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if you're dragging Trump for claiming that there's a vaccine for HIV and *not* also informing people that there *is* a drug which provides ~100% protection against HIV with ~zero side-effects... you might want to reconsider your priorities
PrEP is *better* than a vaccine. It is *more* effective than almost any vaccine in the standard schedule of vaccines (Measles/MMR, Tdap, flu, etc.). Almost everyone who takes it has zero ongoing side effects.
And yet most people at risk of contracting HIV have never heard of it.
And yet most people at risk of contracting HIV have never heard of it.
If you think PrEP is not a "vaccine" because no needle goes into your arm, I have news for you.
1) the most successful vaccine worldwide (polio) is given orally, with no needle
2) there's now an injectable version of PrEP too
1) the most successful vaccine worldwide (polio) is given orally, with no needle
2) there's now an injectable version of PrEP too
there are countless opportunities to drag Trump for saying misinformed garbage every day. I promise you: if you can't figure out a way to mock him without spreading even more misinformation about incredibly vulnerable groups, you *can* sit this one out.
Instead of sharing misinformation about an "AIDS vaccine", how about sharing information on how people can address the underlying issues that prevent the most at-risk groups from accessing PrEP?
And fortunately, we have published data on what those barriers are.
And fortunately, we have published data on what those barriers are.
The group most at-risk of contracting HIV are young gay Black men (specifically: 13-25, but especially 13-18).
At current infection rates, one in two gay Black men will become HIV+ at some point in their life.
At current infection rates, one in two gay Black men will become HIV+ at some point in their life.
Multiple studies have confirmed that the top three barriers to PrEP for young gay Black men are, in order:
1) Awareness of its existence
2) Insufficient access to primary healthcare
3) Social factors (insecure housing, etc. - oftentimes grouped with #2)
4) Cost of the drug
1) Awareness of its existence
2) Insufficient access to primary healthcare
3) Social factors (insecure housing, etc. - oftentimes grouped with #2)
4) Cost of the drug
Note that the cost of PrEP is *not* the biggest barrier for most young gay Black men!
That doesn't mean the cost isn't an issue, but it means that even when we provide PrEP for free to young gay Black men, they oftentimes still can't take it because of other, bigger problems.
That doesn't mean the cost isn't an issue, but it means that even when we provide PrEP for free to young gay Black men, they oftentimes still can't take it because of other, bigger problems.
If you want to know why
1) "silver bullet" vaccine for preventing HIV already exists, and yet
2) the most at-risk people aren't getting the vaccine,
then you're in luck! because I've already written a thread with copious info about that: https://twitter.com/chimeracoder/status/1093302944852856833
1) "silver bullet" vaccine for preventing HIV already exists, and yet
2) the most at-risk people aren't getting the vaccine,
then you're in luck! because I've already written a thread with copious info about that: https://twitter.com/chimeracoder/status/1093302944852856833
This is probably a good thread to provide some context for my thoughts on the Break The Patent movement and associated groups. It's not that I don't think they're doing good work (they are!). I just see patents and drug costs as one piece of the puzzle. https://twitter.com/NeuroOscillator/status/1272974222755856386
