MWCCS participants are a high-risk group for severe COVID-19 disease in terms of being HIV-infected, predominately of elderly age, and having numerous underlying comorbidities. Therefore, it is imperative for their health that they be vaccinated with the new COVID-19 vaccines. To date, however, there are only anecdotal data on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and efficacy in people with HIV (PWH). The MWCCS is ideal for analyzing (a) the acceptancy and effects of COVID-19 vaccine(s) in male and female PWH and matched HIV-uninfected controls (HUC), (b) the impact of age and co-morbidities on vaccine immune response and protection against COVID-19, and (c) the social, economic, and behavioral changes after COVID-19 immunization as compared to the individuals who opted to not take the vaccine.

PROJECT NARRATIVE This application proposes to establish The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Clinical Research Site (CRS) for the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS)/Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) Combined Cohort Study (MACS/WIHS-CCS). We propose to rapidly establish the UNC MACS/WIHS-CCS CRS, contribute meaningfully to the MACS/WIHS-CCS Unified Science Agenda, and undertake ambitious research that encompasses pulmonary, cardiovascular, neurocognitive, and other HIV-related comorbidities; HIV pathogenesis/cure; social epidemiology and health outcomes; behavioral research; and advanced epidemiologic methods. By contributing a representative population of men and women, innovative science, and a strong, multidisciplinary cadre of investigators, UNC will enhance the efforts of the MACS/WIHS-CCS, expand the range of questions that can be addressed and, in collaboration with the entire group, improve the health of men and women with or at high risk for HIV infection.