Heartbroken Son’s Warning to Cancer Patients After His Vaccinated Father Dies of COVID While Battling Leukemia

A grieving Madry said it was a shock to everyone that his father passed away, especially after he had turned his life and health around after being diagnosed with leukemia last year.

Madry also revealed that his father died believing he was safe from contracting COVID because he had been fully vaccinated, unaware that trials have shown that the vaccine can have reduced efficacy in individuals with hematologic (blood) cancer.

"Once he got the vaccine it was a huge weight off his shoulder," Madry said in an interview with News 8. "One of his last Facebook posts was telling people to wear a mask and stay vigilant because this disease was destroying him."

Madry added: “He was never told once the vaccine wouldn't work for him.”

Daniel’s death has shattered his family, and Madry wants to make sure no other family feels what he sees as a senseless pain.

Madry says his father was always masked and social distanced without issue prior to getting the vaccine and would have continued to do as much were he not of the belief that he was safe from the virus.

He had not been receiving treatment at the time, with his doctor having adopted a wait-and-see approach with his cancer, according to his son.

Then he caught COVID, and in less than two weeks was gone.

“I just hope his story will allow someone who might have CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) or another disease that leaves them immunocompromised to realize the vaccine might not protect you from COVID," said Madry.

Can Leukemia Patients Get the Booster Shot for COVID-19?

A panel comprised of the nation’s leading medical experts on immunizations recommended on Aug. 13 that all individuals who are receiving treatment for hematologic cancers such as leukemia seek out a third booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

That decision was made a little over 12 hours after the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorizations for a third dose of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines in immunosuppressed persons.

Once the additional dosage was approved, it fell to the members of the Centers for Disease Control Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to determine for whom it was approved.

After a four-hour meeting, the group recommended that moderately to severely immunocompromised people should seek out a booster shot.

The group then gave six examples of patients who would be classified as moderately to severely immunocompromised, starting with those who have “been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood.”

COVID vaccines have proven to be less effective in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, or any combination of the three; and at times ineffective in those being treated for hematologic cancers.

This came just days after a pair of studies published in The Journal of the American Medical Association also determined that cancer patients have fewer antibodies than individuals who are not immunosuppressed when they first receive the vaccine, and after their second dose.

Dr. Thomas Martin explains what blood cancer patients should do after the COVID-19 vaccine

Can Leukemia Survivors Who Are Not in Active Treatment Get a Booster?

In its recommendations, the Centers for Disease Control Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was clear that it considers patients “receiving active cancer treatments” as immunocompromised.

Those are the only cancer patients that the ACIP cites in its recommendations, but the group says that any person who is immunocompromised can and should receive a booster shot if their doctor approves of the measure.

5 COVID-19 Vaccine Questions Answered by Expert Physician

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