National strategies for vaccination against COVID‐19 in people living with HIV in Central and Eastern European region

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: David Jilich
• Author: Agata Skrzat‐Klapaczyńska
• Author: Lukas Fleischhans
• Author: Dominik Bursa
• Author: Sergii Antoniak
• Author: Tatevik Balayan
• Author: Josip Begovac
• Author: Alma Cicic
• Author: Gordana Dragovic
• Author: Deniz Goekengin
• Author: Arjan Harxhi
• Author: Kerstin Kase
• Author: Botond Lakatos
• Author: Raimonda Matulionyte
• Author: Velida Mulabdic
• Author: Cristiana Oprea
• Author: Antonios Papadopoulos
• Author: Nino Rukhadze
• Author: Janez Tomazic
• Author: Lida Tovba
• Author: Ľubomír Soják
• Author: Anne Vassilenko
• Author: Nina Yancheva
• Author: Oleg Yurin
• Author: Justyna Kowalska
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Infectious Diseases)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Infectology

Abstract (english)

Introduction: People living with HIV (PLWH) are at higher risk of poorer COVID-19 outcomes. Vaccination is a safe and effective method of prevention against many infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Here we investigate the strategies for national COVID-19 vaccination programmes across central and eastern Europe and the inclusion of PLWH in vaccination programmes.
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Methods: The Euroguidelines in Central and Eastern Europe Network Group consists of experts in the field of infectious diseases from 24 countries in the region. Between 1 November 2020 and 19 March 2021 the group proceeded an on-line survey consisting of 20 questions.
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Results: Twenty-two countries (out of 24 invited) participated in the survey and 20/22 countries in the period between December 2020 and March 2021 had already started their COVID-19 vaccination programme. In total, seven different vaccines were used by participating countries. In 17/21 countries (81%), vaccinated persons were centralized within the national registry. In 8/21 countries (38%) PLWH were prioritized for vaccination (the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Montenegro, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) and the Czech Republic, Greece and Serbia had put in place national guidelines for vaccination of PLWH. In 14/20 countries (70%) vaccination was only provided by designated centres. Eighteen respondents (18/21; 85.7%) reported that they planned to follow up HIV patients vaccinated against COVID-19, mainly by measuring antibody levels and checking COVID-19 incidence (11/21; 52.3%).
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Conclusions: This survey-based study suggests that there are significant differences in terms of prioritizing PLWH, the types of vaccines used, vaccination coverage, and the development and implementation of a vaccination programmes within the region. Regardless of heterogenicity and existing barriers within the region, systematic vaccination in PLWH should have the highest priority, especially in those with severe immunodeficiency, risk factors, and in the elderly, aiming for prompt and high vaccination coverage.

• Keywords (english): Aged; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID-19 / epidemiology; COVID-19 / prevention & control; Europe / epidemiology; Europe, Eastern / epidemiology; HIV Infections / complications; HIV Infections / epidemiology; HIV Infections / prevention & control; Humans , Vaccination
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: HIV Medicine
• Numbering: vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 546-552
• p-ISSN: 1464-2662
• e-ISSN: 1468-1293
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hiv.13194
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:060139
• Publication: 2022-05
• Document URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/hiv.13194
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-06-28 07:44:29