Health Ministry urges HIV patients to get vaccinated

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has called upon HIV-positive persons to get vaccinated against COVID-19, since an immune-compromised situation can escalate contraction of the disease.
The Minister pointed out that persons suffering from HIV are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. This can be exacerbated if they are not taking any medications for their condition.
“HIV is considered one of the diseases that would put persons at a higher risk of getting COVID-19. Generally, people who are HIV positive, in some cases if they’re not getting their medications or they’re not taking their medications, their immune system would be compromised. That would then put them at a disadvantage because they can easily get other types of infections.”
According to him, the benefits of taking the vaccine will offset any temporary symptoms when the shot is administered. Moreover, the vaccines offered in Guyana are safe.
“It is recommended that persons with HIV take the COVID-19 vaccine because it’s going to protect them. The benefits of getting vaccinated far outweighs the risks. In some cases, persons who would have had their immune system compromised, it is also recommended that they get a third dose or a booster shot. Any one of the vaccines that we are currently using for the adult population can be used for HIV patients. Currently, we’re using AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sputnik V and J&J vaccines.”
Meanwhile, when asked about any interference between HIV medications and the vaccines, the Minister said, “The mechanisms of action are totally different. Vaccines help to stimulate the immune system so that your body can produce antibodies that can fight off COVID-19. Antiretrovirals work differently. They interrupt the life cycle of HIV. Therefore, their actions are totally different and there’s no interaction between the two.”
He said the first thing an HIV patient can do to protect themself is to “Go and get vaccinated”.
A few months ago, a 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 – 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 (PLHIV) admitted to hospital for COVID-19.
It found that the risk of developing severe or fatal COVID-19 was 30 per cent greater in PLHIV compared to people without HIV infection.  Underlying conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are common among PLHIV. Among male PLHIV over the age of 65 years, diabetes and hypertension were associated with an increased risk of more severe and fatal COVID-19. These conditions are known to put people at increased risk of severe disease and death.
HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed 34.7 million lives so far. To reach the new proposed global 95–95–95 targets set by UNAIDS, countries need to redouble efforts to avoid increasing HIV infections due to HIV service disruptions during COVID-19 thereby slowing down the public health response to HIV.