COVID-19 Vaccination Programme for plHIV

We would like to bring an update on the COVID-19 situation and the plans for the COVID-19 vaccination programme with respect to people living with HIV (plHIV). We also have an update on medication and a reminder of the support services available.

Vaccinations

We are informed that people living with HIV will be receiving their vaccination in the coming months. Those who have an appointment coming up will be asked for their details and whether they wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19, whilst those who do not have an appointment scheduled soon will be receiving a call. Please remember that our healthcare workers are currently under considerable pressure so try to wait for the call to arrive and follow the direction of your consultants and nurses. HIV Malta has full confidence in our healthcare workers and based on their expert advice, we feel that it would be best to be vaccinated against COVID-19 given the opportunity.

HIV Medication

As we have stated in our previous communications, the new HIV medication is now being rolled out, and we are aware that some patients are already receiving the new treatment to replace the previously outdated regimen. We feel that this is a considerable step forward that will mean a better quality of life for plHIV.

We would like to once again thank the health authorities who following the December shortages have been very upfront with us about the plans going forward. Thank you.

Support

It is normal to feel more anxious now than ever before even if things will be much better very soon. If you think it would help, remember that we offer a free support service to several groups, including plHIV. The service is fully confidential and accessible even via video conferencing or simply over the phone if you do not wish to leave your house. Give us a shout using the details in our Contact Us page.

Buy an HIV Self-Testing Kit

Recent news articles in Malta and abroad have indicated that HIV and other STI diagnoses have reduced dramatically, mainly due to social distancing, but also due to a reduction in the testing capabilities of the GU Clinic in recent months.

In order to facilitate testing, HIV Malta has launched a dedicated page from which one can get all information about HIV Self-Testing Kits, and also an online checkout option which enables online purchase and payments. We are selling the kits at no profit, and testing kits will be sent to you by post.

Read also about what to do and how to get support if the test is positive. Click here to view the page.

No one should be left without a home

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our day-to-day lives unlike anything else in living memory. As we heed to the authorities’ message to self-isolate and stay at home, more and more people are losing their income and becoming increasingly unable to pay rent. Although many landlords have been able to lower the price of rent, this is not a reality for everyone.

MGRM, Allied Rainbow Communities, Checkpoint Malta, and LGBTI+ Gozo have received messages from people in distress who are either losing their homes, or else have become homebound in unsafe places which they are unable to leave.  Unfortunately all the rooms and apartments which we had been offered to us before the pandemic started are already full. This highlights how acute the situation is, whilst leaving us without option but to turn away people.

For this reason, the four NGOs have joined forces to seek to find accommodation for people at risk, or who have already become homeless. If you are able to accommodate someone temporarily whilst the pandemic crisis is ongoing, we would like to invite you to fill this form through which we hope to build a database of vacant places that can be used for altruistic purposes – https://forms.gle/7jVjVUwa8o6evGi4A

If you do not have a room or a place to offer, but would still like to help, you may donate using the below bank details or by using PayPal.  The fund is administered by the Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement, however all funds will be jointly managed by all four NGOs. Any funds remaining after the crisis will be donated to an external charity chosen jointly between the four NGOs.

If you are not living in a safe home, reach out to any one of us and we will do our utmost to help you.

We are jointly appealing to the nation to support those who need our help.

Bank Details

• Account Name – MGRM

• Bank name – HSBC Bank Malta PLC

• BIC – MMEBMTMT

• IBAN – MT21MMEB44613000000061249785050

Paypal

Update - Self-Isolation Measures for PLHIV in Malta

Please read the below information on how the new self isolation measures apply. As we have specified yesterday, these restrictions apply to people living with HIV. The information published so far is in Maltese, but for the sake of those who are English speaking we have supplied a translation.

People living with HIV need to self-isolate with effect from Saturday 28th March 2020. There are some exemptions for people affected by this measure who are allowed to leave their homes to:

1. Attend medical appointments or to receive a form of medical care or medical treatment;

2. Purchase food, medicinals and other essentials

3. Other absolutely essential or urgent personal matters.

If you leave the house for any of the above absolutely necessary matters, try to return back home as soon as possible and without delay, whilst exercising the social distancing measures promoted by the Superintendence.

These are some examples of urgent personal matters for which the exemptions apply:

• If you need to return to work for a short time, to carry out a task that is essential

• Access to children as ordered by a competent Court,

• Those who need to leave the house to look after animals which are not located in the house

• The need to go to the bank.

Those who live in the same household are allowed to go to work, and carry out essential tasks as described above. Other measures ordered by the Superintendence would still apply. Others can be completely exempted from this measure, if for instance, they are employed within the healthcare sector or if in their employment they manage an essential sector.

Self-Isolation measures for PLHIV in Malta

Following the announcement by Hon Mr Fearne, we have enquired on the situation with respect to the new lockdown, and whether it applied to people living with HIV. Although initially Hon Mr Fearne referred to people who take immunosuppressive medication as needing to be on lockdown, the intention is that people whose immune system may be suppressed in any way need to self isolate. This means that these self-isolation measures apply to people living with HIV. We will be distributing more information as soon as it is made available.

We fully understand the sensitivity of the situation, especially for people who do not or cannot disclose their status and we are doing our utmost to ensure it is handled in the best possible way.

In the meantime we urge all people living with HIV to take all necessary precautions against COVID-19 and stay safe. If you need support reach out to us and to the Rainbow Support Service which has implemented safe measures to provide free support, and which is available to people living with HIV in Malta. We may be having to live inside for a while, but that does not mean that we are on our own.

Update on COVID-19

Risk of COVID-19 for people with HIV (Update)

Since our joint statement on 18 March 2020 was posted, the European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) and British HIV Association (BHIVA) issued a revised statement on the 20 March 2020 in which they explain that there is ‘no evidence for a higher COVID-19 infection rate or different disease course in people with HIV than in HIV-negative people’. People on effective HIV treatment and who have a normal CD4 T-Cell count and a suppressed viral load are not at increased risk, however the risk does increase with age, male gender, and certain chronic medical problems including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

It is important to note that EACS and BHIVA make it clear that immune suppression, which is typically seen when there is a low CD4 T-Cell count of less than 200/µ, and with no antiretroviral treatment, is associated with an increased risk for a more severe disease presentation. This does not mean that individuals on effective treatment and with a high CD4 T-Cell count should ignore the important guidelines being set by the authorities.

As per our previous statement appointments at MOP4 are still being held regularly but the situation is being monitored. You will receive information from the staff if there are any changes. The wonderful people at MOP4 have offered to reply to queries you may have about this situation. We would like to extend our gratitude to them for the work they do, especially in the current circumstances.

Do not take the risk of COVID-19 lightly. This is not a normal influenza virus, and the reaction to it by government authorities is NOT exaggerated. This information page by the World Health Organisation addresses misconceptions about the virus.

Sexual Contact

These are extraordinary times, which require us to give unusual and extraordinary advice. More people are working from home, and have become more isolated. If you are craving human contact, try to resist the temptation of meeting up. This is not being clearly said by the authorities but it may be safer to avoid meeting people unnecessarily, especially if there is body to body contact which is typical of sexual contact. Remember that the chances of COVID-19 transmission increase with close contact, including kissing and hugging, and authorities are suggesting keeping a distance of one to two metres in order to try and reduce transmission.

Testing and the GU Clinic

The GU Clinic at Mater Dei issued a statement stating that it has temporarily suspended appointments for molecular diagnostic testing (PCR), namely Chlamydia & Gonorrhea tests, for asymptomatic patients (no signs of symptoms) due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Blood tests are still being performed. Patients on PrEP can still get tested for HIV/Syphilis/Hepatitis test and renal function.

Online purchases of PrEP and HIV Treatment

As new travel restriction are imposed, and postage companies in Malta start to introduce some restrictions it cannot be assumed that the process to purchase treatment online will remain uninterrupted. Logistics and shipping companies such DHL, UPS and TNT/FedEX have announced that they are still fulfilling deliveries, including deliveries to Malta. However this could not be case for the company which supplies the medication. We would like to remind everyone that it is not advisable to overstock on medication.

We have personally checked and confirmed that stocks of PrEP in local pharmacies remain high. You may consider shifting to PrEP on Demand if that works for you, especially if you are keeping social and therefore sexual contact to a minimum, as is being suggested by authorities. Visit HIVMalta.com/PrEP to find out which pharmacies in Malta sell PrEP, and how to safely take PrEP on Demand.

Buying HIV Medication in Malta

Although stock of HIV medication at Mater Dei is normal, authorities are not currently selling HIV Medication. HIV Malta and Checkpoint Malta’s advice is that it is not safe to remain in Malta without access to HIV medication. We urge foreign nationals who are still in Malta and who are running out of HIV medication to make arrangements as soon as possible to return home. No flights to and from Malta are operating normally as at 20th March 2020. This means that in order to return home, you need to contact your country’s embassy or consulate in Malta and request assistance. A tourism helpline has been set up to assist people who are in Malta and require help to return to their home country.

HIV Malta and Checkpoint Malta

HIV Malta and Checkpoint Malta collaborate with one another in several circumstance. In view of the current circumstances however, the two movements will be in close collaboration in order to share responsibilities in the provision of regular and relevant updates. We will do our utmost to support you in the best way we can so please do get reach out and get in touch if you need our help. We are also in process of freeing some funds in order to create a small contingency reserve in case it is needed. We would like to reassure members of the community that HIV Malta and Checkpoint Malta are bound by strict data protection rules and confidentiality commitments, and at no point will there be an exchange, in any way or form, of any personal information.

Joint Statement by HIV Malta and Checkpoint Malta

HIV Malta and Checkpoint Malta are receiving various messages from individuals who are living with HIV and have become stuck in Malta due to travel restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The advice as at 16th March 2020 is that people who are not based in Malta and are currently quarantined, and who do not have any symptoms associated with COVID-19 should start making arrangements to return home.  A tourism helpline has been set up on +356 21692447 in order to help people return to their home country. Foreign nationals are also being advised to contact their respective embassies especially if flights are currently not operational. Embassies are currently arranging flights to the respective countries and they will be handling the paperwork related to the repatriation efforts. Transport to the Malta International Airport is being offered via a special Airport Transfer service. Please note that there could be a cost associated to the trip back home.

We would like to emphasise that HIV medication is not being sold. It is a priority that HIV medication is not interrupted in order to maintain an undetectable state. It is not safe to remain in Malta without access to HIV medication. It is important to note that this does not apply to people who already procure their medication from Mater Dei.  We have received a confirmation that regular appointments for people living with HIV are still being held, however please be aware that the situation is being monitored week by week. 

Meanwhile we would like to remind people that the British HIV Association, and local consultants have emphasised that there is no evidence that people with HIV are at higher risk of COVID-19, or severe disease if affected, and no evidence regarding the impact of viral load or CD4 on either of these.  We will reiterate our appeal to follow Government’s advice at all times, and which are being updated from time to time.  

Finally we would like to offer our heartfelt gratitude to all healthcare workers including those who work amongst those living with HIV for their efforts.