Saudi experts recommend updated boosters and conditional monoclonal antibodies for hematological malignancy patients
- **A Saudi expert panel recommends updated COVID-19 booster vaccines as the frontline prophylaxis for adults with hematological malignancies.
- They advise considering long-acting monoclonal antibodies only when activity against circulating variants is demonstrated and regulatory approval exists.**
- The panel agreed that currently recommended COVID-19 vaccination is the frontline prophylactic strategy for SARS-CoV-2 prevention or severe disease in these patients.
- Patients should receive at least one booster dose of an updated vaccine, and vaccination should not delay scheduled cancer treatment.
The publication
**A Saudi expert panel recommends updated COVID-19 booster vaccines as the frontline prophylaxis for adults with hematological malignancies. They advise considering long-acting monoclonal antibodies only when activity against circulating variants is demonstrated and regulatory approval exists.**
Who the findings apply to
The recommendations apply to adults with hematological malignancies in Saudi Arabia.
Why this matters
Patients with hematological malignancies remain vulnerable to severe infection despite the end of the pandemic phase, necessitating locally adapted strategies in Saudi Arabia where incidence has risen. The consensus aims to minimize SARS-CoV-2 risk through tailored prophylactic approaches for this high-risk immunocompromised population.
What the study found
The panel agreed that currently recommended COVID-19 vaccination is the frontline prophylactic strategy for SARS-CoV-2 prevention or severe disease in these patients.
Patients should receive at least one booster dose of an updated vaccine, and vaccination should not delay scheduled cancer treatment.
For high-risk patients, pre-exposure long-acting monoclonal antibodies may be considered if they demonstrate activity against currently circulating variants and are locally available and approved by relevant regulatory authorities.
Monoclonal antibodies should be started even if the patient is under treatment, but for vaccinated patients, administration should occur at least two weeks after vaccination.
What the result does not establish
The recommendations rely on a modified Delphi approach with consensus defined as greater than or equal to 80% agreement among a multidisciplinary expert panel.
Use of monoclonal antibodies is conditional on demonstrated efficacy against circulating variants and local regulatory approval, limiting universal applicability.
Authors’ conclusion
“There is a need for tailored prophylactic strategies to protect high-risk immunocompromised patients from COVID-19. Key recommendations include the need for booster doses of the updated vaccines, according to national availability, and the use of long-acting mAbs for pre-exposure prophylaxis, only when activity against circulating variants has been demonstrated, and the product is locally available and approved by…”
Study and sources
Prophylaxis Strategies for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adults With Hematological Malignancies in Saudi Arabia: Consensus Statements From the Working Group on COVID-19 Management in Hematological Malignancies
Guidelines & recommendations · Cancer reports · 2026-10-01
Sources and limitations
- PubMed record PMID 42934861 (PubMed / NLM · 2026-11-09)
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