The NHS has begun offering Britain’s first long-acting HIV prevention injection, a major step towards making the UK the first country in the world to eliminate the virus.
The jab, known as cabotegravir, will initially be available to around 1,000 people who are at risk of contracting HIV but unable to take traditional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) tablets.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved the use of cabotegravir on the NHS last week. Administered once every two months at sexual health clinics, the injection offers a practical and highly effective alternative to daily medication.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the rollout as a “powerful new tool” in the UK’s mission to end HIV transmission by 2030.
He said:
“For vulnerable people who are unable to take other methods of HIV prevention, this represents hope. We’re making real progress on HIV, with PrEP use up by 8 per cent this year. England will be the first country to end HIV transmissions by 2030, and this preventative therapy is another powerful tool in our arsenal.”
HIV attacks the immune system and, if untreated, can lead to life-threatening illnesses. While oral PrEP is close to 100 per cent effective at preventing HIV transmission, some people cannot take it due to existing health conditions or difficulty swallowing pills.
Medical experts have hailed the injectable form as a breakthrough in accessibility and convenience. Dr Michael Brady, NHS England’s national adviser for LGBT health, said:
“This long-acting injection is a significant addition to our HIV prevention strategies. We’ve made huge progress in the last decade, and injectable PrEP will bring us a step closer to ending HIV transmissions by 2030.”
According to the UK Health Security Agency, new HIV diagnoses fell by 4 per cent last year from 3,169 in 2023 to 3,043 in 2024 continuing the downward trend seen over the past decade.
Advocates have welcomed the move, saying it will transform prevention for those who previously struggled with daily medication. Dr Will Nutland, co-founder of PrEPster at The Love Tank, added:
“Oral PrEP has been the only option for those of us using it for HIV prevention until now. This is a genuinely exciting moment for the UK’s HIV response.”
