Question
Could travel vaccines have affected my recent HIV diagnosis?
1 January 2026. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, HIV testing, HIV transmission, Newly diagnosed, Starting treatment.
Hi I was only tested for HIV and confirmed positive at an A&E dept in the UK. I was admitted on 24/12/25 for treatment for UTI and chest infection released and went to HIV clinic on at the end of November. I have had no risky sexual activity as I’ve been married 40 years, but had a blood transfusion in India in April 2024, doctors examined me found nothing to confirm any symptoms of HIV at all, and sent for more detailed tests to be confirmed in early January.
My concern for my wife is okay luckily as she has now tested negative twice and this was confirmed yesterday.
In mid November I received the following vaccines for travel abroad next year: hepatitis A, Tetanus, typhoid, cholera and polio. I did not have any reaction but on 15/12/2025 I started getting flu symptoms and this developed into the above illness. This is now clear – I have never had night sweats, long fever or ulcers or genital symptoms or mucus system issues, the doctor asked as a precaution I can start ART triple therapy I started this 48 hrs ago today 1/1/25 is my third day I feel ok and fine other than a long standing ear infection which is clearing
Can vaccines give a false positive and how will the fact that I started ART therapy affect this and what tests will actually confirm the level of positive HIV, I am deeply worried as I’m a diabetic and otherwise very healthy but also very scared please can I have a comprehensive answer as I can’t sleep thinking about this and how my life will be affected I am 58 years old this is such a shock
Answer
Hi there
Thanks for your questions and I hope you are doing okay.
Although this might be a scary and worrying time that you were not prepared for, HIV is now very easy to treat and the meds are very effective
This means that HIV itselfs is very unlikely to cause you health problems, other than psychologically related to how you and perhaps HIV is seen socially.
The vaccines that you had are unlikely to have any effect on your HIV test results, but even if they did, the confirmatory tests run at the hospital or laboratory would rule out a false positive result. The precaution by the doctor was in case any of your vaccines were live vaccines, In the UK, this might apply to the cholera and typhoid vaccine.
Have you been given results from your CD4 count and viral load tests yet, as the latter would also confirm you are HIV-poisitive, because it shows the level of HIV circulating on a blood sample. This are probably the results you will get in January.
i-Base has lots of info online, perhaps starting here:
i-base.info/start-here/
Also, the timeline of your events isn’t clear because you said you were only diagnosed at the end of December, when perhaps this was the end of November.
I promise that everything will get easier as you read more and learn about how effective treatment now is. Once your viral load is undetectable, the meds will also protect your wife so well that you don’t need to continue using condoms. See U=U here:
i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Hello Jo and thanks for getting in touch.
Your CD4 count is not very low and will start getting higher now that you have started medication.
Your doctors have taken the right steps to protect you and help you remain healthy until the medication starts working.
I understand this can be a very confusing time but today our medication are very effective and with minimal side effects.
In a few months you will start feeling strong again, please don’t worry.
No-one, including hiv I-base, can give you a specific timeline for recovery.
It depends how your body will respond and how well you will take the medication.
Within a couple of weeks all your results will be back and your doctors will be able to give you more definitive answers
I would suggest taking a look at this information:
https://i-base.info/just-found-out/
https://i-base.info/start-here/
Hi my cd4 was 160 I have been started on atovaquone, I’m terrified but not sure what and how to increase my CD4 or of it will work and what my future holds its devastating, I wish I never agreed to a transfusion abroad, but it’s done and I can’t change this – Is there anything I can do to help myself further I was advised I need to be over CD4 200 to come off the antibiotics but they don’t know when this will be and don’t have my vital test results as I started meds immediately
Hello Jo and thanks for getting in touch.
Putting you on additional tablets is the right thing to do.
Your medical team is likely prescribing antibiotics to help your immune system.
They might also be changing your ARV medication.
These are all standard practices so please don’t worry.
I would suggest talking to your doctor and nurse more about this though as they need to give you more information about why this is happening and what changes are they making to your regimen.
Christina
My cd4 came back at 160 im so worried they are putting me in additional tablets I don’t know what this means
Hello no name and thanks for clarifying and getting in touch again.
If I understand correctly your result has not been confirmed yet but will be in the next few days (or you might already have it).
I agree with Simon, that HIV today is very easy to treat and you don’t need to worry about the effect to your overall health.
I would also suggest taking one day at a time and first waiting for the confirmatory result.
The result will define your next steps.
I would highly recommend talking to the peer support service at your clinic – please ask your doctor about it.
The important thing to remember is that your life doesn’t need to change, unless you want that.
The medication we have today are excellent and there is a lot of psychological support offered in the UK should you need it.
I would also suggest reading:
https://i-base.info/just-found-out/
Christina
Thank you Simon I’m still awaiting the full test results which I am advised will confirm all loading and CD4 by today
I can also confirm I took the travel vaccinations on 15/11/25 and my first symptoms of a flu appeared on 15/16 of 12/25, but I could not get a go appointment but was admitted on 24/12/25 as they suspected influenza and treated me for UTI and chest infection but in my tests I was told on 28/12/25 I was HIV and referred to the HIV clinic – and immediately started on ARt therapy on the 29/12/25, sorry if I caused any confusion but these are the facts and I went abroad last year and had a blood transfusion as I was anemic and had a ear infection