Colliding epidemics: Prevention of HIV and co-infections

OAC02

Oral abstract session

Track C - Epidemiology and prevention science

CME accreditation

M3/Channel 5

24 July 16:00 - 17:00

Moderator

Linda-Gail BEKKER
Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, South Africa

16:00 3 min	Introduction Linda-Gail BEKKER Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, South Africa

16:03 8 min	COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness by HIV status and injection drug use history Joseph PUYAT Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Canada

16:11 8 min	Mpox vaccination among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in the United States, september-december 2022 Thomas CARPINO Johns Hopkins University, United States

16:19 8 min	Risk of hepatitis C infection following bacterial sexually transmissible infections among gay and bisexual men in Australia 2016-2020 Brendan HARNEY Burnet Institute, Australia

16:27 8 min	Integration of PrEP services and assisted partner notification into an STI Clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi Claire PEDERSEN UNC Project Malawi, Malawi

16:35 25 min	Live Q&A Linda-Gail BEKKER Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, South Africa Joseph PUYAT Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Canada Brendan HARNEY Burnet Institute, Australia Claire PEDERSEN UNC Project Malawi, Malawi Thomas CARPINO Johns Hopkins University, United States

AUTHOR

Richard Gray

SUMMARY

This session covered a range of topics focused on the impact of other infectious diseases and public health interventions on people living with HIV or at-risk of HIV infection. Topics included COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, uptake of mpox vaccination, risks of viral hepatitis, and integrated HIV prevention and STI services.

HIGHLIGHTS

Joseph Puyat described the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for people living with HIV and those who inject drugs. Using a test-negative study design people who inject drugs were found to have a lower vaccine efficacy and there was a faster waning of vaccine efficacy in people living with HIV. Thomas Cappino then described mpox vaccination uptake and completion among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in the United States. Only one third of men reported receiving at least one dose of vaccine with 84% completing two doses with vaccination strongly associated with knowledge of mpox and PrEP use. This was followed by a presentation by Brendan Harney on the risk of HCV infection following a sexually transmissible infection among gay and bisexual men in Australia. An increased risk of HCV associated with bacterial STIs, but this risk was different for men with HIV and those on PrEP. Claire Pedersen showed that an integrated HIV and PrEP service and assisted partner notification program in STI clinics in Malawi was able to reach people at risk of HIV and provide them with PrEP. The program also efficiency found people living with HIV but not taking ART.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

The response to overlapping epidemics of HIV, COVID-19, mpox, viral hepatitis and other STIs highlights the importance and effectiveness of person centred care and integrated service delivery. The presentations showed that the response to these infections along with HIV needs to be flexible and adaptable. This includes adapting vaccination programs for people living with HIV, ensuring testing guidelines for other infections are followed during PrEP use, and combining HIV prevention and care with STI services to increase the reach of HIV prevention and treatment.