Severe immunosuppression is related to poorer immunogenicity to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines among people living with HIV

[Objectives] The aim of this study was to assess the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 available vaccines among people living with HIV (PLWH) after a complete vaccination scheme, and determine predictors of seroconversion.
[Methods] This multicentre prospective cohort study included 420 PLWH who had received a standard immunization, either with mRNA or adenoviral-vectored COVID-19 vaccines. Antibody response was evaluated within 1 to 2 months after the last dose of the vaccine with a quantitative determination of antitrimeric spike protein-specific IgG antibodies and IgG neutralizing antibodies.
[Results] Overall, 384 of 420 PLWH (91%) showed antibody response to vaccination. Seroconversion was observed in 308 of 326 individuals with cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) counts ≥350 cells/mm3 (95%), 55 of 61 PLWH with 200 to 349 cells/mm3 (90%), and 21 of 33 PLWH with CD4 counts
[Discussion] HIV-related immunosuppression impairs the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Specific vaccination schemes should be urgently tailored in this setting, particularly in patients with CD4 cell counts
This work was supported, in part, by the Spanish Network for AIDS Investigation (www.red.es/redes/inicio; RD16/0025/0040) as part of the Nacional I + D + I, ISCIII Subdirección General de Evaluación and the European Fund for Development of Regions. Juan Antonio Pineda received a research extension grant from the Programa de Intensificación de la Actividad de Investigación del Servicio Nacional de Salud Carlos III. Anaïs Corma-Gómez received a Río...