Key points:
- New HIV drug, cabotegravir, to be offered in England and Wales on the NHS
- The quarterly jab could replace daily pills as a method of HIV prevention
- Taking medication once every few months could help many people realize more effective treatments
HIV it has wreaked havoc on countless lives around the world. According to the National AIDS Trust107,949 people received HIV care in the UK in 2023, representing an increase of over 27% over the past 10 years.
But a new jab could help reduce the spread of the infection, allowing those living with the condition to live far less stressful lives.
Continue reading to learn more.
Having HIV can seriously affect your long-term health. Find out the status of your sexual health with one of our home test kits.
What does the piercing do?
A jab has been developed which could help reduce the spread of HIV in the UK even further.
Despite the effectiveness of PrEP, taking a pill every day can be difficult for some people. People who are homeless or experiencing domestic abuse or violence may find it difficult to take a daily pill. Access to PrEP medication can also be difficult and can lead to shame for some people. Judgment from friends and family can be a serious barrier to taking this medication regularly and effectively. You can also forget or skip daily doses.
ViiV Healthcare, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, has developed a new drug called cabotegravir. This medicine is for injection once every few months. It will be offered on the NHS and has recently been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The development of this drug comes on the heels of another HIV prevention drug, lencapavir.
The campogravir vaccine will be considered for adults and adolescents who are at high risk of contracting HIV from sexual activity, but for whom taking PrEP pills daily would be problematic.
Getting a shot once every few months can help many people maintain their treatment long-term without having to worry about missing a dose.
What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is an STD that attacks your immune system, specifically white blood cells called CD4 cells. These cells help your body fight infections.
HIV is transmitted through certain bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. It is most commonly transmitted through unprotected sex, but sharing needles and breastfeeding are also known routes of transmission.
The longer you have HIV, the more your body loses the ability to fight external infections. If left untreated for long periods of time, it can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), a condition where the immune system is severely compromised.
However, thanks to advances in treatment, most people living with HIV in the UK today do not develop AIDS and can live long, healthy lives.
Modern treatment for HIV includes antiretroviral therapy (ART), which reduces the viral load in the body to undetectable levels. This not only protects the health of the person living with HIV, but also prevents transmission to others. In fact, someone with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV through sex – a concept known as “U=U” (Undetectable = Uncontagious).
From the most recent one data by the UK Health Safety Authority
In 2024, new HIV diagnoses fell by 4%, from 3,169 in 2023 to 3,043 in 2024. Encouragingly, the UK continues to meet the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets: 95% of people living with HIV are diagnosed, 99% of people on treatment have a suppressed viral load.
Despite this progress, challenges remain. Delayed diagnoses are still common, particularly among black African heterosexual men and women, who also experience lower uptake of preventive measures such as PrEP (Exposure Prevention).
In 2024, PrEP use increased by nearly 8%, with more than 111,000 people accessing it. The UK Government remains committed to ending new HIV transmissions by 2030, but achieving this target will require continued investment, education and equitable access to testing and treatment services.
How do I know if I have HIV?
If you are sexually active, it always helps to get regular checkups. Even if you use condoms when you have sex, it’s not guaranteed to protect you from all STDs.
The best way to protect your sexual health is through a comprehensive testing program that checks for a variety of infections. You can do this with Better2Know’s Full screen STIwhich tests for:
Final thoughts
Better2Know fully welcomes any breakthrough that helps people cure or manage an STD. But to treat an infection, one must first know if one has it,
Click the button below to book a comprehensive, private STD screen at a sexual health clinic near you.
Don’t leave your sexual health to chance.
