A new jab could help reduce the spread of HIV in England and Wales – Better2Know Blog

Key points:

• A new HIV drug, cabotegravir, will be offered through the NHS in England and Wales
• The three-monthly injection could replace daily pills as an HIV prevention method
• By taking medication once every few months, many people can achieve more effective treatments

HIV has destroyed countless lives around the world. According to the National AIDS TrustIn 2023, 107,949 people received HIV care in Britain, an increase of over 27% over the past decade.

But a new jab could help reduce the spread of the infection, allowing those living with the condition to live a much less stressful life.

Keep reading to learn more.

Having HIV can seriously affect your long-term health. Find out your sexual health status with one of our home test kits.

What does the injection do?

A jab has been developed that could help reduce the spread of HIV in Britain even further.

Despite the effectiveness of PrEP, taking a daily pill can be difficult for some people. For individuals who are homeless or experiencing domestic abuse or violence, taking a daily pill can be challenging. PrEP medication can also be difficult to obtain and lead to embarrassment for some people. The judgment of friends and family can be a serious barrier to taking this medication regularly and effectively. Daily doses can also be forgotten or missed.

ViiV Healthcare, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, has developed a new drug called cabotegravir. This medication is intended to be injected once every few months. It will be offered by the NHS and has recently been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The development of this drug follows another HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir.

The cabotegravir shot will be considered for adults and adolescents who are at high risk of acquiring HIV through sexual activity, but for whom taking daily PrEP pills would be problematic.

By getting an injection every few months, many people can maintain their treatment over the longer term without worrying about missing a dose.

What is HIV?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is an STD that attacks your immune system, specifically the 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 passed through unprotected sex, but sharing needles and breastfeeding are also known ways of transmission.

The longer you have HIV, the more your body loses its ability to fight infections from outside. If left untreated for a long time, it can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), a condition in which the immune system is seriously compromised.

However, thanks to advances in treatment, most people in Britain today do not develop AIDS and can live long and healthy lives.

Modern HIV treatment 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 = untransmittable).

From the most recent facts According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), around 113,500 people in Britain are living with HIV, of which around 5,200 are undiagnosed.

In 2024, the number of new HIV diagnoses fell by 4%, from 3,169 in 2023 to 3,043 in 2024. Encouragingly, Britain continues to meet the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets: 95% of people with HIV are diagnosed, 99% of people diagnosed are treated, and 98% of people on treatment have a suppressed viral load.

Despite this progress, challenges remain. Late diagnoses are still common, especially among black African heterosexual men and women, who also make less use of preventive measures such as PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis).

In 2024, PrEP use increased by almost 8%, with more than 111,000 people using it. The UK government remains committed to ending new HIV transmissions by 2030, but achieving this goal will require continued investment, education and equitable access to testing and treatment services.

How do I find out if I have HIV?

If you are sexually active, it always helps to get tested regularly. Even if you use condoms during sex, you are not guaranteed protection against all STDs.

The best way to protect your sexual health is through a comprehensive testing program that tests for various infections. This is possible with Better2Know Full STD screenthat test for:

Final thoughts

Better2Know fully welcomes any breakthrough that helps people treat or manage an STD. But if someone wants to treat an infection, they first need to know if they have it.

Click the button below to book a comprehensive private STD exam at a sexual health clinic near you.

Don’t leave your sexual health to chance.