HIV Prevention Jab NHS Approval Marks Public Health Milestone

A revolutionary new HIV prevention injection has been approved for use on the NHS in England and Wales, marking a major step forward in the UK’s fight to end new HIV cases by 2030. The long-acting jab, known as cabotegravir (CAB-LA), offers an alternative to the daily HIV prevention pill and will now be available to eligible adults and adolescents at high risk of contracting the virus.

The injection, which needs to be administered only six times a year, provides protection for two months at a time. Experts say it could transform HIV prevention by offering convenience, privacy, and consistent protection for those who find it difficult to take daily medication. Until now, only Scotland had approved the use of the jab, but this new policy brings the rest of the UK in line.

Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, called the decision “a landmark moment” for public health. “The approval of this game-changing injection perfectly embodies what this government is determined to deliver — cutting-edge treatments that save lives and leave no one behind. For vulnerable people who are unable to take other methods of HIV prevention, this represents hope,” he said.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) — medication taken by HIV-negative individuals to prevent infection — has been available in pill form for years and is highly effective. However, adherence to daily tablets can be challenging for many due to privacy concerns, unstable housing, or difficult personal circumstances. The new injection eliminates these barriers by providing long-lasting protection in a discreet and manageable way.

Cabotegravir will be made available through NHS sexual health clinics in the coming months, with around 1,000 people expected to receive it initially. It will be prescribed to those unable to take oral PrEP easily, such as individuals dealing with homelessness, domestic violence, or privacy challenges. The NHS has also negotiated a discounted price from the manufacturer, with the treatment’s list price being about £7,000 per patient per year.

While this rollout is being hailed as a breakthrough, sexual health charities have urged swift implementation. Richard Angell of the Terrence Higgins Trust called for the NHS to make the injection widely accessible beyond traditional clinics, describing it as a “transformative therapy” that could help address health inequalities and reach people who currently struggle to access PrEP.

Recent NHS data shows progress in expanding HIV prevention: in 2024, over 146,000 HIV-negative people were identified as being at substantial risk of infection, with more than 111,000 starting or continuing PrEP — a 7.7% increase from the previous year. However, disparities persist, with uptake significantly lower among Black African heterosexual men and women compared to other groups.

Meanwhile, early studies on another injectable drug, lenacapavir, suggest the possibility of a once-a-year HIV prevention shot in the near future — potentially reshaping HIV prevention worldwide.

For now, cabotegravir’s approval marks a defining moment in the UK’s public health landscape — a vital new tool in ensuring that the goal of zero new HIV transmissions by 2030 is not just an ambition, but an achievable reality.