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British HIV Association Guidelines on the Use of Vaccines in HIV-positive Adults (2015)

British HIV Association Guidelines on the Use of Vaccines in HIV-positive Adults (2015)

Dear colleagues

Re: British HIV Association Guidelines on the Use of Vaccines in HIV-positive Adults (2015)

We would like to bring to your attention the recently updated BHIVA recommendations on the use of vaccines in HIV-positive adults. The guidance addresses the use of vaccines against virus infections such as human papilloma virus, influenza, chicken pox, shingles, measles, and yellow fever, and we hope it will be of interest to the CVN membership.

We would like to ask the CVN to help BHIVA disseminate the information and promote education of healthcare professionals about several important concepts. The success of antiretroviral therapy has changed the natural history of HIV infection and protection against vaccine-preventable infections is important to ensure patients enjoy long and healthy lives. HIV-positive people are increasingly likely to engage in activities, travel or occupations that carry a risk of exposure to infectious agents, and these otherwise healthy individuals should not be denied protection or engagement with such activities if evidence indicates vaccination is safe and immunogenic. Yet many misconceptions remain about risk of infection, burden of disease, and safety and efficacy of vaccination in this group, which create barriers to successful implementation.

We hope you will find the guidance useful. Feedback will be gratefully received.

With kind regard

Yours sincerely

Prof Anna Maria Geretti
Chair
BHIVA Writing Group BHIVA Guidelines on the Use of Vaccines in HIV-positive Adults (2015)

Geretti@liverpool.ac.uk

Dr Duncan Churchill
Chair
BHIVA Guidelines Subcommittee