The U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) Guidance for COVID-19 concerning people with HIV recommends that people with HIV should receive COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of their CD4 or viral load, because the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.

In addition to getting vaccinated and following guidance for fully vaccinated people, those who have HIV should be counseled about the potential for reduced immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines and to follow current prevention measures (including wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others they don’t live with, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces) to protect themselves against COVID-19. Close contacts of people with HIV should be encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

CDC recommends an additional mRNA vaccine for patients who are moderately to severely immunocompromised at least 28 days after the completion of the initial mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series.