Immunizations for children with cancer

Children with malignant diseases are at risk of severe outcomes from vaccine preventable infections. Vaccination of these children presents challenges due to efficacy and safety concerns. There is a paucity of data on several aspects of vaccination in this group of children. Consequently, for the most part, data are extrapolated from healthy populations and combined with experts' opinions. This article reviews the use of vaccines in infants and children with cancer. In this context, an all-encompassing review is not the goal. Key principles are reviewed to provide a framework to guide the use of vaccines in children with malignant diseases.