COVID vaccines show an unexpected benefit: helping fight cancer

New research suggests that widely available mRNA COVID-19 vaccines might improve cancer treatment outcomes. The study examined nearly 1,000 advanced cancer patients, comparing those who received Moderna or Pfizer vaccines to those who did not. Lung cancer patients who received the mRNA vaccines nearly doubled their survival time. Aggressive melanoma patients also showed improvements, though definitive survival times were not yet available. The benefits were most pronounced when the vaccine was given alongside immunotherapy. The mRNA vaccines appear to prime the immune system for more effective cancer treatment using checkpoint inhibitors. Researchers believe the vaccines broadly activate the immune system throughout the body. Despite the promising results, future mRNA research faces funding cuts, particularly in the US. These cuts, made under the second Trump administration, are hindering vital medical advancements. Health officials have cited concerns about mRNA's safety for respiratory viruses as justification for this funding removal. Experts warn that these financial cuts could severely cripple America's future preparedness for pandemics.