The first injection has been approved to stop HIV

An HIV prevention jab will be offered to patients in the NHS in England and Wales for the first time, bringing the policy in line with Scotland.

The long-acting dose, which is given six times a year or every two months, is an alternative to taking daily pills to protect against the virus.

Experts hope cabotegravir (CAB-LA) injections will help achieve the ambition of ending new HIV infections by 2030 in the UK.

Meanwhile, early results of a different injection called lenacapavir suggest it may be possible to transition people to it Annual dose for HIV prevention.

Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: “The approval of this game-changing jab perfectly embodies what this Government is determined to deliver – cutting-edge treatments that save lives and leave no one behind.”

“For vulnerable people who cannot take other methods of HIV prevention, this represents hope.”

HIV prophylaxis, known as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), is taken by people without HIV to reduce the risk of contracting HIV.

The pills have been available for years and are still very effective in stopping HIV infection, but they are not always easy for some to take.

It may be difficult to access, impractical, or feel awkward. For example, people may worry that someone, such as parents or housemates, might find their pills.

Homelessness and domestic violence can make it difficult to take oral pre-exposure prophylaxis medications every day.

Injections that last for several months provide comfort and discretion.

HIV is a virus that destroys cells in the immune system and weakens the body’s ability to fight everyday infections and diseases.

It can be detected during unprotected sex or by sharing needles. Mothers can also pass it to their babies at birth.

Cabotegravir should be used in conjunction with safer sex practices, such as condom use.

The NHS has an undisclosed discount from the manufacturer of the treatment whose list price is around £7,000 per patient per year.

The vaccine will be considered for adults and adolescents who are a healthy weight and are at risk for sexually acquired HIV and are eligible for pre-exposure prophylaxis, but would otherwise be difficult to take oral tablets. It is believed it will be shown to around 1,000 people.

They say they will be able to get it from NHS-run sexual health clinics “in the coming months”. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (nice – good).

The charities say some people are facing long waits for appointments at clinics, and roll-out needs to happen quickly.

Richard Angell, of the Terrence Huggins Foundation, said it was time to explore the possibility of offering “conversion therapy” in other settings, not just in sexual health clinics.

“It is highly effective and acceptable to patients, and a vital tool to address inequalities – with potential to reach those who do not currently access other HIV prevention methods.”

Official numbers For England, it shows that the number of people taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in sexual health services is increasing.

Last year, 146,098 HIV-negative people accessing sexual health services had a pre-exposure need because they were at high risk of contracting HIV.

Of these, about 76% (111,123) started or continued an exposure preparation program – a 7.7% increase from 2023.

PrEP needs are not being equitably identified and met.

Access to treatment varies widely by group, with uptake of treatment being highest among whites (79.4%), ethnic minorities (77.8%), gay and bisexual men and all men who have sex with men, but much lower among heterosexual black African women (34.6%) and men (36.4%).

Meanwhile, HIV testing has expanded into hospital accident and emergency departments in England. Currently, 89 tests are routinely performed on anyone from whom a blood sample is taken, especially in cities and towns with high HIV prevalence rates.