Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness gets Covid-19 vaccine as scheme expands to include those with HIV

Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness has received his coronavirus vaccine.

The TV star, 33, revealed he was invited to get his jab in New York, as the vaccination scheme has now expanded to include those who are HIV positive.

Jonathan – who secretly married partner Mark in December – opened up on living with HIV two years ago and is now encouraging others who have HIV to look into getting their vaccine, as they could now be eligible for their first dose too.

Sharing a photo of him being vaccinated, Jonathan posted: ‘In NY, where I’m working the vaccine program expanded to include people w pre-existing conditions, being HIV+ is one of the conditions that allows folks to be vaccinated, so if you’re HIV+ please check your states guidelines to see if you’re eligible and get vaccinated against covid-19!

‘There was a list of other conditions that allows for vaccination so wherever you are check the lists and see if you can get in line. Some places like Cali will give leftover doses but just see what’s happening in your area. Had I not been looking online everyday I wouldn’t have seen, so def get involved with your search.

Detailing his experience of the injection, Jonathan continued: ‘This was my first shot and other than minor soreness in my arm had no side effects and will get my second shot in a few weeks.

‘Each state has different guidelines so you’ll want to look into yours. Definitely need patience, resolve, access to internet to do this so plz if you can help others obtain information or access plz so that.

‘Biggest Hug & Happy Monday! Also, I know my stronger mask should go under, but I didn’t want to take my mask off to put on the stronger under, so I just layered them as was! Stay safe xx.’

Jonathan first revealed he has HIV in his memoir Over The Top, released in 2019.

He told fans he wanted to break the stigma around the condition, as well as smash misconceptions people have, by sharing his experience.

Jonathan shared an extract from his book with New York Times, where he recalled receiving the ‘devastating diagnosis’ when he was 25.

He had fainted at the salon he was working at and learned he was HIV positive the next day after going to Planned Parenthood.

‘That day was just as devastating as you would think it would be,’ he wrote.

Jonathan then went on to find fame in Netflix series Queer Eye – alongside Tan France, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski and Karamo Brown – and said he was torn over whether to reveal his status publicly, following the show’s success.

He said: ‘When Queer Eye came out, it was really difficult because I was like, “Do I want to talk about my status. Then I was like, “The Trump administration has done everything they can do to have the stigmatisation of the LGBT community thrive around me”. I do feel the need to talk about this.’

Jonathan – who describes himself as a ‘member of the beautiful HIV positive community – said it was a ‘tough’ decision to share his status with the world, especially as it was something he hadn’t spoken about before.

‘It’s hard for me to be as open as I want to be when there are certain things I haven’t shared publicly. These are issues that need to be talked about,’ he shared.

‘These are all difficult subjects to talk about on a makeover show about hair and make up. That doesn’t mean Queer Eye is less valid, but I want people to realise you’re never too broken to be fixed.’

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