LOADING 0%
  • Industrial Action by Resident Doctors from Friday 14th to Wednesday 19th November may impact appointment availability and we apologise in advance for delays
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
  • •
  • OPENING TIMES: MON 8AM–7PM • TUE 8AM–7PM • WED 12PM–7PM • THUR 8AM–7PM • FRI 9AM–4PM • SAT 11AM–4PM • SUN & BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED
Do I need an appointment? Donate
Do I need an appointment?

PRIME THIS MONTH

An injection to protect against HIV

When will it be available?

You may have heard that the NHS has approved a new injectable PrEP. The treatment is called cabotegravir. There are several more stages before it’s available in clinics. We expect it to arrive at Dean Street soon. 

Does it work?

A study compared people using injectable cabotegravir with another group who were taking PrEP pills. Both treatments gave great protection from HIV. However the group using the injections were less likely to catch HIV. This is because the people taking pills were more likely to miss doses. 

Generally people get on well with cabotegravir. The most common side effect is discomfort at the injection site.

How do you take it?

People usually start by taking cabotegravir pills for one month. After that, it’s time for the first injection. This is followed by another, one month later. Then the injections switch to every 2 months. Cabotegravir is injected into your buttock muscle. (If you’ve ever had a syphilis treatment injection, it’s like that). 

The injections need to be given on time. If you’re late, HIV protection can be lost. However some cabotegravir can remain in your body for up to a year. If you catch HIV during this time there’s a risk of developing HIV drug resistance. That’s why it’s important to use alternative HIV protection for several months if you decide to stop the injections.

Who will be offered it?

Injectable cabotegravir costs about x200 more than regular PrEP pills. It will only be available on the NHS to select groups of people. These include people who get serious side effects from all the different available PrEP pills. Those unable to store pills at home (e.g. If you are in an abusive relationship and you need to hide your PrEP use) and people who are unable to swallow pills (e.g. Due to a medical condition).

People who are eligible for cabotegravir injections will be referred to our specialist complex PrEP service to get funding approval before starting the treatment.

Further information

https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/10/nhs-to-roll-out-first-long-acting-injection-to-prevent-hiv/

Last month’s article

In last month’s Prime, we discussed DoxyPEP & Gonorrhoea vaccine events in Soho.
PRIME – Last Month

Help and advice

To unsubscribe, text PRIMECANCEL to 60060

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.