COVID-19 vaccination in people living with HIV: current data and perspectives
Roland Thomas 1, Jean Cyr Yombi 2
1 Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Ambroise Paré, Mons, Belgium; Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, HIV Reference Centre, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium; 2 Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium
*Correspondence: Jean Cyr Yombi, Email not available
Abstract
There is no correlation between HIV per se and other risk factors for severe COVID-19 disease. Pivotal studies have shown that vaccination is one of the effective ways to prevent severe COVID-19 illness in the general population. Studies on people living with HIV (PLWH) are scarce. The majority of these studies with mRNA (BNT126b2 and mRNA-1273) and adenovirus vector (Ad26.COV2.2 and ChAdOx1) vaccines with a low number of patients included shows that PLWH on antiretroviral treatment and with CD4 count > 200/ mm³ has a robust immune response. These vaccines are thus effective in preventing severe infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in PLWH. However, PLWH with a CD4 count of < 200/ mm³ and uncontrolled viral load (VL) seems to have a lower immune response. COVID-19 vaccines are safe in PLWH; adverse effects are mild or moderate, and their incidence is similar to non-HIV people (NHP). The CD4 count decreased significantly and transiently, and the VL rebounded insignificantly in a few patients. A complete vaccination including a third dose is, therefore, recommended. A booster dose with an mRNA vaccine is recommended in PLWH with an advanced stage of their disease.
