Hello,
I had unprotected sex with a person of unkown serostatus. I then tested with a 4th gen test (at 7,13,17 weeks). All negative. I also took a hep C test at 17 weeks (worrying about delayed seroconversion). Negative too.
Now I've read a "cautionary tale" for COVID vaccines using Ad5 published in The Lancet about an increased risk of HIV suceptibility with a trial vaccine for HIV. It used Ad5 adenovirus as a vector and researchers pointed at Ad5 as a possible cause.
I started to worry again that I could get HIV if I got one of the adenovirus vaccines or if I had contact (kissing) with someone who got that vaccine. There's a lot of conflicting info (it is not true, its specific to Ad5 vaccines, theres cross-reactivity in the body's immune response between different kind of adenoviruses (so all adenovirus vaccines would have this risk). Im going crazy. My specific questions are:
1. Does this risk from Ad5 vaccines apply to HIV exposures after you get the shot or can it be "retroactive", meaning that even if my HIV test are considered conclusive, can there be a way that HIV is "hidden" or some amount of it left in my body, and an adenovirus vaccine-induced enhancement of target cells for HIV can cause an infection (kind of delayed seroconversion)? The studies on the HIV vaccine considered 6 months old exposures as high-risk (prior to the administration of the vaccine), if I remember correctly, but I dont know if that was used for behavioural purposes. It isnt clear in the cited studies.
2. If adenoviruses could enhance HIV risk, could I be at risk by kissing someone who already was vaccinated with a COVID Ad5 vaccine? Also, wouldnt adenovirus that cause common colds be considered as risk enhancers for HIV?
3. Can I get an adenovirus COVID vaccine without having to worry for another 3 months about HIV?
I've been worrying all the time. I just want to be over with this and I know you are among the best doctors to ask these kind of questions to.
J.