Misleading: There are reports that some people who took a COVID-19 vaccine got HIV.

By: Khagesh KG
December 23 2020

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Phase 1 participants were given false positive HIV test results. They did not have HIV infections, nor is the HIV virus included in the vaccine. The University of Queensland (UQ) and CSL Ltd. stopped testing a COVID-19 vaccine after it developed HIV antibodies during its Phase I studies. However, no severe cases were identified in the Phase 1 vaccine candidate of 216 participants. The scientists' official statement stated that some patients displayed antibodies to HIV protein fragments. The researchers contacted the Australian government and agreed not to carry out clinical trials in phases two and three. The University of Queensland began the trials of its vaccine in July 2020. After vaccination, blood samples from the research participants were tested, and they found these molecular clamp antibodies to have been falsely positive in a variety of HIV testing. Follow-up tests showed that the HIV virus is not present but that some HIV tests show false positives. The vaccine cannot cause an infection. It is unlikely. It is widely accepted that it needs significant improvements on existing HIV test protocols in the healthcare environment to facilitate the vaccine's deployment. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.