US CDC includes HIV as medical criteria for priority to COVID-19 vaccines

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base

On 29 March 2021, the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) included HIV in the updated list of medical conditional that are independently associated with more severe outcomes from COVID-19. [1]

The recommendations are based on a comprehensive evidence review, based on observational  studies from Germany, South Africa, Turkey, the UK and the US. The results will enable HIV positive people in to have priority access for inclusion in COVID-19 vaccine programmes.

This federal recommendation is especially important in the US where there was otherwise wide variability in regional and State programmes.

The decision also provides a strong scientific signal to other countries where national recommendations often closely follow US guidelines.

HIV is already included as a medical condition for vaccine access in the UK. This is either priority group six (out of nine) for uncomplicated HIV and priority group four in medically complicated cases.

References

1. US CDC. Underlying medical condition. (29 March 2021).
   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care/underlyingconditions.html
2. US CDC. Scientific evidence for conditions that increase risk of severe illness. (29 March 2021).
   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care/underlying-evidence-table.html

This report was first poster on 15 April 2021.