PLWHIV urged to get jab against COVID-19

HEALTH MINISTER DR. FRANK ANTHONY IS APPEALING TO PERSONS LIVING
WITH HIV (PLWHIV) to get vaccinated for protection against the highly-infectious and
deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Anthony reminded HIV patients that their immune system is more susceptible to the
virus, especially if that person is not on medication.
“It is recommended that persons with HIV take the Covid -19 vaccine because it’s going to
protect them. The benefits of being vaccinated, far outweigh the risks of being vaccinated, and in
some cases, persons whose immune systems are compromised…it’s also recommended that they
get a third dose of the vaccine or a booster shot,” the health minister counselled.
Anthony said the Johnson and Johnson, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, or Astra Zeneca vaccines are
available for adult HIV patients willing to take the jab. He assured that persons currently taking
ARVs (antiretrovirals) or PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) should not worry about adverse
effects of any of the vaccines, as these work differently in the body.
“The mechanisms of action are totally different. Vaccines help to stimulate the immune system
so that your body can produce anti-bodies that can fight off Covid-19 virus. Antiretrovirals work
differently: they interrupt the life cycle of the HIV and therefore their actions are totally
different, and there is no interaction between the two,” the minister explained.
While most people recover from the pandemic, globally, some 4.9 million persons have died and
some 880 in Guyana. Internationally too, 242 million persons contracted the deadly virus, and of
this figure, 34,800 are Guyanese.
“There are lots of hesitancy among the HIV population: they probably have various myths about
why they shouldn’t be vaccinated, but all the evidence is pointing that they need to get
inoculated,” the health minister said.
According to 2019 figures, there is an estimated 8,000 PLWHIV in Guyana.