Eligibility criteria and availability of vaccines have contributed to confusion around the COVID 19 vaccine roll out in Queensland. Misinformation reported across different media platforms about vaccines and their safety has also contributed to uncertainty.
Ultimately, the best vaccine is the one available to you right now. This is because vaccines can stop you from catching COVID-19, reduce transmission to vulnerable members of our community and substantially reduce your risk of experiencing severe symptoms and hospitalisation from COVID-19.
There is a lot of valuable, reliable information we can use to inform our decisions regarding vaccines and the best option for ourselves. In this post, we will provide answers to frequently asked questions and will attempt to dispel any common misconceptions our community may have.
Are both COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and AstraZeneca) available in Queensland safe and effective for all people?
The short answer to this question is YES.
The COVID-19 vaccines currently available in Queensland are the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines. Both vaccines have undergone extensive testing in large clinical trials. These trials were conducted in multiple countries around the globe and included people from varying age groups and different ethnicities. The trials focus on measuring the efficacy of the vaccines – this is a measure of how well the vaccines work within controlled conditions. Within these controlled conditions, results demonstrated that the Pfizer vaccine had an efficacy of 95% in preventing symptoms and the AstraZeneca vaccine had an efficacy of 62-90%. However, it is difficult to compare these trials directly as there are many factors that can influence the results.
While we wait for the results of studies that are still being conducted, which compare the vaccines in head-to-head trials, the best way for us to determine the most effective vaccine is through their performance in the real world.
Research from the UK suggests that both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are equally effective in reducing COVID-19 infection. After receiving both doses of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca, the chance of COVID-19 infection is reduced by approximately 70%1.
Is the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine safe?
Some of the most widely asked questions relate to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and it’s link to blood clotting. Although there has been a link established between the vaccine and thrombosis (clotting) with thrombocytopenia syndrome, it is important to note that this side-effect is extremely rare. It has been estimated that only 4-6 people in every million that are vaccinated may experience this side-effect.
Is the risk associated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine the same for people living with HIV?
Studies show that these rates of side-effects from the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are the same for people living with HIV and people who do not have HIV2,3. However, in Australia, people living with HIV are also eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine.
Were COVID-19 vaccines developed too quickly?
Even though it may seem that the COVID-19 vaccines were developed quite quickly, they were still subject to the same rigorous testing processes that have been used in the past. The main difference is that there has been unprecedented global funding to ensure that these processes have not been slowed down unnecessarily. Also, there has been improved collaboration between scientists, manufacturers, distributors and governments around the world.
There has also been some concern about the use of mRNA vaccines. However, these types of vaccines have actually been studied for several decades and in the past, mRNA has been used in the fight against specific cancers. For further information on these vaccines, please click here.
Will we need to get booster shots for the COVID-19 vaccines?
At this time, it is not known whether or not we will need booster shots in order to prolong our immunity to COVID-19. There are currently studies being conducted and these should provide some answers about this.
As a person living with HIV, how can I access the COVID-19 vaccine in Queensland?
We have mentioned in previous posts, that people living with HIV in Australia are eligible to receive both vaccines and are included in phase 1B of the vaccine roll out. This means that you will be able to choose which vaccine you receive.
As we have mentioned, the effectiveness of both vaccines is equal in real-world settings, and the risks associated with both are extremely rare. Expert guidance recommends that anyone over the age of 16, including people living with HIV, should be vaccinated against COVID-19 to preserve their health. For people aged 16–60 years the preferentially recommended vaccine is the Pfizer vaccine. However, people in this younger age group can still choose to have the AstraZeneca vaccine now if they are unable to access the Pfizer vaccine, and if the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risk for them.
There will be some individuals who may not be able to get vaccinated due to health reasons – however, this makes it important for everyone else to get vaccinated. It is also recommended that people living with HIV who are immunocompromised (have a low CD4 or unable to suppress their viral load) should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
You may have heard, there has been some difficulties with people accessing the Pfizer vaccine and the wait times can vary. However, there are several ways for people to get vaccinated. Firstly, registering your interest for a COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to secure an appointment at a Queensland Health vaccination location. Alternatively, you can search for a GP or pharmacy where vaccines are being administered or search for a walk-in vaccination location.
These are just a few questions that relate to the vaccine roll out and people living with HIV in Queensland. However, if you would like to see an extensive list of questions and answers regarding the vaccine roll out, please see the Department of Health’s “Is it true?” webpage.
If you are a person living with HIV who has questions about the vaccine roll out, please feel free to contact QPP via our messaging portal on our website or telephone on 1800 636 241.
1 RACGP. (2021). Evidence suggests AstraZeneca and Pfizer are equally effective. Retrieved from here
2 Frater J et al . Safety and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in HIV infection. SSRN pre-print, posted online 19 April 2021.
3 Madhi S et al. ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine in people living with and without HIV. Research Square pre-print, posted online 17 March 2021.
