{ "abstract": "Background: Despite the end of the pandemic phase, patients with hematological malignancies (HMs) remain vulnerable to severe COVID‐19 infection and mortality. Prophylaxis strategies, including vaccination and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) like AZD7442, are crucial for protection. In Saudi Arabia, the incidence of HMs has risen, emphasizing the need for locally adapted prophylaxis strategies.\n\nAims: This consensus provides recommendations for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection prophylaxis in adults with HMs in Saudi Arabia.\n\nMethods: We employed a modified Delphi approach to develop recommendations for minimizing the risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in patients with HMs. A multidisciplinary expert panel of hematologists, oncologists, and infectious disease specialists was formed. The Delphi process involved three voting rounds. Consensus was achieved if there was ≥ 80% agreement.\n\nResults: The present consensus consists of 24 statements. The panel agreed that the currently recommended COVID‐19 vaccination is the frontline prophylactic strategy for SARS‐CoV‐2 prophylaxis or severe COVID‐19 in patients with HMs. They also agreed that patients with HMs should receive at least one booster dose of an updated COVID‐19 vaccine, and that vaccination should not delay scheduled treatment. With regard to patients in the high‐risk group, pre‐exposure long‐acting mAbs may be considered when activity against currently circulating SARS‐CoV‐2 variants has been demonstrated, and the agent is locally available and approved by the relevant regulatory authorities. The mAbs should be started, even if the patient is under treatment. In the case of vaccinated patients, the long‐acting mAbs should be administered at least 2 weeks after vaccination.\n\nConclusion: 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 the relevant regulatory authority.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU‐HS), King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA), King Abdulaziz Medical City Jeddah Saudi Arabia", "Adult Medical Oncology Princess Noorah Oncology Centre, King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA), King Abdulaziz Medical City Jeddah Saudi Arabia", "Division of Adult Haematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Oncology King Abdulaziz Medical City Riyadh Saudi Arabia", "Saudi German Hospital Makkah Saudi Arabia", "Prince Mohmmad bin Nasser Hospital Jazan Saudi Arabia", "King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre Riyadh Saudi Arabia", "Department of Oncology King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre Jeddah Saudi Arabia", "Department of Medicine King Saud University Riyadh Saudi Arabia", "Transplant Infectious Diseases, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre Riyadh Saudi Arabia", "Infection Prevention and Control Program King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs Riyadh Saudi Arabia" ], "article_type": "review article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 9, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0, 1 ], "name": "Mubarak Al‐Mansour", "orcid": "0000-0002-2919-4924" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Ayman Alhejazi" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Manal Ahmed Alsaggaf" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "Hafiz Mosa Malhan" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Riad El Fakih" }, { "affs": [ 6 ], "name": "Reyad Dada" }, { "affs": [ 7 ], "name": "Ghazi Saud Alotaibi", "orcid": "0000-0002-6902-1876" }, { "affs": [ 8 ], "name": "Reem S. Almaghrabi", "orcid": "0000-0002-1275-8324" }, { "affs": [ 9 ], "name": "Majid Alshamrani" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2m7ytytebmg5k.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1002/cnr2.70730", "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13710673/", "id": "2m7ytytebmg5k", "issns": [ "2573-8348" ], "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.70730", "language": "en", "licence": "CC-BY-4.0", "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0", "licence_source": "article", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "heading", "Review" ], [ "openalex", "2725|SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research" ] ], "openalex": "W7223985271", "pdf_url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/cnr2.70730", "pmcid": "PMC13710673", "pmid": "42934861", "published": "2026-10-26", "publisher": "Wiley", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2m7ytytebmg5k.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-31T12:21:35Z", "native_id": "PMC13710673", "source": "pmc", "url": "https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.70730" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "openalex:2725|SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research", "subfield": "infectious-disease" } ], "title": "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", "title_text": "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", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-31T12:21:35Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2m7ytytebmg5k", "venue": "Cancer Reports", "versions": [] }