Two studies have now shown that people living with HIV have a slightly higher risk of COVID-19 infection despite vaccination than other people. We reported the first study in the last issue of HIV update, and its findings have been confirmed by the latest report.
There were over 650,000 people living in the United States in the study, including over 8500 people living with HIV. It also included people with compromised immune systems due to other issues, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis or organ transplant. Data were collected from December 2020 to September 2021, in other words before the Omicron variant.
COVID infection after completing a full course of vaccination (usually with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine) was rare, but a little more frequent in people with HIV.
Each month, 7 in 1000 fully vaccinated people with healthy immune systems had a breakthrough infection. This compares to 9 in 1000 fully vaccinated people with HIV, and 12 in 1000 partially vaccinated people with HIV.
The study also confirmed that full vaccination protects against severe COVID disease, especially in people with compromised immune systems, including people with HIV.
We don’t yet have any data on Omicron in people with HIV, but we do know that it is more contagious and better at infecting vaccinated people than previous variants. That suggests that it’s even more important for people living with HIV to get fully vaccinated if they can, obtain a third dose if they’re eligible, and continue masking and social distancing behaviours as much as possible.