78% HIV patients receive 1st COVID shot

…2400 persons did not return for treatment during pandemic

With just over 6600 persons being treated for HIV in Guyana, statistics show that over 78 per cent of them have taken at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said that some 5224 or 78.1 per cent of the 6681 HIV patients taking treatment in the public health sector have received a first COVID-19 dose. In terms of the second dose, 3839 persons or 57.4 per cent returned for their jabs.
Reflecting on the coverage of second doses, he said the factor of an immune-compromised condition should be a reason to also take the booster doses being offered.
“We want to encourage people to get their booster shot because with HIV patients, their immune system might be depressed. In other countries, the protocols would have been not just one booster shot but a second booster shot… It is important for everybody to get vaccinated, especially if you have an underlying illness. HIV is one such underlying illness and therefore, we would encourage everyone to make sure that they’re vaccinated,” said Dr Anthony in Tuesday’s COVID update.
Notwithstanding, the Health Minister pointed out that it is estimated that over 9000 persons in Guyana are living with the virus. However, an alarming 2400 of them did not return for treatment after the pandemic struck.
“We estimate that we have 9081 persons who are positive for HIV and of those, during the pandemic, several of them did not come back for treatment. We have approximately 2400 of them that have been lost to follow-up, meaning that they have not been coming back for treatment, it’s difficult to locate them.”
The Ministry is aiming to move the first dose coverage up to 90 per cent while simultaneously increasing second dose uptake.
Speaking on the side effects of the vaccines on HIV patients, Minister Anthony relayed that the symptoms do not extend beyond the normal threshold – all of which are temporary and subside within 24 hours.
“Generally, when you get vaccinated, depending on your individual make-up. Some people might extend a little pain at the site of the vaccine. These are typical things that people would get when they’re vaccinated and it doesn’t matter whether you’re HIV-positive or not. So, people would experience the same kinds of side effects.”
The country’s vaccination statistics show that 426,841 persons or 83.2 per cent receiving a first dose. Second doses account for 318.677 or 62.1 per cent. In addition, for the 12 to 17 age group, 23,466 or 32.2 per cent are fully vaccinated. Booster doses have increased to 43,154.
For HIV-positive children under the age of 12, who are essentially not eligible for a coronavirus vaccine, the health official advised, “Parents should ensure that the child is on their antiretroviral medication and that they’re able to suppress the HIV virus. If they’re doing that, then the chances of the HIV virus compromising their immune system is relatively small.”
Secondly, these children should follow all public health measures designed to protect against infections.
Last November, data showed that over 94 per cent of the persons living with HIV in Guyana know their status but only 70 per cent are on treatment with antiretrovirals and 87 per cent are virally suppressed.
Prior to that, World Health Organisation report confirmed that HIV infection is a significant independent risk factor for both severe or critical COVID-19 presentation at hospital admission and in-hospital mortality. Overall, nearly a quarter or 23.1 per cent of all people living with HIV, who were hospitalised with COVID-19, died.
The report was based on clinical surveillance data from 37 countries regarding the risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes in people living with HIV admitted to the hospital for COVID-19.