Ending the HIV epidemic was once an impossible task. But now stopping this epidemic is within reach because of new medications and health-policy advances.
Medications for HIV-negative people that prevent infections
PrEP is a daily medication that HIV-negative people can take to prevent becoming infected with HIV. It is highly effective, reducing the risk of HIV infection by up to 92% when taken consistently.
PEP also prevents HIV infections. This medication is taken within three days of a likely exposure to HIV, preventing the virus from taking hold in a person.
When HIV is undetectable, it's untransmittable
Antiretroviral medicines that keep people living with HIV healthy also stop new infections. When people living with HIV maintain care with their providers and take antiretroviral medications regularly, the amount of virus in their body is undetectable and untransmittable. In other words, when people living with HIV have undetectable viral loads, the virus cannot be passed to their sexual partners.
Advances in health policy
The Affordable Care Act gave health insurance to millions of Americans and is vital to ending the HIV epidemic. When people living with HIV have access to health insurance, they can access life-saving antiretroviral therapies and become virally suppressed. A person who is virally suppressed has an undetectable amount of virus in their body. Increased access to health insurance also grows the number of people who can afford HIV-prevention drugs and services. When more people are virally suppressed and when more can afford HIV prevention services, the virus cannot be passed on to others.