Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy, Effectiveness Among Patients with HIV | IDWeek 2024

The introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine created an increased number of non-COVID-19 vaccine refusals amongst people living with HIV (PLWH), while a similar population also proved to be significantly nonadherent regarding the COVID-19 vaccination schedule.^1-2 Regarding vaccine effectiveness, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and a high-dose quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine both proved to be significantly effective for PLWH.^3-4

“The prevalence of vaccine hesitancy has been rising over the last several years and was exacerbated by the COVID-19 epidemic with the introduction of the novel COVID-19 vaccines. There are concerns that immunosuppressed individuals such as HIV patients may also demonstrate vaccine hesitancy to recommended non-COVID-19 vaccines,” wrote authors of a poster presented at IDWeek 2024.¹

PLWH are at more severe risk of contracting infectious diseases and are advised to stay up to date with all recommended vaccinations. By staying protected against diseases like pneumococcal infections, influenza, and COVID-19, PLWH deplete their risk of hospitalization. However, with vaccine hesitancy at unprecedented levels since the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers focused on PLWH to further understand vaccine hesitancy and effectiveness among one of the most at-risk populations.

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References

1. Kropman K, Vahia AT, Szpunar SM, et al. Vaccine hesitancy in HIV patients following the COVID-19 pandemic. Presented at: IDWeek 2024; October 16-19, 2024; Los Angeles, CA. Poster P-33.

2. Krishna T, Swaminathan S. Evaluation of adherence and access to booster COVID-19 vaccination in persons with HIV. Presented at: IDWeek 2024; October 16-19, 2024; Los Angeles, CA. Poster P-2074.

3. Miles AC, Willis SJ, Chilson E, et al. Assessment of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine effectiveness among people living with HIV in the United States. Presented at: IDWeek 2024; October 16-19, 2024; Los Angeles, CA. Poster P-8.

4. Laoharattanahirun N, Kiertiburanakul S, Boonak K, et al. Immunogenicity and safety of high-dose versus standard-dose quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in patients living with HIV: A randomized controlled trial. Presented at: IDWeek 2024; October 16-19, 2024; Los Angeles, CA. Poster P-44.