VANCOUVER, BC Wednesday 27 May 2021 – The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) Committee for Drug Evaluation and Therapy (CDET) has completed the evaluation of available data regarding the use of the four COVID-19 vaccines currently approved in Canada for persons living with HIV (PLWH). Those four vaccines are the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which are mRNA vaccines, and the AstraZeneca and Janssen, which are viral vector vaccines. Based on the committee’s review, the BC-CfE supports the use of all four vaccines to protect PLWH aged 18 years or older against COVID-19 related disease if they have no contraindications to the product.
None of the 4 COVID-19 vaccines which are approved in Canada are considered to be”live virus vaccines”, and consequently they are not anticipated to be associated with increased risks of adverse effects such as vaccine-virus induced infection in immunocompromised people. The two viral vector vaccines, the AstraZeneca and Janssen, have been constructed with adenoviruses that have been modified so that they are unable to replicate.
While the evidence is mixed, PLWH may be at increased risk of serious illness due to COVID19, and in the absence of contraindications should receive any of the COVID-19 vaccines currently approved in Canada as appropriate for their age group, regardless of CD4 count. PLWH who have CD4 counts <200 cells/μL, or who are not virologically suppressed, should be counselled regarding the unknown efficacy and safety of the vaccines given that such subjects were not included in the vaccine studies.
Although data for use of mRNA or viral vector vaccines in PLWH is limited, CDET expects similar vaccine responses to those without HIV. It should be noted immune response may potentially be sub-optimal in those that are immunocompromised. PLWH on antiretroviral therapy with undetectable HIV plasma viral load and CD4 count above 200/mm3 are likely to have an intact immune response and are at no additional risk.
Dr. Peter Phillips, Medical Director of the Urban Health Acute Care Unit and CDET lead reviewer for this latest decision, said”Thankfully we have unprecedented access to safe and effective vaccines within one year of identification of the new pandemic respiratory coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Widespread vaccination is the key to protecting oneself, stopping ongoing spread of COVID-19 in the community, preventing hospitalization and death, and restoring both interpersonal contact and economic activity.”
The full BC-CfE CDET Statement Update on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in Persons Living with HIV (dated May 7, 2021) can be found here.
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About the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) is Canada’s largest HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education facility – nationally and internationally recognized as an innovative world leader in combating HIV/AIDS and related diseases. The made-in- BC Treatment as Prevention¨ strategy (TasP¨ ) pioneered by BC-CfE, and supported by UNAIDS since 2011, inspired the ambitious global target for HIV treatment – known as the 90-90-90 Target – to end AIDS as a pandemic by 2030. The BC-CfE is applying TasP¨ to therapeutic areas beyond HIV/AIDS, including viral hepatitis and addiction™, to promote Targeted Disease Elimination¨ as a means to contribute to healthcare sustainability. The BC-CfE works in close collaboration with key stakeholders, including government, health authorities, health care providers, academics, and the community to decrease the health burden of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and addictions across Canada and around the world.
For more information, please contact:
BC-CfE Communications Coordinator Edmond Chu Cell: 236-885-4617
Email: echu@bccfe.ca