated or recombinant influenza vaccine (but not live nasal spray vaccine [FluMist]) even if they are immunosuppressed. Cancer patients and survivors are at higher risk for complications from influenza, including hospitalization and death. Here is a helpful CDC web page on cancer and influenza for patients: www.cdc.gov/cancer/flu.