Abstract
There is limited information about COVID-19 vaccines in people living with HIV (PLWH). We aimed to compare the immunogenicity and effectiveness of the Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 inactivated vaccine between PLWH and non-HIV individuals in the Omicron era. We evaluated the production of receptor-binding domain (RBD), spike, SARS-CoV-2 IgG, and neutralizing antibodies in both PLWH (case) and individuals without HIV (control) groups three months after they received the second dose of the vaccine. All participants were also followed during three months after the second dose for the COVID-19 infection and its outcomes (hospital admission, need to intensive care unit, and mortality). A total of 250 individuals comprising 150 PLWH and 100 people without HIV were recruited. The mean age was 42.2 years. The infection rate was significantly higher in non-HIV individuals than in PLWH (63% vs. 21.3%, p < 0.001). The hospitalization rate in the PLWH group was significantly hig1her than that in the non-HIV group (5.3% vs. 1%, p = 0.009). There were no significant differences in the mean levels of Spike antibody (84.4 ± 34.4 vs. 95 ± 109.5 RU/mL), RBD antibody (65.6 ± 42 vs. 69 ± 42.3 RU/mL), and SARS-CoV-2 IgG (2.9 ± 2.5 vs. 3 ± 2.3 Index) between the groups. The mean value of neutralizing antibodies was significantly higher in non-HIV individuals (34 ± 23.3 vs. 26.2 ± 20 µg/mL, p = 0.005). The Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 inactivated vaccine can be as immunogenic in PLWH as in non-HIV individuals. This vaccine is likely more effective in preventing Omicron-associated hospitalization in non-HIV individuals.