# Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccination in People Living with HIV/AIDS in a Northern Brazil: Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study shows that people with HIV in northern Brazil who received the COVID-19 vaccine developed high antibody levels, highlighting the importance of vaccination for this immunocompromised group.

## Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in people living with HIV/AIDS in a specific geographic region.

## Key findings

- Most vaccinated participants had high levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies.
- Antibody levels were associated with vaccine doses, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, and HIV-1 viral load.
- Vaccination is shown to be effective in protecting immunocompromised individuals against severe COVID-19.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: The evaluation of the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in immunocompromised individuals, such as people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH), still is of great global importance. The present study aimed to describe the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in PLWH vaccinated and unvaccinated against COVID-19 in the city of Belém, northern Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 510 PLWH was conducted from December 2021 to May 2022. Participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and subsequently underwent an anti-SARS-CoV-2 enzyme immunoassay for the detection of IgG antibodies, as well as quantification of CD4+ T lymphocytes and HIV-1 plasma viral load. Results: Most participants were male (70%), aged 25–50 years (72%), single (71.4%), and low-income (50.4%). The prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies was 94.3% (481/510), with most vaccinated individuals having received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. An association was observed between antibody levels and the number of vaccine doses, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio, and HIV-1 viral load. Conclusions: PLWH developed high levels of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after receiving the vaccine, demonstrating that COVID-19 vaccination is of fundamental importance for the protection against severe COVID-19 in this specific group of immunocompromised individuals.